It’s been at least a dozen years in the making, but the third phase of the Tsain-Ko Village Shopping Centrein Sechelt is underway, officially marked with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the opening of Tim Hortons on Friday, June 7.
Chief Warren Paull thanked the crowd for attending during the short, rainy, morning ceremony and kept his speech short.
“We welcome them with open arms,” he said of the franchise, which has been open to the public since April and is the anchor tenant of the third phase of the construction project, located on shíshálh Nation band lands across from the Sechelt/shíshálh Hospital.
Shíshálh Nation councillor Alvina Paull thanked the project manager, Converge Construction, and the rest of the participants involved in the development.
Elders Valerie Joe and Audrey Santiago joked they needed a coffee before giving a blessing. “I’m nearly 70 and we waited a long time for this and I’m glad I’m here to see the day,” said Joe.
Owners Allan and Wanda Monosky also spoke. “We are very honoured to be basically the first store open in your new phase. We appreciate being invited here to quickly open the store,” said Wanda Monosky. Her husband added, “We would both like to thank the shíshálh Nation people for inviting us onto their land and hopefully we can serve you well.”
