Construction of a new Tim Hortons in Sooke will begin next month.
The proposed half-hectare development will be built on a parcel of T’Sou-ke Nation land located between Saseenos elementary and Edward Milne community schools. The $4.8-million development is expected to take eight months to build, and will include a Petro-Canada gas station.
In February 2016, the T’Sou-ke Nation announced it had entered into a business arrangement to construct the well-known coffee and doughnut shop.
Then in August of 2016, it announced that the Timmies would open by March 2017 as part of a Petro-Canada gas station. Construction was to start in October 2016.
By February 2017, no construction had started but yet another announcement promised construction would start by the end of May. Issues regarding funding, traffic impacts and a plan for a much larger development of the site were cited as reasons for the delay.
Now, a recent announcement by the T’Souke First Nation has promised that a groundbreaking will happen on an, as yet, undisclosed date in November. A grand opening is expected to take place next July.
“We are excited to begin construction on our newest business venture and look forward to the jobs and economic impact it will provide our community,” said T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordon Planes.
Officials from Tim Hortons and Petro-Canada didn’t return phone calls or emails from the News Mirror.