Minor Hockey Salute
INSIDE! Your LOCAL Media since 1918! Volume 105 Issue 27
www.tofieldmerc.com
Wednesday, March 8, 2023 s
Ribbon officially cut on Co-op Cardlock
The Wild Rose Co-op Cardlock and Agro Site held their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony on Mar. 2 where at least 50 people gathered for a free barbeque and silent auction to celebrate. L-R: General Manager Carol Rollheiser, Business to Business Operations Manager Neil Bratrud, Board President Doug Hampshire, Board Vice President Meghan Gunderson, Tofield Deputy Mayor Harold Conquest and Camrose and Tofield Agro Manager Greg Prusko. Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter
The Wild Rose Tofield Co-op Cardlock and Agro Site held their official grand opening and ribbon cutting on Mar. 2 plus a free barbeque and silent auction to mark the special occasion. At least 50 people came out for the event, including Tofield Deputy Mayor Harold Conquest, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Edwards, Chief Administrative Officer Cindy Neufeld, and Town Councillors Larry Tiedemann, Norm Martinaeau, and Brenda Chehade. “It’s our official launch to say, ‘Co-op members, we’re here’,” said General Manager Carol Rollheiser. Rollheiser said she was happy with the construction of the new business and things went smoothly. “We started building last summer. I think we broke ground in June, and it's been great. It went as good as any project and it's great to work with the Town and the community,” she said. “The town's been welcoming and it’s nice to work with a community that's really open for business.” Rollheiser said the new Co-op offers fuel products for residents as well as Agriculture customers.
“We don't have mid-grade here, but we have regular, premium, and then we've got all the dyed products for the farm and we got the clear products,” she said. “We're excited to have (premium gas) here (because) we don't have it at our other six card locks. Our premium gas doesn't have ethanol at this time.” Rollheiser noted that customers will need to apply for a Co-op cardlock card to use the pumps, but that will change in the future. “(Paying with credit or debit cards) is something that we're looking forward to bringing to town hopefully sooner than later, but I don't have a date,” she said. “And then that opens it up to everybody, because I know not everybody wants to have another credit card bill in the mail.” Rollheiser said farmers will be able to buy a variety of AG products and equipment at the new Co-op including fuel tanks, grain augers, and fertilizer bins. “Brett (Njaa) will look after the sales portion and he also specializes on the AG side of our business to serve the local farming community and agriculture community,” she said, noting that Co-op has professional agronomists that can also work with local AG customers and members.
Rollheiser emphasized that Co-op is member owned with profits redistributed back to members. “Just to share, on May 1 this year, our general cash repayment of our profits will be going out to all our members that purchased from us in the 2022 fiscal year and $2.6 million in cash in the form of cheques is going right back to our members,” she said, also sharing that Tofield had a previous Co-op that failed in the early ‘80s. “I think (it was) different business models and different times. It's hard to say why. In the early ’80s things were tough and lots of businesses didn't survive that period,” she said. “And some did. Co-ops consolidated and now we're able to bring that back. I think it’s a sign of the strength of our business model and strength of the community.” Meanwhile, Rollheiser said the new Co-op will employ one full time person and one half time person with the possibility of growth in the future. In addition to a variety of fuels, AG products and equipment for sale, the new Tofield Co-op also has a free service that will be ready in time for camping season. “An RV Sani Dump,” she said. “It will be ready in the spring.”