Co-op C-Store and Gas Bar Grand Opening

Anita James, Steven Li, Bruce Buckingham
Pincher Creek Co-op C-Store Grand Opening
C. Davis photo

Toni Lucas

It was "All hands on deck!" at the opening of the Co-op C-Store September 23, 2011.  Some of the dignitaries assembled for the opening ceremony included MD Reeve Rod Cyr, Pincher Creek Mayor Ernie Olson, Co-op Gas Bar Manger Anita James, Co-op General Manager Bruce Buckingham, Co-op Controller Tom Holloboff, and several representatives from the Pincher Creek Co-op board of directors.  Also in attendance were CFL Calgary Division Petroleum Advisors, Steven Li, and Naveed Sultan.  The official ribbon was cut by Janet Taylor, one of the Gas Bar attendants.

PC Mayor Ernie Olsen congratulates 
PC Co-op GM Bruce Buckingham
T.Lucas/C.Davis photos

After the 9 am opening ceremonies, Buckingham and Holloboff (Coach Tom to some of the town's young athletes) were kept busy pumping gas and cleaning windshields alongside regular Gas-Bar staff, including me.

Hey Coach, pass the squeegee!
PC Co-op Controller Tom Holoboff

It was not just a photo-op then pass the squeegee to the nearest staff member, this was two upper management types out from behind the desk, serving their customers face to face. Holloboff was teased by friends, as he filled their tanks, and you could tell that he loved every minute of the day. GM Buckingham was there before the crack of dawn. "It was a fantastically beautiful morning," he gushed. "We had a good group of people here, staff, dignitaries, well-wishers and customers." He would have said more, but right then someone pulled up, and he was back at the pumps again.

Back to work, Bruce!

Anita James took care of her staff by running over to Timmies and getting everyone a snack. When asked about how the grand opening went, she was simple, and to the point. "Perfect," summed it up on the fly. Later, when things slowed down, she said "I was proud to be a Co-op member and employee. We were all working together and supporting our own store. It was wonderful."

Anita James, on the double-double

The Propane Avenger

Propane Avenger Janet Taylor, recent Matthew Halton High Honour Roll student, did a great job all day, including filling propane.  

Erica Nemeth, a young customer, did a great job doing her own windshield.  She enjoys helping out, and when her dad stopped to fill up, she went straight to the squeegees.  She said "It is fun to do, and I like to do it."

Erica Nemeth

Ken Valin gassed up a 1953 Mercury M100 that dates back to when all service stations were full-service.

Ken Valin's 1953 Mercury M100

New at Co-op: Drive-thru concert

Chris Davis played 12-string guitar and sang for the people coming and going.  Some only stayed long enough to hear a bit during the filling and paying, some came and listened for longer.

Co-op mascot Cooper the bear was there on and off throughout the day.  He came for the ribbon cutting, and later greeted customers, checked out the pumps, and danced along to the live music.

Jason Yellowhorn was the grand prize winner of the Pouland riding lawn mower, adding even more excitement to the day.  He showed up and talked to Buckingham and James to figure out arrangements to pick up his fancy prize.

Jason Yellowhorn won the Grand Prize, a Poulan riding mower

Across the parking lot in front of the Ranchland Mall, another frenzy of activity - BBQ.  Giving out over 800 burgers, the Co-op worked in conjunction with new Ranchland tenant Ashley Fine Floors and the Pincher Creek SPCA to cook and serve free burgers, chips, and pop.  Chalmer Steiger,  the manager of Ashley Fine Floors has been in the flooring business for 20 years.

Yoohoo!!  BBQ !!!
Pat Moskaluk photo

"Although our doors have been open for about two weeks, we are holding our official grand opening today." said Steiger, who was handing out the last few pop and chips of the day.

"It was a great event"  Steiger said, as he and his wife Val, daughter Cayla and her friend helped empty the large tub that they filled with pop three times out for the day.  "We gave out so much pop and chips, it was wonderful."  Darren Sorge was the winner of the draw, sponsored by the company, of a weekend getaway.

It was appreciated that the SPCA came to the rescue of so many hungry citizens.  They do it daily for the pets around the area looking for good homes.  Consider the shelter the next time you want to expand your pet family.

Michele Kraus
Pat Moskaluk photo

It's been about a year since the smaller, outdated Co-op gas station was demolished to make room for the new C-Store and Gas Bar.