In Yellowknife, the African Tour of a grocery store north of the 60th parallel

When you enter Mama Sylla, the contrast is striking between the smell of smoke outside, in Yellowknife (new window)and that of perfume mixed with spices that reigns in the store.

A store that the adoption Ténoise has installed at home.

What was originally a lounge was transformed into a real small business: in place of sofas, there are a multitude of shelves, and the TV has gave way to a counter with a cash register and a balance.

I do this in addition to my full -time workTimidly explains the one who works as a coordinator at the French-speaking school board of the Northwest Territories.

It’s my baby, and it’s a job that requires a lot of attention, full -time.

The story of Tensy Market is that of a whim, like the history of the arrival in Yellowknife of Mama Sylla in 2016.

After six years in Montreal, the Senegalese was looking for new challenges, new adventures.

I said to myself: why 10 provinces and 3 territories? What does that mean? So, I decided to come and check for myselfshe said today in an amused tone.

During these first years in the Northwest Territories (TN-O.), Mama Sylla has a lot of back and forth between the Quebec metropolitan area and the Ténoise capital, from the trips of which she returned with suitcases full of African products that she couldn’t find in her new city.

Word-to-feeding has its effect, the requests of friends, then friends of friends have multiplied so that it reports this or that food.

And there, I got up on a whim during my break on a Thursdayrecalls the entrepreneur, who adds: I went to the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. And there you have it, I had my grocery store.

Dreams of grandeur

Thread by needle, she then contacted a supplier in Montreal, then commanded her first products; Tensy Market was born.

The project was supported and supported by the Economic Development Council of the North West Territories (CDETNO) and Haudry Escandón, its agent in economic development and innovation, which is originally from Colombia.

There is a great African immigration, notes Ms. Escandón, not only in Yellowknife, but also in all territories.

According to his observations, around 135 African families – from Cameroon to the Republic of Congo via Eritrea and Kenya – settled in the T.N.-O. in the past two years.

And what do we need when we arrive, what do we miss? These are the products of our country, of our home.

The Cdetno and Mama Sylla also see far beyond the only point of sale in Yellowknife.

Their ambition is to become a distributor of these ethnic products throughout the North, to meet growing demand.

We want to create distribution points in Hay River, Nunavutsaid the agent in economic development.

I want the North to be able to refuel, that all the Africans who are in the Far North can feel at home as if they were in Africaadvance Mama Sylla.

Transport challenge and willingness to afford

The main concern for a company like his in Yellowknife is transport.

She quickly abandoned the suitcases she brought back with her and opted for transport by truck or plane through wholesalers.

The transport of goods, since now I am used, I have many suppliers who put me in contact with other suppliersexplains the Franco-Tenoise.

The challenge is all the more important since Tensy Market wants to maintain some affordability for its products.

The mission of the grocery store is to sell inexpensive African products because the cost of living of Yellowknife is very highsummarizes his manager.

And when asked how to guarantee the profitability of her project at the same time, she responds without hesitation: The money will come after.

Many immigrants have two, three jobs to be able to make ends meet. This is the reason why I said to myself: I will try to minimize the cost. Because for basic African products, it is expensive in Canada.

His greatest learning was to navigate through the different terminologies of the African continent.

What is called couscous in the Maghreb and Senegal is called waterfufu or paid In Cameroon, explains Mama Sylla, as well as the inhabitants of this country use the term kelen kelen For a dish based on a vegetable cortere which is rather baptized mloukhiya in the Maghreb and Sudan.

It is not enough to sell! Mama Sylla launches with a smile. They made me taste the dishes, and I was able to discover a lot.

I went around Africa while staying in Yellowknife.

French -speaking entrepreneurship is on the rise

Tensy Market is only one example among many other companies launched by new French -speaking arrivals to T.N.-O.

With another style of immigration comes from another entrepreneurial cultureobserve Haudry Escandón, du cdetno.

The CDETNO says it has supported the creation of 10 new French-speaking immigrant companies in 2024-2025.

We see in particular new markets, such as retail, artistic creations, pastries, bakeriescontinues Ms. Escandón.

The latter underlines that she particularly accompanied entrepreneurous women since her posting two years ago.

We had organized an entrepreneurial event, and 17 women who wanted to launch their company presented themselves.

For Mama Sylla, her entrepreneurial adventure is also part of a will to give back to the community.

I did not open the grocery store for me. It’s a way for me to thank Canada that received me. This grocery store is for the community of Yellowknife.

The businesswoman dreams of being able to employ people, to become a meeting point of the capital of T.N.-O.

It will take time, but I see my business growing, first with me, then leaving it to the communityshe concludes, a dreamy.