Wholesale Sports in Nanaimo, across Western Canada shutting down

NANAIMO — A number of people will soon be out of a job, as a big-box store in Nanaimo is set to go out of business.

The Wholesale Sports Outdoor Outfitters chain of a dozen hunting, fishing and camping supply stores in Western Canada is shutting down after 30 years in business.

The operation owned by Calgary-based UFA Co-operative Ltd. closed stores on Thursday afternoon to tell the 545 staff their jobs were ending.

Most will be laid off but some may be hired at UFA’s farm stores. A notice on the company’s website says they will remain open until Dec. 28 of this year or until they run out of merchandise.