Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Bryce Williams helped build the excitement level for Tsawwassen Mills in a special event Monday evening at the shopping centre's biggest tenant.
About 100 people, including TFN members and store staff, were at Bass Pro Shops for a ceremonial dropping of the first fish, a chinook salmon, into the store's huge fish tank.
After more than two years of construction, the event signified the 1.2-million-square-foot mall is indeed close to its highly anticipated grand opening next week.
The huge tank will have many more fish, including a sturgeon, added in the coming days.
"This is really great to see," said Williams. "It's not only a great opportunity for the Tsawwassen First Nation, but the surrounding communities. It was great to see this coming together like it has and we have really great partners.
It's amazing to see it come to life this fast. It just goes to show how we mean business in Tsawwassen."
Bass Pro Shops general manager Gerry MacIntyre said the store's goal is to connect people with the great outdoors.
Following the fish drop, the Optimist was given a sneak peak of the massive recreational outlet that has everything from hunting and camping supplies to fishing gear and boat sales and repair.
"I think young people, especially here, have lost that connection. They're on their computers and tablets. We think this is going to be a valuable experience, inspire and change all that," said MacIntyre.
The log cabin designed building also houses Uncle
Buck's Fishbowl and Grill, a 12-lane bowling alley, an expansive bar area, gift shop and all kinds of nature-themed artwork.
MacIntyre said customers, on average, will travel up to 85 kilometres and spend two hours in the store, saying it's all about the experience. The "outdoor world" is around 180,000 square feet once the bowling alley, meeting rooms and restaurant are added, he said.
Staff training, stocking and the finishing construction touches are still going on at the store, which opens Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m., a day ahead of the rest of Tsawwassen Mills.
It will be the fifth store in Canada for the chain and its first location in this province. Bass Pro has 80 stores in the U.S.
