Business Feature: Winks Convenience Store Slave Lake & Canyon Creek

1 day ago
4 min read

For Wannie Yamsuan, entrepreneurship has been a journey built on hard work, perseverance, and a passion for serving people.

Wannie's Canadian story began in 1974 when his family immigrated to Canada, first settling in Prince George, British Columbia, before moving to Calgary. In his younger years, he performed as part of the Conrad Band, a family music group. While music was an important part of his life, Wannie chose to pursue a career in the trades and graduated from SAIT's Automotive Mechanics program. He later earned his Red Seal certification and built a successful career as an automotive technician.

In 2004, Wannie moved to Slave Lake to help operate Leona's Kitchen, a seafood restaurant owned by his brother and sister-in-law. After the restaurant closed, he returned to his trade and later spent nearly a decade working in the oilfield industry.

Although he enjoyed a stable career, Wannie always had a passion for food and customer service. Nine years ago, he took a leap of faith and purchased a convenience store in Canyon Creek. The business grew steadily, and he later expanded by purchasing Winks Convenience Store in Slave Lake.

Today, Wannie and his family proudly operate two successful businesses that have become well-known throughout the region.

Winks Convenience Store in Canyon Creek

The Canyon Creek location offers much more than a traditional convenience store. Customers can fuel up, exchange propane tanks, purchase liquor, and enjoy freshly baked products from the in-store bakery.

A local favourite during the summer months is the popular Friday Steak Night. Throughout the year, customers can also enjoy fresh pizza, dinner rolls, fish and chips, and convenient ready-to-bake frozen meals. The store serves outdoor enthusiasts as well by offering fishing and hunting licences, ice fishing shack rentals, and even food delivery to customers enjoying the lake.

The spacious outdoor patio is also available for gatherings, birthday parties, and catered events.

Winks Slave Lake

The Slave Lake location has become a favourite stop for many residents, opening as early as 4:30 a.m. to serve customers heading to work.

The store is especially known for its fresh homemade pandesal, a traditional Filipino bread that has developed a loyal following. Customers also enjoy breakfast sandwiches made with homemade buns and a variety of freshly prepared foods, including burgers, quesadillas, fries, fish and chips, siomai, siopao, coconut bread, Spanish bread, and more.

In addition to food service, Winks offers grocery items, lottery tickets, MoneyGram services, and catering for local events and businesses.

A Lucky Store

Over the years, Winks Slave Lake has earned a reputation as a lucky lottery retailer. The store has celebrated numerous bingo and lottery winners, including several prizes worth up to $25,000.

One of the most memorable moments came when a customer won an impressive $987,430.30 through the Lightning Lotto. Wannie still remembers the exact amount and proudly shares the story with customers. The win helped Winks receive provincial recognition as one of Alberta's top lottery retailers for selling a major winning ticket.

Advice for Future Entrepreneurs

When asked what advice he would give aspiring business owners, Wannie emphasizes the importance of staying focused and positive.

"You will always hear negative comments," he says. "Just do the best you can, stay positive, and believe in yourself and the products you offer."

He encourages entrepreneurs to thoroughly research their market, understand what their community needs, and learn from people who have already succeeded in business.

"Pray, stay positive, and don't give up. When you make mistakes, learn from them and use them as motivation to work harder."

For Wannie, one of the biggest rewards of entrepreneurship is the opportunity to build something of your own.

"Being a business owner is hard work, but if you build a good system and a strong business, it can give you freedom with your time. As an employee, you have a stable paycheck. In business, there is risk, but there is also opportunity."

Looking Ahead

Looking to the future, Wannie hopes to continue expanding services at Canyon Creek Winks and finding ways to better serve local residents.

Most importantly, he is grateful for the support of the community.

"The community has been very good to us," he says.

Through quality food, friendly service, and a commitment to the community, Winks Convenience Stores continue to be a local success story and a valued part of life in Slave Lake and Canyon Creek.