‘People count on this place’: Pembina Hwy. Giant Tiger latest location slated to close

Giant Tiger, a popular Canadian discount retailer, plans to close its Pembina Highway location next year, leaving some Winnipeg residents concerned about the loss of affordable groceries in the area. Doreen Yanchuk, a regular customer, expressed her disappointment, noting that the store's sales are a major draw due to their high prices elsewhere.

The Pembina Highway store will close on February 27, joining a growing list of closed Giant Tiger stores in Winnipeg, including locations on Donald Street and Ellice Avenue and Main Street and McPhillips Street.

Curtis Sinclair, a Waverley resident who shops at the Pembina location almost daily for his family of five, expressed worry about the closure's impact on his $300 monthly grocery budget. He mentioned that he cannot afford the higher prices at other grocery chains and fears the closure will strain low-income families who rely on the store.

Kyle Mason, executive director of Food Matters Manitoba, an advocacy organization for food security, emphasized that the loss of the Pembina store compounds the challenges faced by under-resourced individuals in finding affordable, nutritious food. He warned that shoppers will now have to purchase from other stores that may be more expensive, making it difficult for families to make ends meet.

Some community members, like shopper Carmelle Meilleur, anticipate driving to other Giant Tiger stores once the Pembina location closes. She expressed empathy for those who cannot afford the same items she can, stating that the store closure will negatively impact the community.