Kia Ora means hello. In the Māori culture, the meaning of Kia Ora literally translates to have life or be healthy, wishing the essence of life upon them. This was the motto of approach for Thunder Bay’s local cannabis store, Kia Ora Kannabis when they opened their doors to the people of Thunder Bay.
Three years ago, construction began on the Victoria location for one of the first locally owned legal cannabis store in Thunder Bay. Opening its store front as an accessory store, to expedite the process for Thunder Bay residents buying cannabis when it can be opened officially as a licensed legal dispensary. Since then, owing to the strong customer base, they have opened a second location in the heart of Thunder Bay’s downtown.
With a legacy of strong customer base and providing a calming environment for those cannabis consumers, Kia Ora Kannabis appeals to promoting healthy living and welcoming the essence of life. Their retail stores offer an amalgamation of a retail shopping experience and a calm serene environment by boasting a large green space and a koi pond for their consumers.
The foliage, the koi pond, the serene environment is a space created for people to feel relaxed and calm; keep their body and mind relaxed and healthy.
“I’m originally from New Zealand and wanted to build a company that was inclusive and empowering. The meaning Kia Ora has great meaning back home in my native country. It means to “have life” or “be healthy, wishing the essence of life upon them. When we greet someone, we not only welcome them, but we acknowledge their essence and everything around them,” says DJ Connors, one of the founders of the store.
“We landed on using the name Kia Ora. It’s what we wanted for a business and it embraces my Māori culture and my home country. "
Speaking of the importance of having knowledge of cannabis, DJ Connors and Matt Harrison chime in, “People come to us for the knowledge base and what we stand for as a company. Our biggest demographic is the middle generation- ages 30 to 65. We have seen an increase in our older demographic lately, seeking sleep support, etc. We are proud to have the best budtenders in Thunder Bay. As smooth sailing as it was, we had to adapt our business like having a delivery system in place for our customers and put a foothold in our industry.
