Home News & Events Agro Division Energy Division Administration Newsletter E-Flyers Co-op App GM Welcome GM Bio About Prairie Roots Consumers Co-op Locations Locations, Products & Services Hours & Contact Info Community General Donations Requests Current year Senior Leadership Management Team Organizational Chart Board of Directors History Marquette Co-op Elm Creek Co-op General Manager's Welcome I would like to extend a very warm welcome to the members of Prairie Roots Consumers Co-operative Ltd. This is an exciting time for us as we move forward together and strengthen our positions in supporting our communities. There will be some structural and operational changes throughout the organization but for the most part won’t impact the daily experience the membership has had with its co-operatives. The amalgamation is and will be a work in progress for the foreseeable future. Our past is very important to us. Knowing where we came from and why we are here in our communities should never be forgotten. Prairie Roots was an excellent name choice and will serve us as a reminder of our great past. It also signifies the start of something grand and strong for the future, that can become whatever the membership decides to make it. From staff, board, and management, we look forward to serving you and appreciate your great continued support. Thank you. Calvin Janke, General Manager,Prairie Roots Co-op About Prairie Roots Consumers Co-operative Ltd. Prairie Roots Consumers Co-op Limited was established on December 1st, 2019 following the amalgamation of Marquette Consumers Co-operative Ltd. and Elm Creek Co-operative Oil & Supplies Ltd. We are dedicated to ‘Building Sustainable Communities Together’ by providing our members with quality products and services in an environmentally responsible way. We pride ourselves on our customer service and, when you visit and of our locations we want you feel like “You’re at home here.” Locations and Products & Services Marquette - Head Office: Marquette Marquette Marquette Location Marquette Store Products & Services Fuel/Energy: Bulk Petroleum, Oil, Grease, Pumps, Cardlock and Petroleum Equipment. Agro: Seed, Chemical, Fertilizer, Feed. Hardware: Fencing, Farm Hardware, Twine etc. C-Store: Tobacco, Grocery. Hours and Contact Info Mail: Box 211 Marquette, MB. R0H 0V0 Phone: (204) 375-6570 Fax: (204) 375-6505 Hours; Monday-Saturday 8:30-5:30. Sunday - closed. Elm Creek Location: Elm Creek Store Products & Services Energy: Bulk Fuel, Pumps (Gas: Premium, Clear & Dyed Regular, Clear & Dyed Diesel, Cardlock, Lubricants, Bottle/Bulk Propane/Satellite Dispenser. Agro: Tanks and Equipment. Hardware: General & Farm (plumbing, electrical, auto, tools, seasonal), Fencing, Animal Health, Bagged Feed, Cub Cadet. Grocery: Grocery, Lottery, Tobacco, Liquor & Beer. Other Services: ATM Hours and Contact Info Mail: Box 130 Elm Creek, MB, R0G 0N0 Phone: (204) 436-2493 Fax: (204) 436-2391 Hours: Monday-Saturday 8:00 to 6:00 Sun.- Closed Admin-Monday-Saturday 8:00-5:00 Starbuck Location: Starbuck Store Products & Services Fuel/Energy: Cardlock, Gas Bar, Propane. C-Store: Liquor, Tobacco, Food. Became part of Marquette Co-op on April 1, 2006 which expanded the trading area to the south. Ag: feed, agronomy services, seed, chemical and fertilizer. Hours and Contact Info Mail: Box 98 Starbuck, MB R0G 2P0 Phone: (204) 735-2382 Fax: (204) 735-2512 Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00 to 6:00 Sunday - Closed Prairie Roots In The Community Prairie Roots Consumers Co-op takes pride in giving back to our communities. Our continued success is dependent on the loyalty of our members and the strength of our community. YOU are the people who purchase our products and services and YOU are the people who will enable us to ‘Build Sustainable Communities together’. If you would like to request a donation or sponsorship, we ask that you give us as much information as possible. This will help us to decide which organizations we are able to support for the current year. Donation and/or sponsorship requests generally fall into one of the following two two basic categories: Community Capital Projects In the past, we have donated to Community Capital projects such as libraries, sports facilities and daycare centres. Projects such as these, that would benefit our local communities, will continue to be considered in the future. General Donations and/or Sponsorships Community organizations such as recreation committees, agricultural societies and other such groups may make requests for assistance. Local youths who wish to attend the annual Co-op Youth Leadership Retreat in Manitoba will be eligible to apply for sponsorship. This program encourages participants to play an active role in their leadership development process. Community events such as festivals and fairs, tournaments and bonspiels, community Fall suppers, etc. can also make requests