The Northern Village of Beauval is preparing to open a retail recreational-use cannabis operation.
Beauval Development Inc. has acquired a donated building, and will be renovating it over the next couple of months to act as a temporary use for its retail store, called Saskahwa Cannabis.
As the Village goes through the provincial regulatory process, it is conducting open houses Monday and Tuesday for residents to better understand the business concept.
“We want the community to ask questions. I know there’s a lot of questions floating around the community,” said Beauval Mayor Nick Daigneault.
The Village has partnered with a Prince Albert-based company with experience in the cannabis industry. The open house will also provide the opportunity to pre-screen potential employees, as Daigneault said specialized training and social responsibility will be assets for workers. Job postings have already been issued for a store manager and “bud-tender.”
“As time went on and we sort of saw it was picking up no different than your liquor outlet, we thought maybe it would be good to get into it,” Daigneault said of the retail cannabis industry. “With industries like these you want to have a grasp on it. If you don’t do it, somebody else is going to. If someone else is going to do it, they will have control over it.”
Daigneault explained the Village will control all operations of the retail store. Medical grade cannabis will not be sold, but Daigneault said he is hoping educational and other resources will be available.
Daigneault said eventual profits from the operation will be reinvested into wellness initiatives in Beauval.