Pictured above: The shelter has been located near the entrance of the store in Pukatawagan, MB.

The Northern Store in Pukatawagan, MB has come up with a creative way to keep its community members out of the elements on chilly days.

It is not uncommon these days to see line-ups outside of retail stores, as health protocols have placed limits on the number of people who can be in a store at one time. But the very thought of standing in line outdoors during a cold winter day can give us the chills. The Pukatawagan Northern store staff found an innovative solution to this problem. 

The capacity limits have left community members in Pukatawagan standing in the open air, exposed to low temperatures and wind, while waiting their turn to shop in a safe environment. This led some customers to approach Lisa Genaille, Northern Store Manager, who listened to their concerns and decided to take action. The store staff quickly installed two portable carport shelters end-to-end outside the Northern store, where community members could to stand in line without while getting sheltered from the cold.

The shelters have been chained and locked together and tied to the railing of the front steps to prevent them from blowing away. In addition, the 5-6 ft. wide space has been marked inside the shelters with food colouring in the snow, to help the customers continue to practice social distancing while they wait.  

“We’ve received nothing but positive feedback,” said Genaille. “We’re grateful to our community members for trusting us with their concerns. We’re always looking out for their well-being.”