Nipissing First Nation cannabis dispensary expands to Ottawa area

By Kelly Anne Smith

NIPISSING FIRST NATION — With the second-year anniversary of Ontario’s first legal Indigenous cannabis store, Kana Leaf is expanding to the Ottawa area mid-March.

The new Ottawa dispensary is in Westboro on Richmond Road. The five business partners are excited about the expansion. One of the owners, Garet Avery, will be managing the store. He is a military veteran with 18 years of service and has business experience, too. The other partners are Garnet Avery, Carrie Avery, Curtis Avery, and Noreen Nichol. All partners are members of Nipissing First Nation.

In conversation with Noreen Nichol and Curtis Avery, the partners talked about being innovative with the new business. Nichol talked about pride in the venture.

“It’s really rewarding knowing we started this business on a First Nation. And to showcase to other business owners that have started on First Nations that they can expand outside of First Nations and be successful.”

Avery talked about looking at options for Kana Leaf.

“We are looking to other municipalities and areas because there are a lot of areas that are under-served. We have to consider the expansion that is going to happen in the future. It’s a strategic direction to enter into the under-served markets.”

Nichol is hoping they expand to other First Nations.

“To help them with that stigma and showcasing that this model does work; this legalization does work and it keeps communities safe.”

She says the Westboro dispensary is a spacious store.

“It’s going to look quite different. It is going to have the [Indigenous] feel to it,” she says. “We will be enhancing our current store eventually with a possible expansion to the physical space.”

Kanaleaf adapted to sudden changes during the COVID-19 pandemic, recalls Nichol.

“We would be told on the eleventh hour, ‘No customers in your store. It’s curbside only.’ Well, you have a matter of hours to figure out how your operations are going to work. We became very adaptable in making sure we followed the protocols and guidelines in cannabis sales. We went from no customers in the store to just doing curbside. And all winter we served curbside. My poor staff were working outside. In and out; in and out with transactions at cars. We also were allowed to do delivery, so that opened up another customer base which is still in place today. Curbside is still allowed, too,” Nichol explains. “We’ve had a lot of changes. I even remember one time, there was such a big change with not having customers in and there are a lot of customers that aren’t computer savvy. At first, we couldn’t take payment outside, so everything had to be done on the phone. So, we set up a call centre. Within ten hours, we had a full-fledged call centre. We look back and wonder how we got through it.”

Avery says customer demand was “crazy” when Ontario was shutting down the first time.

“We did have line-ups as people were trying to get access. And we were one of the only stores in the beginning. There were socially-distanced line-ups literally to the highway to try to get in.”

Nichol points to staff as contributing to their success.

“Our staff were amazing. They were able to adapt. We would throw a change at them, and they adapted,” she expresses. “We have great staff behind us. Some long-time that have been with us from day one, which we are very proud of. Our current store right now, 50% are First Nations. When we are looking for employment, we do reach out to the community first.”

Avery says staff have come from Nipissing First Nation as well as other regions.

“We have or had staff from Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, M’Chigeeng First Nation, Attawapiskat First Nation, and Quebec Cree communities.”

Nichol says the venture has been fulfilling.

“We were the very first First Nation to have a legal dispensary, the first store. I believe now there are 15 legal dispensaries across Ontario on First Nations. I feel we led that way because all eyes were on us. We’ve showcased that this model works. We follow all the same compliance that any other off-reserve store would follow. And we take it very seriously.”

Nichol says the customer have benefited from the legal market.

“From the date that we opened until now, we’ve seen a significant reduction in the cost. Prices have come down. When those prices come down for us, they come down for the consumer.”

Avery agrees.

“The legal market is the only way in the future for this industry. The price drops are becoming so apparent that it’s out-competing the illegal market. People know they are getting safe products and the amount of options is just phenomenal. There’s everything for everybody.”

Nichol says Kana Leaf caters to customers.

“If a customer comes looking to us for a product, we will do our best to get that product. We want to be able to serve our customers.”