The owner of three cannabis shops in the Cowichan Valley is anticipating approval from the Municipality of North Cowichan to open a fourth location in Chemainus by this summer.
It has been a long process, but one that Chris Clay is very familiar with.
“The most important lesson I have learned is the importance of patience,” Clay says. “Each location has taken far longer to open than expected.”
Clay says he has had his sights set on Chemainus for several years. The new shop will be in the Chemainus Village Square Shopping Centre between the existing liquor store and Great Canadian Dollar Store.
“I originally envisioned expanding into Chemainus back when Warmland first operated as Warmland Medicinal Cannabis Centre from 2015-2018 in Mill Bay. However, it took us over three years to receive our first license,” he recalls. “Warmland re-opened as a licensed shop in January 2022, and we focused our expansion efforts initially on South Cowichan.”
Six months after the flagship location launched as a licensed shop, Warmland opened its second store, in Cobble Hill, and this past December opened the third store, in Mill Bay.
“The unit is tucked away in a corner between the liquor store and the dollar store. Its entrance isn’t close to that of any other business, and it isn’t on the route that students would take who get lunch at Country Grocer,” Clay explains, aware of objections that have come up in the past related to proximity to schools.
“The school board automatically sent the municipality an objection letter, which they do for any proposed cannabis store that falls within 300 metres of a school. However, in villages and towns the commercial hubs often fall within a short distance of at least one area frequented by youth, and we have found that municipalities are increasingly willing to look at overall community impacts instead of focusing on specific distances,” Clay says.
“For example, in Mill Bay there are two schools very close to the commercial area (Brentwood College and Kelsey Secondary) but the CVRD still approved our shop and another one that sits even closer to Brentwood.”
North Cowichan approved a cannabis store at Berkey’s Corner that is 63 metres from the Sherman Road Soccer Fields and 259 metres from Ecole Mt. Prevost.
“Berkey’s Corner is very similar to our proposed Chemainus location – it has a Country Grocer, a liquor store, a cannabis shop, and a pharmacy. A daycare is even opening next to our Cobble Hill location, in the same building.
“We could never open up next to a daycare, but apparently there’s nothing preventing a daycare from opening next to a cannabis shop that’s already in place.”
Several years ago, North Cowichan removed specific distances from its bylaw and so it now reads: Council will consider the impact of retail cannabis sale in proximity to schools, libraries, public recreation centres, public community centres, parks, places of worship and family-oriented facilities.
Clay says he received provincial approval “long ago, pending a final letter of support from the Municipality” and now it’s up to North Cowichan.
“The byelection seems to have stalled things a bit but I’m hopeful that council will approve our rezoning application and submit their letter to the province within the next few months.”
In general, I feel that a licensed cannabis shop is a natural fit for any shopping centre that also has a licensed liquor store, and I was thrilled to find the unit right next to Mid Island Co-Op Liquor Store.
Cannabis shops have much tighter restrictions compared with licensed alcohol stores. No minors are permitted on site. However, minors are permitted in liquor stores if accompanied by a responsible adult.
The shop is expected to create three or four full time positions and several part-time positions.
“Both the store manager and store supervisor actually live in Chemainus and have been working at our other locations to gain experience while we await municipal approvals,” Clay says.
Warmland has been a part of the Cowichan Valley since August 2015, nearly 10 years now and we are thrilled to bring our carefully curated mix of cannabis products and accessories to Chemainus,” he adds.
“It’s been a long wait, but it now seems likely that we will finally have the doors open this summer.”