Indigenous-Owned Gen7 Fuel to Take Over Penticton Gas Station Following Legal Dispute

The Actton Super-Save Gas Station in Penticton, B.C., is undergoing a major transformation after a legal dispute between the longtime operator and the landowner. The B.C. Supreme Court recently ruled that the operator, William Vandekerkhove, had no right to continue operating the gas station on Penticton Indian Band Land, ordering him to vacate immediately.

Vandekerkhove had been leasing the gas station from Adam Eneas and his wife for the past 20 years through a handshake deal. However, at the beginning of 2024, the landowners demanded vacant possession, leading to a legal battle that ultimately ended in their favor.

With Super Save losing its legal battle, the Eneas family announced that they will now own and operate the gas station under the new name Gen7 Fuel. This rebranding marks the first Indigenous-owned retail gas and convenience store chain in Canada, with the Penticton location being the first in B.C.

“We are excited about the opportunity to work with Gen7 Fuel and bring high-quality fuel at lower prices to the Okanagan Valley,” said John Eneas, son of the site’s locatee owner, Adam Eneas. “Our employees will be drawn first from First Nations members in the community.”

The transition to Gen7 Fuel has already begun and is expected to be completed by the end of May. The rebranding and renovation of the convenience store are underway, with new pumping equipment set to be installed by August.

This rebranding marks a significant shift for the gas station, now under Indigenous ownership, and signals a new chapter for the community and customers of the former Actton Super-Save Gas Station.