UPPI keeping customers happy and employees employed 

 

Since the change of ownership last May (’07) the UPPI group of gas stations in BC has been busy branding stations and rebranding stations to reflect the happy situation of good ownership and management. The policy of continuous growth in First Nations economic development also reflects positively on the bottom line at the growing concern.

 

Trent Bilodeau is UPPI northern territory manager, "Many aspects of our business involve development of First Nation sites, including the recent rebranding and signage upgrades at Stellako Band owned Slenyah Store and the Anahim Lake area gas station and store business owned by Alexis Creek First Nation."

 

Trent is working with others along Highway 16 west of Prince George to establish the UPPI business presence both on-reserve and into other communities. UPPI took over the Slenyah Store location at Stellako (2 km east of Fraser Lake, BC, "about a year and a half ago."

 

This business has been a positive outcome for the UPPI distributors. "This is a well run outfit," said Bilodeau, who alluded to the First Nation operation as being successful and the community as being proud owners. "They are a good example of why UPPI is always looking to do business with First Nations in this region."

 

UPPI likes to give back to communities that make strong efforts at economic development. "We enjoy working at the community level, making contributions to communities that are working with 'at risk' youth," he said, regarding kids entering their teens and meeting up with the peer pressures that cause misguided behaviours.

 

"We made a sizable contribution this summer to take kids to Vancouver," where they learned about the dos and don'ts related to urban life. "These communities have earned the corporate support and we give it."

 

UPPI is happy to make themselves into the small but efficient economic drivers that store/stations become in small centres like Stellako. "New signage and remaking the image is important, and we do it to keep the dollars flowing into the communities." They offer status member pricing, so, naturally, they get the local area business, but new signs and store fronts bring in the highway traffic as well, which also helps grow the business and feed the economy of the tiny community.

 

"Consistency is important for them to run the business in the local economy. We did a make-over of the pumps and highway signs and the Slenyah logo sits with the UPPI logo today. They are flying the flag above their efforts and Trent is pleased with his dealings and the management of the Slenyah property. He spent six years as a distributor of 76 lubes and oils and the past year as the territorial manager for UPPI.

 

Sally Larson is the manager of the UPPI outfit at Slenyah Store, "I am the acting manager for the store owned by the Stellako Band," said she, "where we sell gasoline, confections and some groceries and cigarettes." They offer microwaveable food products and employ eight people on a part-time basis in the store.

 

"We are switching to winter hours as of November 4th, 6 A.M. to 10  P.M. (and won't revert to summer hours until next May (6 A.M. to 11 P.M.)," she said. On Sundays they open an hour later, 7 A.M.. "We have a highway 16 location on the reserve properties, and we get the highway traffic for our business as well as the local community members as customers who want the status member pricing."

 

Stellako First Nation has about 200 on-reserve community members. Fraser Lake is about 3.5 km to the east. Other nearby First Nations community members also shop for their gas at the Slenyah Store UPPI site. "We have had a store and gas station here since 1999, and became a UPPI outlet last year."

 

Staffing has been easy for Sally, "Our employees like their jobs; we have no trouble keeping them employed. We are actually looking for some people to work through the Christmas period so employees can take a break." As for the current process of rebranding the site with signs and so forth, Sally said, "We are getting nice comments and compliments about the look."

 

Customers seem to be happy with the new pumps and look of the service station. For further information visit www.uppi.bc.ca or contact Brian Morgan at brian@uppi.bc.ca

Locations for using the Status Card in BC

Card or not please support these businesses as independent First Nation operators

BURNABY, Spring/summer  '07 - First Nation people with a Status Card handy continue to be pleased to fill ‘er up with First Nation entrepreneurs because the price of gas has made a Status Card a valuable commodity to those who qualify. Travelers in B.C. on holidays or business this summer will prefer to use the stations named below because they are on-reserve, owned and operated by First Nations people or corporations, and that means Status Card pricing. Also, most of the stations have websites to read up on the area.

The United Petroleum Products Inc. (UPPI) story speaks to cooperation and forward vision leading to a long string of UPPI- affilated gasoline stations owned in the First Nations. These businesses have become major fixtures in their respective communities and we offer a glimpse at the network of service stations equipped to deliver 'Status Member' pricing and highway services to travelers, starting with T'Kemlups Petroleum Gas BarEnjoy a full-service gas station at the corner of East Shuswap and Highway No. 5. "One of the lowest priced gas stations in the valley." Tel: 250.377.8684 in Kamloops, B.C.(corner of East Shuswap and Highway 5), which sells gas, diesel, and propane, with a convenience store, dairy and bread.

The location operates in a all-year tourist location, and camping is nearby in summer with world-class fishing rivers. Winter has the Sun Peaks Ski Resort delivering customers for fuel. Remember the famous Kamloopa Days Pow-Wow, July 30-31 at the KIB Pow Wow Grounds.

