By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — A windy day couldn’t spoil the festivities as the Riverbend Co-op celebrated the grand opening of its Davidson gas bar on Highway 11 on Thursday.

Two players from the Saskatchewan Roughriders — cornerbacks Tyron Brackenridge and Paul Woldu — were on hand for a couple of hours to sign autographs.

The event also included a ribbon cutting ceremony and a fundraising barbecue for Davidson’s new swimming pool. In addition, 10 cents from every litre of gas sold from the Co-op pumps on Thursday was donated towards the pool.

Several Co-op representatives and other dignitaries offered remarks during the short ceremony, including Davidson Mayor Clayton Schneider, who said businesses like Riverbend are helping the community to grow and thrive.

“We’re truly blessed to have businesses such as yourselves as part of our great community,” he said, also lauding the Co-op on its business sense in taking advantage of a new location along Highway 11, one of the province’s most heavily-travelled highways.

Dawn Erickson, board secretary for Riverbend Co-op, expressed her appreciation to Davidson residents for their support, saying, “I’m so proud of our staff and our facility.”

Riverbend general manager Greg Sarvis said the new gas bar had been in the works for more than three years, explaining, “It’s kind of full circle for me.”

He said the facility represented the single biggest Co-op investment in Davidson in two decades. He also commended the staff for weathering some surprises along the way.

Riverbend Co-op purchased the site on the east side of Highway 11 in the spring of 2012, demolishing the former restaurant and gas station to make way for the new project.

Construction was delayed but finally began in October of 2014. The station officially opened for business on Aug. 24.

For the full story, please see the Oct. 19 edition of The Davidson Leader.