FCL announces partnership with Indigenous groups to develop Western Nations Gas Bars

Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), in consultation with Indigenous leaders and communities across Western Canada, has developed a new, exclusive Western Nations gas bar brand.

FCL aims to grow this initiative into a network of independent, locally-owned Indigenous gas bars using he Western Nations brand. The brand and supporting gas bar program are unique in their focus on re-investing in the Indigenous communities where Western Nations gas bars are based.

Federated Co-op will supply and support independent gas bars in Indigenous communities across the West and manage the Western Nations brand. Communities will maintain ownership of their locations and make their own decisions. The Western Nations brand can be applied to existing locations or new construction.

"We know the energy sector is changing in Western Canada. With that, we see an opportunity to build a brand with Indigenous partners for the collective benefit of our people and communities," says Brian Humphreys, FCL's VP of energy

According to Humphreys, developing a Western Nations gas bar means creating jobs and economic spin-offs for communities, partnering with a trusted brand and supplier, and securing access to numerous supports, including the unique Community Building Assistance Program.

"Community support is an important value of local Co-ops across Western Canada and a critical component of Western Nations. Co-op will provide funding to participating Indigenous communities and those communities will direct the money toward community infrastructure, programming and events," said Humphreys. 

Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL), based in Saskatoon, is the largest non-financial co-operative in Canada. FCL’s total workforce stands about 25,000 employees who serve 1.9 million active individual members and many more non-member customers at 1,500 locations in more than 580 communities.

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