Kahmoose Gas, Boothroy Indian Band, 11 km north of Boston Bar, and Hell's Gate Air Tramis due south is owned by Boothroyd Indian Band, 11 km north of Boston Bar on the TransCanada Highway. Hell's Gate is due south, Lillooet is west, and traffic goes south to Vancouver or north to Prince George year-round, peaking in July-August. At Kahmoose they pump regular and diesel. RV's are welcome on an accommodating lot with a sanidump, and the community has features around the gas station including a souvenir stand and cultural facilities in development.

Nicola Lake is a narrow lake, part of a chain of long lakes that point toward Kamloops from the south west, located 270 km northeast of Vancouver. These waters provide a traditional crossroads for three First Nations, namely the Secwepemc (Shuswap), Okanagan, and Sto:lo nations. Lakeview Gas Highway 5A a few km north of Merritt, B.C. Lakeview Gas and Convenience Store Visit Lois and James Blankenship t 250.315.1392 where Lakeview Gas operates in Upper Nicola selling gas, groceries, and arts and crafts. They run a restaurant, and opened an R.V. park. In-store contains a flavour of the past and present with leather and buckskin clothing for sale, plus George Abbott jewelry, carvings, sterling silver pendants, drums, drum shakers, soapstone, and plaques. Lakeview Gas is positioned on Highway 5A a few km north of Merritt, B.C..

Johnny's on the Rez Lower Nicola (7 km w/of Merritt on Highway 8) service station in Lower Nicola (7 km w/of Merritt on Highway 8) is privately owned by First Nation entrepreneurs who see four seasons of travelers for tourism. Tourists are enroute to major ski locales in the Okanagan in winter, and a wonderfully temperate climate year-round. Pump services include regular, premium, and diesel. In-store they sell pizza, subs, and salads.

The backdoor to the 2010 Olympics runs past LIGHTFOOT GAS PO Box 34 Lillooet BC VOK 1VO ph 250 256-0010 Lillooet, B.C., at the head of the Duffy Lake Highway (Lillooet, B.C. to Whistler). The territory is St'at'imc (Lilloet First Nation) mountaneous and beautiful beside the Fraser River. The ‘secret' highway to Whistler, B.C. is a scenic dream. Fill up at one of Lightfoot Gas'seven pumps under a bright-lit canopy and store beside a pristine river on the Lillooet First Nation. Lightfoot Gas offers homecooked sub buns, chicken, and other restaurant-quality meals, and truly caters to a tourist crowd year-round.

Lil'Wat Gas is Mount Currie First Nation's UPPI station is at the other end of the highway, in Mount Currie First Nation, 20 minutes north of Whistler. Mount Currie is about 1,200 people on Lil'Wat Lake and the station contains a convenience store, fast food outlet, and post office. They have eight pumps, including diesel and propane, plus oil recycling facilities. Lil'Wat First Nation like Lilloet is St'at'imc, one of a group of 11 First Nations that occupy the lakes in the Coast Mountain Range north of Vancouver.

Two major highways 1 and 7 run into the Lower Mainland on opposite sides of the Fraser River. Chehalis Gas (Two hours north of Vancouver: See salmon spawning on reserve), Chehalis Gas is roughly 50 km from Mission (west) and 30 km from Agassiz (east), in close proximity to Chilliwack, B.C.. Chehalis Gas is a community operation first and foremost. They sell gas and diesel fuel to the community of around 1,000, (split 50/50 Coast Salish and non- Native). Here is one of the most productive fish economies in the Lower Mainland, including all species of salmon spawning on-reserve.

Also enroute to Vancouver, on the Lougheed Highway, the Seabird Island First Nation, Lougheed Highway, service includes Cardlock. runs a gas station beside the reatuarant and their service includes Cardlock. The Tzeacheten First Nation is marketing to First Nation customers near Chilliwack. Business is thriving for all of these concerns.

Tzeacheten First Nation Chilliwack, First Nation only.

For the boating traveler, Mosquito Creek Marina, 415 West Esplanade North Vancouver B.C. V7M 1A6 Office Phone: 604.987.4113 Fax: 604.987.6852 Gas Barge: 604.980.8370 for boating travelers is located at 415 West Esplanade North Vancouver. They offer First Nation status member pricing and friendly marine service, and this outlet allows people to continue to frequent First Nation entrepreneurs in the marine environment. Services at the marina include moorage for 16' to 60' boats, a fuel dock with bait and snacks, a restaurant, and dryland service for watercraft.

Tsatsu Gas, Tsawassen Ferry Terminal is another of the UPPI owners continuing to work inside their communities to provide a useful centre of commerce and potentially other activities, and report that services are highly appreciated by the families of First Nations in these communities. like the ‘last-stop' road service at BC Ferries terminal in Delta, B.C.. Tsawwassen First Nation built the 800 sq.ft. convenience store/lotto outlet to sell gas, diesel, auto accessories, oil, and fluids, and packaged food at the crossing. They open 7 am to 10 pm daily, a few hundred feet from the beach. Visitors can walk down to watch ferries come and go.

UPPI, a BC-owned fuel distribution company, took an extraordinary direction in the B.C. economy and grew into an important and innovative fuel enterprise. Gas Stations for First Nations: Call Brian Morgan for information (1-604-571-4526)

Osoyoos Indian Band recently signed on to UPPI distribution!