SHESHEGWANING—Odawa Stone has had its ups and downs in the past, but the future looks really bright now as the business, owned by the Sheshegwaning First Nation has gone through an expansion of the area it is working within and its product line.
“We’re really hoping to make an impact at the West End of Manitoulin, primarily from here to Gore Bay,” stated Trevor Aljoe, who is originally from Meldrum Bay and is general manager of Odawa Stone at a season opening grand opening ceremony at the business located on Mason Line earlier this month. “We have quality stone here, probably the best stone quality you can have, Dolostone, which is extremely hard rock.”
“This will be primarily our first year providing services like cutting custom stone,” said Mr. Aljoe.
“This is a major expansion for us,” said Nancy Cada, board president of Odawa Stone. She explained Odawa Stone, “started in the early 2000s, then it closed for a few years. It reopened again around 2012-2014 and was officially incorporated as Odawa Stone in 2014.”
“We had aggregate started four years ago, and dimensional (decorative) stone for landscaping and the company bought the equipment necessary,” said Ms. Cada. “Trevor started here about a year ago and he has done an amazing job with all the work he has put in.”
Ms. Cada explained, “Originally, our First Nation had bought this property from Joffre Perreault. “When I came back to the community in 2014, (Odawa Stone) was only pulling stone out of the ground for dimensional stone. We sold a few pieces of this rock, but it never really took off. Then in 2018 I was on the board and our manager at the time started the aggregate. We always had landscaping stones and blocks and could sell decorative stone before, but now we have many more products and can cut it in house on our own as a company.”
“We have expanded our aggregates and we have much more choice for customers than in the past,” said Mr. Aljoe. “From crushed gravel to sandy loam, to clear stone, Gabinon stone and more. In our decorative stone cut division we do all custom cutting, from stair steps, to brick, armour stone, and we have started doing fish rock anchor blocks.” He has been the general manager of Odawa Stone for a year and “we have ‘senior guys’ in the company, C.J. Panamick and Brendon Gunsten and will be looking to increase our manpower complement in the future.”
“I’ve been here with Odawa for a year,” said Mr. Aljoe who noted, “My background is in explosives, I have been in the aggregate/mining business for the past 30 years.” His father Robert Aljoe started the quarry in Meldrum Bay which was originally called Seeley Arnill in the 1980s.
As part of the grand opening of the business for the season, Verna Hardwick, Nancy Cada and her daughter Georgina Cada performed a ceremony.
“What is being done here, I struggled with,” said Ms. Hardwick. “I had been asked to take part in the opening ceremony and had asked the spirits to direct me and how I should approach it. I have always believed in protecting Mother Earth. But I understand development has to happen in the community and it provides benefits, including employment.”
Nancy Cada noted, “Among many things I do in, and for, the community, I sit as a board member for the company. I am very grateful to Verna for being able to do the opening with me. And we are really grateful to Trevor for all the amazing work he has done to get the business to where it is at this point. We hope to provide more community members the opportunity to work with this company which will also have benefits for the community, opportunity for work and help the business and community grow.”
“I first started as a member on the board six years ago to be a helper. Being president wasn’t on my radar,” said Ms. Cada. “But I am thankful to be here and see the company move forward.”
“I appreciate everything Sheshegwaning has done for me,” said Mr. Aljoe. “I want to help the community in the development of this company, and we will do our best for the company.”
“We encourage everyone to come visit us here and see what we have to offer,” said Mr. Aljoe. “And if someone calls us wanting to discuss what they want and what we have, we will definitely call them back.”
For those wanting to contact Odawa Stone they can call 705-918-4333, or Sheshegwaning at 705-283-3292.
