Remote Manitoba community scrambling after grocery store burns

People in Grand Rapids are reeling over the loss of their only grocery store, which was destroyed by fire on Monday.

The RCMP have determined the cause of the blaze at the Co-op to be arson. Damage has been estimated by fire officials to be at least $1 million.

A17-year-old girl from the community, 430 kilometres north of Winnipeg, has been arrested and released on a promise to appear in court in Grand Rapids on July 29.

'One elder, she was crying … because of what happened and she wasn't crying for herself. She was crying for the people. What are they going to do for food now?' —Dion Dick, resident

More than 1,500 people at Grand Rapids First Nation depended on the store to buy food such as fresh milk and meat.

"Everybody is in shock," said Brenda Cook, who chairs the Grand Rapids Co-op board of directors.

She said the board is scrambling to deal with the sudden food shortage. Of particular concern are the community's infants who need formula, and the elders "who depend on the Co-op because they have a charge account," she said.

They don't have disposable income to shop at another store in another community, she said.

Even if they could, the nearest place to get groceries is The Pas, a 260-kilometre drive, said community member Dion Dick.

But there are not a lot of people who can even afford to own and drive cars on the remote reserve, he added.

"One elder, she was crying … because of what happened and she wasn't crying for herself. She was crying for the people. What are they going to do for food now?" he said.

Dick said an emergency meeting is being set up by the First Nation's chief and council. But for now, people are being asked to help each other out, he said.

"We'll all help with whatever we can do. If [someone is] out of bread, we can give them bread, or if they're out of Pampers, we can give them Pampers," he said.