Indigenous Retail Partnership

Tsuut'ina Nation's Decade-Long Economic Vision Takes Shape

The Taza development launched in 2016 as a three-village project valued at nearly $11 billion over its full lifespan. The Buffalo Run area got its first big anchor in August 2020, when a Costco opened — the first Costco on First Nations land in all of Canada Edmonton Examiner.

The Superstore will continue that momentum. Taza uses a 99-year lease structure that lets developers build on the land while the Nation keeps ownership. Chief Roy Whitney has called the development a path to

The Superstore will continue that momentum. Taza uses a 99-year lease structure. It lets developers build while the Nation keeps ownership. Chief Roy Whitney has framed the project as a path to 'economic sovereignty,' saying the goal is 'creating a future for our children and grandchildren on our own terms' Cochrane Times Post.

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Up to 300 Jobs on the Line at August Hiring Event

The August 26 hiring event is expected to draw a large crowd. The store is looking to fill roughly 250 to 300 permanent positions Sault This Week. The project includes a 'First Hire' commitment, meaning Tsuut'ina citizens get priority in the hiring process.

Robert Blattler, Vice President of Real Canadian Superstore, said the store is 'more than just a grocery destination.' He called it a sign of the company's 'commitment to Indigenous allyship' Brantford Expositor. Indigenous advocates say they will be watching to make sure that allyship means management roles, not just entry-level jobs.

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Indigenous Vendor Partnerships Expand the Store's Impact

Superstore has committed to stocking products from Indigenous-owned businesses. This gives local artisans and food producers access to a large-format retail supply chain they could not easily reach before Pembroke Observer. Details on specific vendor partnerships will be shared closer to the grand opening.

The Taza project as a whole is projected to generate $1.1 billion in annual GDP once fully operational. The Superstore footprint is estimated at over 130,000 square feet. Its location near Calgary's southwest ring road, Stoney Trail, puts it about 15 to 20 minutes from the city's downtown core Woodstock Sentinel Review.

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Critics Raise Concerns About Sprawl and Tax Competition

Not everyone is celebrating. Some Calgary city councillors worry about a 'retail drain' — shoppers leaving established city neighbourhoods for Taza Seaforth Huron Expositor. Because the land sits under Nation jurisdiction, the tax and development levy structure differs from land inside Calgary's city limits, which some local business owners call an uneven playing field.

Environmental critics also push back. They argue that a massive car-centric big-box store with large parking lots adds to Calgary's urban sprawl and works against the city's climate goals Mitchell Advocate. Supporters counter that the economic and social benefits for the Tsuut'ina Nation outweigh those concerns, pointing to the success of the Buffalo Run Costco as proof the model works.

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