Friends and business partners Cameron Quilliam and Bob Cramers have worked together for 30 years. So, when an old industrial site that had been filling up with derelict buses, sea cans, and junk over the years came up for sale, the men were able to see past the clutter and envision what the lot could become. Today it is the new Riel Park RV & Self Storage facility. “The main building has been re-cladded, painted, and has new mechanical and new lighting,” says Quilliam. “Everything within the site has been modernized and primed for now and into the future,” adds Cramers. “It’s all energy efficient.” The clever slogan and astronaut mascot (Louis Riel – watch for him in an upcoming kid’s comic Riel Park is developing) on their website depicts, “We’ve got lots of spaaaaaaaaaace!” It’s not an exaggeration.
The park includes 500 storage lockers in various sizes and 4.5 acres of RV parking on asphalt. The adjoining wall between the 10 x 10 units can be removed to make a larger unit. The units are taller than average with larger doors to maximize cubic space on the footprint. There is an office on-site, a shop with packing supplies, and friendly customer service for a great storage experience.
There’s innovation too, as Quilliam explains. “If you don’t want to pay for storing your RV in an indoor unit, we can shrink wrap it to protect it from UV rays and precipitation.” He smiles, “It’s like a giant marshmallow!” “It’s the elements that affect the finish on RVs, boats, etc.,” adds Cramers. “Shrink wrapping eliminates that damage. These are expensive items that people want to keep in good shape.”
However, Riel Park RV & Self Storage is not just a business venture. The owners, who have spent more than three decades in the community, are also very focused on giving back. During Rock’n August, St. Albert’s annual show and shine fundraiser for diabetes support and education, Riel Park RV & Self Storage hosted a lunch and did a fun Storage Wars concept, auctioning off lockers with the proceeds going to local charities. On Saturday, the company will offer prime parking to Rock’n August on site in exchange for a donation to the cause.
Their community involvement isn’t limited to Rock’n August. “We are looking forward to working with the community’s service people as well as sports organizations,” says Cramers, noting that the fire department, police detachment, local sports teams, and EMTs should inquire about secure storage for their documents and seasonal items.
Riel Park RV & Self Storage is a welcome addition to the St. Albert business landscape. It’s a community-focused organization that recaptured and restored an aging site, beautified it, and made it functional for the citizens of St. Albert. For all your secure storage needs, check out what Riel Park RV & Self Storage has to offer.
