Reaching Klemtu isn’t easy. Tucked away on the Central Coast and accessible only boat, float plane or helicopter, the remote community is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, abundant waters and the Great Bear Rainforest. For Northern Development’s Director of Communications, Planning and Engagement, Anna Duff, the journey to attend the grand opening of the new Kitasoo Xai’xais Community Store was a reminder that some of the most meaningful projects are found in the places that take the most effort to reach.
The new community store replaces a building that had served Klemtu since 1985. Expanded from 5,500 to more than 8,000 square feet, the new facility features a larger retail space and a welcoming café, creating an essential service for a community where the next nearest grocery store is hours away by boat or ferry. The project also increases the selection available locally while creating a modern space designed to serve residents for decades to come.
What stood out most during the celebration, however, wasn’t the building itself. It was the people.
“The sense of warm, intentional hospitality was immediate,” Anna reflected. “Everywhere I went, people were incredibly welcoming, and this welcome began before I even stepped foot in the community. One of the joys of being invited to meet with people is the opportunity to better understand who the people that Northern Development serves are and the significance of the place that they call home. Being welcomed to celebrations is invigorating and motivating.”
That sense of purpose was witnessed throughout the day. The store’s name was intentionally changed from the Kitasoo Band Store to the Kitasoo Xai’xais Community Store, reflecting a shared vision that the community’s first major development in more than two decades should belong to everyone. During the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the oldest and youngest members of the community officially opened the building together, a meaningful symbol of honouring the past while looking toward the future.
The project also reflects years of investment by the Kitasoo Xai’xais Development Corporation, which contributed the majority of the construction funding through revenues generated by its locally owned businesses, including forestry, seafood, tourism, construction and fuel operations. Northern Development was proud to contribute $300,000 to the project, strengthening community infrastructure while supporting economic development.
The morning after the celebration, Anna stopped by the café before heading home. Community members were already gathering over coffee, talking with neighbours and enjoying the new space together.
For a community where gathering spaces are especially meaningful, the Kitasoo Xai’xais Community Store is more than a new building. It is a place built by the community, for the community, and a powerful example of local investment creating lasting impact.
