ABD’s Shauna Loewen is team lead for new cannabis stores

September 30, 2018 in News People
Explorer: Fall 2018

As the Business Analyst at Athabasca Basin Development, Shauna Loewen’s job is to research, analyze and develop…basically anything. On any given day, this can mean she’s working on analyzing the feasibility of a new business venture to researching and writing board policies. “My job is very interesting,” says Shauna, “it’s often very project-based and each and every day of my six years here, there’s always something new; it’s an incredible opportunity to learn new things all the time.”

When there was an opportunity for Athabasca Basin Development to be involved in the cannabis industry as part of a group of investors, Shauna was selected as the team lead to develop the proposal needed for SLGA’s lottery process. “We have such an incredible team,” says Shauna, “Three retail consultants with over 100 years of experience between them worked very closely with me and the other two staff members at ABD who worked on this project. We also tapped into the expertise of the group’s collective experience owning over 30 businesses, including very successful gas stations, hotels, and distribution company, among others. We are strongly positioned to run successful cannabis stores in Saskatchewan.”

The group of investors, collectively called Synergy 5 Investments, received word from SLGA in June that they could apply for licences to operate retail cannabis stores in Warman, Yorkton and North Battleford. “To say we were excited is putting it mildly,” says Shauna. “We feel very fortunate to have received licences in three excellent Saskatchewan communities.”

The stores, which will be named “5Buds Cannabis,” are set to be operational in late 2018 and early 2019. Shauna was named as the project lead to get the stores up and running until a General Manager can be hired, likely in fall.

“It was a bit of an unexpected project. And I had no expertise in this particular area,” she says with a laugh. “But we have such a great team, and it’s a very exciting opportunity to be part of a brand-new industry in Canada.”

Shauna has over 12 years experience researching, developing and writing business plans and analyzing business opportunities. Before starting at Athabasca Basin Development, Shauna worked for 7 years as a business analyst and consultant at Rosten Bergsma Business Solutions, providing detailed analysis and planning services for small businesses, First Nations, and non-profits.

In addition to doing work for ABD and its investments, Shauna also has assisted the Athabasca shareholder communities with projects, such as determining the feasibility of business ideas. “I really enjoy working with the communities,” says Shauna. “Getting to know people in the North and working together with them on projects that can benefit people in their communities is very inspiring.”

Shauna has a Bachelor of Commerce degree with great distinction from the University of Saskatchewan. She lives in Hague, with her husband Stephen and their two children.