🍞 Downtown Gull Lake—A Street of Memories
- Gull Lake Events
- Oct 26
- 3 min read
In a recent Facebook post, I asked for your favorite memories of Proton Avenue—and the responses poured in. What began as a simple reflection on our main street quickly became something more: a living archive of Gull Lake’s heart.
🍩 Al’s Bakery—The Sweetest Stop in Town
For me, the first memory is the smell.
“I noticed the scent the moment I walked into Al’s Bakery. Fresh bread, pies, cakes — it all blends into one warm, sweet smell that lit up my senses. It’s something I never forgot. If Al had franchised, I’m convinced it would have rivaled Tim Hortons.”
Others recall the rituals:
Donuts after swimming—a 25‑cent treat on the walk home from the pool.
Bismarcks and long johns—still unmatched in taste.
Piggy buns—pan buns so good they earned a family nickname.
Bread—loaves that people still call the best they’ve ever had, a staple that made its way to countless family tables.
Behind those memories is a story of resilience and continuity:
1957–1963: Al Countryman opens his bakery in the Phillips Building, later moving to the Thomas Building at Proton and Third.
1963–1985: From that corner, Al continued to build a reputation for quality and community.
1985: After nearly three decades, Al retires and passes on the bakery.
Every chapter adds something new, but the heart remains: a bakery for the people of Gull Lake.
From Al’s to Today
Although Al’s Bakery is now part of the town’s legacy, its spirit lives on. Today, The Grainery Bakery carries that spirit forward on Proton Avenue with its fresh bread and pastries, where the essence of fresh bread and pastries continues a time-honored tradition. It’s a reminder that the town’s heartbeat can be found in something as simple as a loaf of bread
🛒 The Co‑op Grocery Store—Numbers and Names
Just down the block, another institution was quietly shaping the rhythms of daily life. The Co‑op grocery store stood as another cornerstone of downtown. For decades, it anchored Proton Avenue until its sale in the early 2000s, when operations shifted to current location at the south end of Proton Avenue.
What people remembered most wasn’t just the shelves or the stock—it was the people.
“I also remember the Co‑op and Anne Friskie’s uncanny ability to recall everyone’s co‑op number—no matter how busy the day.”
That small act of recognition made the store more than a place to shop; it made it a place to belong.
Today, the old Co‑op building on Proton Avenue sits vacant—a quiet reminder of the role it once played in the daily rhythm of Gull Lake. But the Co‑op itself adapted. When the downtown grocery store closed, the Farm Centre at the south end of town expanded, becoming a one‑stop hub that offers:
• Lumber and building materials—fence posts, corral slabs, rough lumber
• Farm chemicals and fertilizer—twine, grain bins, crop inputs
• Oil and petroleum—cardlock access and full‑serve gas
• Feed and animal health supplies—for livestock and pets
• Hardware and equipment rentals—Valmar, heavy harrow, land rollers, post pounders
• Groceries and liquor—everyday essentials and local favorites
• C‑Store and ATM—convenience and cash access
The Co‑op’s role shifted, but its presence in the community has remained strong.
👣 A Street That Walks With Us
Together, these stories remind us that downtown Gull Lake is always more than bricks and banners. It’s footsteps—the ones that build, the ones that learn, the ones that keep showing up. Every generation walks this street differently, but always with the same result: memories that last.
What’s your favorite memory of downtown Gull Lake? Share it with us in the comments below—after all, every footstep adds to the story.
Gull Lake Events
💡 This is just one of the many stories shaping life in Gull Lake.
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Together, we keep our town connected.
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