for a donation in the form of gift cards, merchandise, or advertising sponsorship for example. How to Apply for a Donation/Sponsorship Several options are available to you: Send a letter of request by mail to: Attn. Calvin Janke General Manager Prairie roots Consumers Co-operative Ltd. Box 211 Marquette, MB R0H 0V0 Please be sure to submit your request well ahead of your event or project as some requests require board approval. If you have any questions, we would be happy to help! Please email admin@prairierootscoop.ca Current Year Donations & Sponsorships Elm Creek Minor Hockey; St Claude Broomball; Elm Creek Curling Club; Central Manitoba Holstein Club Dairy Days; Haywood Community Hall; Ted Tkachyk Memorial Golf Tournament; St Claude Library; Portage Turf Club; St Claude Historical Society; Elm Creek Fun Raisers; Elm Creek School Athletics Program; Elm Creek Parent Advisory Committee; 7-6 Ranch (Children’s Wish Foundation); Elm Creek Stay & Play; Manitoba Co-operative Youth Camp; Elm Creek Canada Day Committee; 4H Clubs Elm Creek, Graysville & Treherne; Fannystelle Harvest Fest; St Claude Minor Hockey; Pembina Valley Hawks; Elm Creek Fire Fighters; Elm Creek Dart Tournament; Scotswood Links Golf Tournaments; Sperling Fire Fighters Dart Tournament; Cross Country Snow Drifters; Elm Creek Scholarship; Carman Beavers; Carman Cougars Senior Leadership Team Calvin Janke GeneralManager Pat Chanel Agro Division Manager Trevor King Energy Division Manager Dave Henderson: General Store Division Manager Board of Directors President Paul Heller Warren Vice President Michelle Lepp Elm Creek Secretary Gayle Wolfram Elm Creek Committees Ex-Officio - all Committees Paul Heller Calvin Janke Director Colin Crockatt Argyle Director Martin Keen Marquette Director Chris Voth Marquette Development: Robert Nolting, Keenan Wiebe, Gayle Wolfram. Image/Environment: Martin Keen, Ron de Ruiter, Robert Nolting. Governance: Chris Voth, Colin Crockatt, Ron de Ruiter. Finance: Michelle Lepp, Robert Nolting, Martin Keen. Member Relations: Chris Voth, Keenan Wiebe, Gayle Wolfram. Director Robert Nolting Rosser Director Keenan Wiebe Starbuck Director Ron deRuiter Elm Creek The Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of your Co-op. It represents all of the members, and guides management. Directors are elected at the annual meeting according to the the bylaws of the Co-op. History Elm Creek Coop History The original Mission Statement for Elm Creek Co-op was: "To provide the residents of Elm Creek and surrounding areas with goods and services for their consumption and use on a co-operative basis" Co-op store 1970 This was the original purpose of the Co-op. Those services were provided by Elm Creek Co-op from 1928 until November 30th 2019. The very day the Co-op was granted it's charter, the price of gasoline dropped by 6 cents per gallon in the Elm Creek District. This was to set an example for years to come, showing that Co-ops are a benefit to the community. Elm Creek Co-op underwent many changes between 1928 and 2019, both financially and physically. Members, Board Members, Management, and Staff all benefited from this business over the years. Co-op has provided employment for families in the area, many of whom served on the Elm Creek Board and learned the Co-operative way. The picture above left shows Co-op in1985 and some early products are pictured above right. Although a great many people have been involved in our Co-op over the years, one name remembered by most is Archie Janzen. Not only did he manage the Co-op for many years, he also served on Provincial Credit Union and Co-op Federation Boards. Co-op faced many challenges, none more difficult than the economic downturn during the 1980s. It survived!!!!!!!! Over the years, there were to be more challenges but we became a stronger Co-op because of our loyal membership. Picture above right shows co-op in early 1989. The above picture shows Elm Creek Co-op as it was in 1999, following many more years of extensive planning involving both Board and Management. The Grand Re-Opening took place during Co-op Week in October of 1999, with over 300 people attending the celebration. Significant Dates: 1928 Co-op incorporated 1960 Bought first 1 ton barrel delivery truck 1965 Bought shop garage 1974 Built new store beside garage 1989 Built new warehouse, Tore down original Co-op store, dismantled bulk plant 1992 Renovated inside of Co-op store 1999 Major renovations and expansion. Installed Cardlock. Complete upgrade to facility. 2001/2 Service Bay upgrade. Commissioned Op. took over. 2003/4 Mack Fuel Truck; New Service Centre floor; Introduced Grocery, Liquor, Lottery & Tobacco (following closure of local store). Warehouse expansion completed. 2005/6 New store floor plan completed May 2006 - more room to Grocery & Hardware. 2007 Construction of new Office/Sales addition. 