Business Directory – Stettler
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JOHN MacNEIL/Independent editor
Downtown Stettler remains a focal point for shopping and other services for residents of central Alberta.
Stettler-area businesses bank on support of people who call this community ‘home’ Prominent provincial highways and rural routes form a network of entry points into Stettler, the heart of Alberta. All too often, those passages double as an exit point. In search of greener pastures, so to speak, people leave the region on a daily basis to shop, work or play in other parts of the province — or beyond. While it’s sometimes necessary to go elsewhere for essential health services, and it can be enlightening to visit and explore other communities, there are also many hidden gems close to home. Businesses in the Stettler region run the gamut from the homespun operations that have survived — and flourished — for generations to those representing higher-profile brands with all the trappings of contemporary times.
The business community in town needs the support of Stettlerarea folks who live, work and raise families in the region. What’s more, those residents need that same healthy economy in their community. A prosperous economic picture contributes to a vibrant town, which Stettler has proven to be for generations. If local people invest in the community, the ripple effect is enhanced recreational and health facilities, better schools and a greater diversity of shopping and leisure options. But to accomplish those goals, and solidify the long-term population of Stettler, consumers need to practise what many people preach: shop local. At the least, Stettler-area residents need to give local businesses the opportunity to compete for their
shopping dollars. Visit and chat with local proprietors to compare what might well be favourable deals. Even in cases where they’re not necessarily the best bargains, the difference still probably beats the cost of a tank of gas for a trip to Red Deer or Camrose in search of an elusive “sale.” As with any town, Stettler banks on the support of its own. While tourists come and go, depending on the season and the attractions, the lifeblood of a healthy economy in town is a thriving business climate generated by the people who live here year-round. The face of downtown Stettler has experienced changes in the past year, as a few businesses have departed and others have set up shop. Those new businesses — and the established operations — deserve local support.
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