Although it has had three different names in the past 50 years, the essence of the grocery store on Patricia Street has remained the same whether the sign read Save-Rite, Super A, or TGP.
Valentine (Val) Kulak entered Jasper’s grocery industry in 1945 with the opening of Save-Rite, which stood where the Bear’s Paw Bakery is today.
In those days, a loaf of bread cost about 19 cents.
With experience as both a Safeway manager in Edmonton and a supply manager for the construction of the Alaska Highway during World War II, his grocery expertise made for a successful, innovative shop.
The store’s refrigerated coolers for fresh produce marked a significant step forward in food storage technology.
Kulak moved to Jasper from Edmonton in spring 1945, the same year he opened Save-Rite, with his wife, Emma, and their two young sons, Linton and James.
Three years later, he opened a second Save-Rite where TGP stands today, and the family moved into living quarters in the back. That same year, Kulak added a wholesale business to the original store.
Despite Jasper having only 1,800 residents, Linton recalls his parents being very active in the community.
Mr. Kulak was a president and member of the Chamber of Commerce, belonged to the local Kiwanis Club and the Jasper Glee Club, and was associated with the Jasper School Board and Jasper Ski Club.
He also worked tirelessly with other community members to promote the construction of the Yellowhead Route to Kamloops.
At the time, Linton says, the route was little more than a trail. Valerie says that Val had a strong Christian faith and, by all accounts, lived it.
In 1953, Mr. Kulak’s original store burned down.
Kulak replaced the shop by buying out Vern and Doug Jeffery, who were ready to retire from running their long-standing grocery and clothing shop, W.S. Jeffery and Sons Grocery.
This new Save-Rite was on Connaught Drive, in the building that would later become Sayuri Japanese Restaurant.
Kulak’s half-brother, Gerald Kulak, worked at both Save-Rites as a teenager. Despite extremely long workdays—he worked 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. six days a week—he liked the work, and said of Val, “he really treated me well.”
Gerald and Linton, Kulak’s son, regularly delivered wholesale goods to nearby summer camps and outfits. This, says Linton, was the best part of the job—the journeys allowed them to meet both people and wildlife.
“One time, we were at Sunwapta Falls, and we had stopped for coffee on our way up to the Icefields,” said Linton. “We left the truck window down, and a humongous black bear got himself through the front window and tried to get at the groceries and just about chewed the seat in half.”
In 1955, the Kulak family expanded with the arrival of their daughter, Valerie.
Sadly, only two years later, Mr. Kulak’s life was cut short. In February 1957, he became very ill and was transported to Edmonton’s University Hospital via ambulance. He died several days later of complications from Crohn’s disease.
Left with two teenage boys and a toddler, Emma Kulak sold the businesses and the second store to John Clark, who ran a grocery store in Edson.
Clark operated the stores under the same name and out of the same buildings until 1965, when he conglomerated both stores into a brand new, flat-roofed building on Patricia Street. That building is the one Jasperites know and love today as TGP.
In 1967, The Grocery People Ltd., which was known as Alberta Grocers at the time, acquired the store. In 1982, the company changed Save-Rite’s name to Super A Foods, a name which stuck for more than 30 years.
Then, in 2015, Super A Foods was rebranded TGP Your Jasper Grocer in an effort to tie the store closer to the community.
Rick Lagace became the manager of TGP in 2009. Valerie Kulak believes her father would be pleased that Lagace has continued the spirit of giving to the community.
TGP supports local initiatives like the Jasper Food Bank and Santas Anonymous, as well as various local charities through the store’s community loyalty program.
Lagace has helped the Jasper Yellowhead Museum & Archives with various fundraising events and is presently an official supplier of the Summer Day Camps, which start on July 26.
On behalf of the community, we would like to thank Lagace and his staff for working tirelessly to make grocery-shopping safe throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
With files from the Jasper Fitzhugh and Valerie Kulak
At the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum & Archives, we have finally opened our doors. Operating hours are 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily.
For the first time ever we are offering weekly summer day camps for kids aged 6 – 12 years old, for more details check out our website at www.jaspermuseum.org/events.
We have also collaborated with other local arts and culture groups to bring you the 20/20 Arts & Culture Draw, for more details again check out our website at www.jaspermuseum.org/culturedraw.
If you would like to help us continue to tell Our Jasper Stories we could use your help more than ever at this time.
To become a member or to make a donation please visit our website, mail in a cheque or send an email transfer to [email protected], charitable tax receipts will be issued.
Thank you for your support and we welcome any gifts or donations to secure the future of our Museum and Historical Society as custodians of the past.
