By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle
A hallmark of Husky Car/Truck Stops for many years has been the very large Canadian flag flying overhead. With the empty flag pole in Osoyoos for the last three or four years, social media posters are debating what gives?
To help shed light on this issue the Times Chronicle contacted Otter Co-op, the new owners of Husky since Sept. 13, 2022, with a company representative expressing interest in getting the flag flying again.
The Husky Car Truck Stop located on Highway 97 in Osoyoos just north of Highway 3 ceased being a truck stop three to four years ago, at which point the flag came down. It is now simply a gas station and convenience store.
The difference is a truck stop caters to the fuel needs and space requirements of large commercial trucks and typically has a restaurant. The restaurant closed sometime after Wilford and Wendy Herle shifted from the Husky to open Smitty’s Restaurant on Main St. in 2005.
Cenovus Energy previously owned the Husky stations, but recently sold 181 retail fuel sites, including the Husky stations in Western Canada to Otter Co-op.
Cenovus was asked about why the flag came down, they said “flags are a feature of Cenovus’s travel centres and truck stops only. This location converted to a retail station a number of years ago.”
As a result of the changes no one wanted to directly respond on whose decision it was to take the flag down or put a new one up, although it was hinted that money was probably a contributing factor.
The flags – which serve as landmarks for many communities – are so large that they weigh approximately 22 kg (50 pounds). News headlines such as “Husky’s flag a local landmark” and “Largest flag in Calgary” speak to their notoriety.
But the question remains whether the cost associated with the flags and their maintenance falls on the owners of the gas station or whether they are supported by the corporation.
Strong winds take a toll on the nylon and tatter them over time. There have been reports that the flags end up looking more like a disrespectful eyesore than showing respectful national pride.
A representative from Co-op, responded to Times Chronicle queries and said that “our team is currently investigating our best long-term options for the site and inspecting the flag pole for vandalism or damage. We plan to review everything early in the new year.”
The spokesperson did express strong interest in figuring out a way to get the flag back up. So residents and visitors to Osoyoos may not have to see the empty flag pole for much longer.
The history of Husky goes back to 1938 but the tradition of Husky stations flying the jumbo Canadian flags was only started in 1976.
Other Husky truck stops continue to fly the Canadian flag for the time being, but Co-op’s website says “over the next 18 months the sites will be transitioned to the Co-op brand or one of Co-op’s independent brands supplied by Co-op.” They made no further comment about keeping all the flags flying under the new branding.
