Denis Bussière is happy his business selling quality meats will be staying local under the new ownership.
Taykwa Tagamou Nation (TTN) has purchased Bussière Quality Smoked Meats from Denis and Sandra Bussière who ran the store in Cochrane for over 35 years.
When the couple first opened a small butcher shop, they were in their early 20s. Bussière remembers feeling “young, nervous and scared.”
Decades later, the store has grown into a business serving Cochrane and the rest of Northern Ontario, including Timmins, Hearst and coastal communities.
Bussière said he’s “150 per cent” happy with the decision to sell the business to TTN.
“I’m very happy it was TTN that purchased us and not somebody down south. It stayed local with local people, hardworking people. You can see in the community that they’re doing very good for themselves,” he said. “I’m very glad to be a part of their ongoing business.”
This is the first business that the community has purchased and owns, according to Deputy Chief Derek Archibald.
“This was our strategy, to diversify and try to get away from extracting natural resources,” he said.
Archibald said he’s been good friends with the Bussière family and he tries to shop at the store as much as he can.
The store's ownership will benefit the TTN membership, he added.
“It would create some employment. It’s a really strong business. The revenue generated from the business will be reinvested right back into the community for programming,” he said.
The deputy chief said they hope to grow the store, increase the reach to neighbouring communities such as Longlac and New Liskeard, and possibly open more locations across the province.
There are currently 16 full-time employees, including Denis and Sandra. The store’s management under Joe and Kayla Bussiere will remain the same.
Bussière said he’ll stay as a full-time employee until Christmas. Then, he will work part-time for eight to nine months helping out, but he’ll always be a “phone call away,” he said.
“They’re very excited, very happy and so are we. Lots of new things are coming up, that’s for sure,” he said.
– TimminsToday
