Community wants to save Bashaw Meats

Since the province closed Bashaw Meats last month for alleged safety violations, the community has rallied around the owners to try to get the shop back up and running.

“They’re not laying down and taking it,” said Robert Berry, a Bashaw resident and friend of owners Darren and Carrie Pearson. “There’s a large number of businesspeople in the community that are helping out where they can.

“The Pearsons are friends with everybody in town.”

The community’s only meat shop was forced to close to the public Dec. 12, after Alberta Health Services discovered “safety problems,” including sanitation issues and a deteriorating building that presented hazards.

Berry said he has never had any concerns with the sanitation of Bashaw Meats, but added the biggest problem has been getting the building up to code.

“They’re looking at some options, whether they’re going to renovate the existing building or if they’re gonna set up a new building,” he said. “There’s all sorts of ideas right now.”

Yvonne King, whose father Melvin Hay owns Bashaw Concrete and is helping the Pearsons design floor plans for a potential new building at the same location, said it’s still early in the process, but the community is ready and willing to help bring Bashaw Meats back.

“There’s a lot of people who want to (help),” she said. “They’re just waiting to find out what needs to be done, and then they’ll be right there to help out.”

Darren Pearson, who couldn’t be reached for comment, has said in the past that upgrades to the building or a new facility could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.

King said the community is committed to helping them every step of the way, including letting the owners know there will be customers when they re-open.

“I think the biggest thing is that they know that people are there to support them,” she said. “And if they invest all that money in a new building, (they know) people will still come in and shop there.”

Berry said Bashaw Meats was a crucial part of the community and losing a business like that long-term would hurt the town.

“It’s very positive for the community,” he said. “The meat shop was one of the big draws here. To keep a small town from drying up and blowing away, you need to get people into the town. There’s spinoffs from that.”

While the process of rebuilding is still in its infancy, King said the Pearsons have been good members of the community and that residents will try to support them.

“They’re not ready to have a whole bunch of people show up at the door with hammers — they’re not at that stage just yet,” she said. “But the support from the community has been fantastic and I know they’re very, very grateful for that.”