Having the community buy into the solution for securing a grocery store in the east end of Timmins is essential, according to Timmins Mayor George Pirie.
At the Sept. 22 council meeting, Theresa Rycaj talked to council about the need for a full-service grocery store at the Porcupine Mall. She was representing the group who created a petition, which garnered more than 3,200 signatures, for a grocery store at the mall.
Pirie supports the petition, and also suggested forming a co-operative with the people who signed it.
In 2019, the Porcupine Mall Metro closed. Since then there has been speculation about what could replace the only chain grocery store in the community. The company confirmed in late 2019, it didn't have plans to open a Food Basics in the space.
Without a grocery store, Giant Tiger and Dollarama have stocked more food. Nearby, the Urban Farm in South Porcupine offers a variety of locally-grown food.
At the time of the closure, Metro also arranged for a free shuttle to the Timmins location of the grocery store. In the five weeks it was offered, no one used the service.
“East end residents are very frustrated of not having the convenience of a full-service grocery store in the community as we consider this a crucial and essential service, especially now during COVID-19. Seniors, students, low-income families and individuals with disabilities rely heavily on a full-service shopping store in close proximity, especially those without their own transportation,” Rycaj told council.
She said expenses are getting higher, and driving to Timmins for groceries may cause people to cut back on food or other necessities, or make unhealthy food choices. Organizations holding fundraisers at the mall also rely on the grocery store attracting people to the building, she said.
“If other surrounding, less-populated communities such as Iroquois Falls, Matheson, Cochrane and Chapleau can sustain one or two grocery stores in their community then Metro should examine why these are so successful and take example,” she said.
Rycaj asked for council's input on how to proceed with reaching out to Metro, or if there are other options for a grocery store at the Porcupine Mall.
Pirie noted the number of people who signed the petition.
"That demonstrates to me an incredible interest in the community in a grocery store here in this community, at least some place in this community,” he said.
He suggested asking the people who signed to pay $10 to become a member of a co-operative.
“With the $32,000 with the board in place, then you do a marketing study, you do a business study. You say, how is this going to happen? Is it going to be Metro, is it going to be at McDonald’s? But then the community will be fully involved in that solution, which I think is essential to get this determined,” said Pirie.
A business plan, he said, will show if the store would be supported and what price points are needed.
He also suggested that the community has to support residential development in South Porcupine to grow the population, which supports the schools as well.
