Dave promotes inclusivity at his store

When Dave Krane learned his store had won Dawson Creek’s 2021 Inclusive Business of the Year award, he was surprised and flattered.

“We didn’t even know we were nominated,” says Dave, who owns the northern British Columbia community’s only NoFrills^®.

The award, which is handed out by the City of Dawson Creek, recognized the store’s partnership with Dawson Creek Secondary School. Since 2019, four students with developmental and intellectual disabilities have taken on work placements at Dave’s store.

It all began when a customer approached Dave with a request. She was trying to line up some job training in the community for her son, a high schooler with autism.

“She asked me if I would be interested in taking on something like that,” Dave says. “And I said right away that I would.”

Her son and another autistic student began working part-time at the store, stocking and facing products in the grocery department.

When summer rolled around in 2020 and it came time for the placements to end, both students wanted to continue working at the store. They’re still there today.

“They’ve both told me how much they love their job,” says Dave. “That’s huge for us—that they enjoy what they’re doing and we all enjoy having them."

Two more students have started work placements at the store. All four work together in the grocery department.

In a small, tight-knit community like Dawson Creek, customers know the students by name and greet them as they shop.

This is what led Dave and his wife to the city 15 years ago. “We wanted to raise our kids in a close-knit community, where everybody knows everybody. It’s a nice feeling.”

He hopes to see his partnership with the high school continue long-term. “It’d be great if, every year, we could continue to take on a new group of students. They bring a lot to the store, and we’re keen to help them find roles that they enjoy and that complement their abilities.”