Whale Cove (Apr 21/03) - When it was built the new Co-op in Whale Cove was described as a bright spot in the community - but even the brightest sun hides behind a cloud sometimes.

In recent weeks the store has experienced some difficulty keeping shelves stocked due to what manager Bernice Croucher described as ordering problems.

She discovered the problem when she returned from holidays and she said she tried to rectify it as quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, it was not before the shortage impacted on one local community event.

The canteen used to supply the annual Johnny Kook Memorial hockey tournament held April 4 was very short on goods because they couldn't be obtained from the Co-op, the community's only grocery store.

Croucher said she tried to have the shipment in on the Friday when the tournament began but bad weather and regular shipping time meant it didn't arrive until midway the following week.

Anita Kabvitok, hamlet recreation coordinator, said that it meant buying chocolate bars from a person in town and pop from a individual in Rankin.

The pop, she said, was about the same price but the chocolate bars were more expensive.

The shortages didn't effect goods like milk, bread and produce, which arrive through the food mail program, said Croucher.

What was impacted were supplies like pop and chips.

"Fast food type items," she explained.

Shortages are not uncommon, shipping can take up to 12 days and smaller communities are not given priority for plane shipments, said Croucher.

"So if you run out it takes a while to get caught up," she said.

But, the store was fully stocked by the Easter weekend, a freight flight on April 16 put the store back on top of its orders, said Croucher.

There is also some relief for the coming year.

According to Croucher new shipping procedures will mean additional freight for the community.

In the past the sealift would bring one major goods delivery to Whale Cove a year.

This year Croucher said instead of one barge the community will receive two separate shipments via ship.

"It will mean we won't have to fly in as much freight in the coming season," she said. It will also have a benefit on dated items such as pop. Croucher said now midway through the year when supply begins to dwindle instead of air freight there will be another large shipment coming by sea.

"That's good news for Whale Cove," she said.