Local Co-op celebrates 75 years in business!

Meadow Lake Co-op is celebrating a major milestone this year – 75 years serving the local community!

The cooperative was incorporated on March 2, 1945.

“We’ve grown from a very small company into a large one,” said marketing manager Diane Wagmann. “Now, we’ve grown to have 8,400 members.”

To celebrate its diamond anniversary, Meadow Lake Co-op will be giving away 75 gift card prizes. Customers can enter their names in ballot boxes at stores this week. Each winner will also be invited to the Co-op’s 75^th anniversary ‘Picnic in the Park’ event on June 13 in Lion’s Park at the amphitheatre – where the prizes will be even more grand.

Wagman said each winner will receive an additional envelope, of which 74 will contain $75 Co-Op gift cards. One lucky winner, however, will receive $5,000 worth of store credit.

The first ever ‘Picnic in the Park’ is free to the general public and the theme is slated to be an old-fashioned picnic event with carnival-style entertainment including three-legged races, a dunk-tank, ring toss, mock-fishing, and local entertainment on the amphitheatre stage. A pie baking contest is also on the agenda.

Co-op pharmacy will also celebrate it’s 50th anniversary. Original staff including Wayne Wurtz, the company’s first pharmacist, along with John Matwii and long-time general manager Jim Herr, just to name a few, will be among those in attendance.

Meadow Lake Co-op general manager Caralee Strome said staff are working hard to create a fun-filled event for everyone in the community.  Co-op employs nearly 170 members of the Meadow Lake region and has been recognised as one of the ‘Top 100 Employers’ in the province.

Strome said details for the 75th anniversary picnic are still being finalised, but she plans to incorporate a legacy component into the event to honor the past and future success of Co-op and it’s partners.

“We wouldn’t be celebrating our 75th anniversary if it weren’t for our great members,” she said. “It’s the support of our members that have made us who we are today and will take us in to the future.”

Stay tuned for more details on the Meadow Lake Co-op’s legacy celebration.