The founder of a Lakeland institution has passed away. Hamel’s Meats confirmed via Facebook on Monday that founder Gaston “Gus” Hamel had passed away over the Easter weekend. He was 86.
Hamel started the famous store in Cold Lake back in 1962. It’s famous for its beef jerky, which due to the proximity of 4 Wing has been sent around the world and even made a stop in outer space with astronaut Julie Payette.
Funeral services for Hamel will take place on April 24th at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church in Cold Lake. The family is asking donations be made to Haying in the ’30s in Mallaig in honour of his memory.