2009 Moved into newly expanded office area 2010 Installed new coolers & freezers. Began selling Premium Gas & Dyed Regular Gas. 2011 Expanded into large appliance sales. Increased floor space (removed Boardroom). Re-paved parking (south) 2012 Expanded truck parking. Moved compound to NE, + expanded & fenced. New Freightliner fuel truck. 2013 Extension to main building (closed in the open garden centre) This increased floor space & productivity. 2014 3 new freezers added. Marquette Co-op History The founders of Marquette Co-operative were ordinary people with modest needs and aspirations. From it's inception, on Monday April 25, 1949, they came together with the belief that their common aspirations of building a better life for their families would be better achieved by working in cooperation as opposed to competition. By adhering to a set of values and principals, they came to equate their success with that of the organization they collectively owned. It must have taken great perseverance and determination to build this sustainable business that thrived for generations. Thanks to our members and visionary individuals who guided our development. Marquette Co-operative became a dynamic cooperative retailer providing goods and services to our members. The collective success we enjoyed throughout the years is the result of years of cooperation and determination on the part of people who worked together for their mutual advantage and benefit. Prior to the organizing of Marquette Consumers Co-operative, a number of people in this area had already become members of the Portage Co-operative which had organized over 20 years earlier. Eventually however, Portage Co-op ran into pricing difficulties due to fuel zoning regulations. Following much discussion it was decided that the Marquette area should leave Portage, and form their own organization. History was made on April 25, 1949. 1958 was a proud year for the organization. This was the first year that cash was paid out to members. Over the years, many people in the area served on the Co-op board who were very dedicated to seeing the Co-op not only survive but thrive. For about the first fifteen years there was no remuneration paid to directors for their time or mileage. In fact, in early years a few directors put up their own money to guarantee loans on behalf of the Co-op. Luckily they were always repaid. In 1960, a house was purchased and a village lot was bought - It was to be the manager’s residence and remains there to this day. Also in the 1960’s, a building, just west of the old store, was purchased ($4,641.00 building; $1,059.99 for the lot) and was used for lumber storage. It was 1979 before land was purchased (west of Marquette in the RM of Woodlands) for fuel tanks. The tanks were moved and set up adjacent to the tracks. It would be eleven years later, in 1990, when a new store would be built on this property by the tracks. In 1993, another piece was added onto this building along with paving the parking lot. By 1997, a new truck garage was built and by 1999, a new chemical warehouse was erected. In the early 2000’s, the Petroleum department continued to grow with the addition of a second tandem delivery truck. In 2003, the Co-op expanded again with a state of the art 1500 tonne fertilizer shed, and with overwhelming community support, another 500 tonne compartment was added on in 2005. The purchase of the Starbuck Co-op in 2006 expanded the trading area to the south. Marquette Co-op was now a regional co-op. This added another farm supply store, chemical shed, and a new petroleum customer base. New fuel cardlocks were installed in Starbuck (2010) and Marquette (2012) to give 24/7 access to clear and dyed fuel. In 2013, a seed-treater and conveyors were purchased for the ever growing cereal and soybean seed business. 2014 saw the beginning of renovations for both the Starbuck and Marquette branches.Three Agro offices were added onto the Marquette store to accommodate the Agro market. At the same time, the front counter was moved to give that area of the store a C-Store feel. During the winter of 2015, an exterior facelift of the Starbuck store and renovations inside were completed to give customers a new, better experience with also a C-Store feel. It was 65 hard years of the Co-op serving its members and its members serving the Co-op. People, local organizations, and business opportunities may come and go, but one thing that won’t… the local Co-op. Past Board & Management Past Presidents - Marquette C.E. Wood J.S. Kelly Hugh Proctor Aurelle Ron King Gunner Norberg Murray McLoed Marvin King Glen Tully Armin Friesen General Managers - Marquette John Sprong 1949-1959 Glen Knight 1959-1973 Tanguay 1973-1975 Wayne Manweiller 1975-2006 Bryan Penner 2006-2013 Calvin Janke 2013-Present Reference: "Marquette Co-op 50 Years" Book, 1999 Original Board - Elm Creek H. W. Barager R. Ivey H. C. Hargest Ed Clucas N. W. Scott R A. Hargest George Sharp