‘This is a great community:’ RCMP Cpl. on La Loche in pandemic

La Loche has become one of the hot spots for COVID-19 in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) reports as of Friday there are a total of 248 confirmed cases in the far north region, where La Loche is located.

The La Loche council passed a resolution to close the government-run liquor store on May 9 for a two week period to prevent the spread. The province agreed.

RCMP Cpl. Rob King is in the community and says people are doing their part.

“This is a great community, people here are super nice, super friendly, very outgoing,” he explained. “But there’s a small segment here that definitely have issues with alcohol.”

The SHA had promised to work on an alcohol support system to help people during the closure, but it appears bootlegging may be taking hold.

On Wednesday, RCMP charged three people after discovering a significant amount of alcohol inside several vehicles.

An illegal 24-pack of beer is selling for as much as $200 in La Loche, according to King.

“It’s really trying to exploit peoples addictions and their cravings for alcohol and it’s really hurting a small segment of the population up here,” he said.

King explains most people living in La Loche are wearing masks and following regulations to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“If you were to introduce alcohol back into the community, I mean, judgement does get impaired when that starts to happen.” He told CKOM 650. “I don’t know if those physical distance rules and things would still be there.”

Before the alcohol sale suspension, there were concerns that young people socializing and those struggling with addiction weren’t abiding by distancing or gathering guidelines.