LAKELAND – People travelling along Highway 41 between Bonnyville and Elk Point now have a new option to stop for gas and food with the official opening of the Chief Kehewin Travel Centre on Oct. 25.
The business, owned by the Kehewin Cree Nation, is located at the intersection of Highway 41 and Secondary Highway 657. Highway 28 is only five miles north of the gas station, creating plenty of daily traffic in the area, according to Wylliam John, director of operations for Kehewin Cree Nation.
The location is also located along popular routes to and from other municipalities, like Cold Lake and St. Paul.
“It’s a major thoroughfare,” he said, expressing hope that the store will serve all travellers.
“We have the regular conveniences of a convenience store,” he explained, which includes food options for breakfast, lunch, dinner - in addition to gas services.
The facility can accommodate RVs, buses, and semi-trucks too, providing ample space for any type of vehicle to pull in.
A post office will also be established at the location in the near future, with just under 700 mailboxes to accommodate all Kehewin band members and band-owned businesses, said John. This is just about double the number of boxes at Kehewin’s old post office located in the townsite.
The idea for the gas station and convenience store was brought forward by chief and council at the time. It took some planning, “But they persevered and made sure they had the perfect location,” said John.
Trevor John, who was the Chief for Kehewin Cree Nation at the time of the gas station’s opening, said the idea for the business began around 2015. Since then, a lot of work has been done, such as a feasibility study, a business case study and research to find the best location.
Fast forward to 2024, Trevor is proud and relieved the Chief Kehewin Travel Centre has come to fruition. “We’re just very proud that we were finally able to bring this to life. We brought it for the people,” he said.
The business will not only contribute to the Kehewin community’s economy, but also to the larger Lakeland region, according to Trevor, as the First Nation’s members visit and purchase products from surrounding municipalities also.
“Let the Lakeland know we’re open for business, and we want business to come. In turn, we share that money,” said Trevor.
Many other initiatives from Kehewin’s former chief and council have also come to fruition in the past three years, including the opening of a K-12 school, construction of a new skating rink, skatepark, a new powwow arbour and baseball diamond, development of a new transfer station, and a new daycare facility. To support the First Nation's growing community, 46 new homes have also been built.
An election was held in late October, where a new chief and council was elected.
