Carole Dastous

Multimedia Journalist

An SUV driven through Rocky's Bakery's window will not stop it from rising again

soon.

The accident that took place on May 25, 2012, an SUV came crashing through the front windows of the bakery, coming to a halt with about half of the vehicle embedded in the structure of the bakery (see the May 30, 2012 issue of the Strathmore Standard).

Rocky's Bakery owner, and town councillor, Rocky Blokland said it's easier to come back from such an accident now than if the accident had happened closer to the store's opening 12 years ago.

"I'm pretty confident I'll get all my customers back, and then some," said Blokland.

Blokland, in the baking business for 43 years, comes from a "baking family" in Stettler.

Blokland will use the accident as an opportunity to make renovations to the bakery, instead of just the necessary repairs.

Rocky's Bakery will open with a "brand new look", but with the same service and quality, said Blockland. He is keeping the details for the "new look" a secret for now.

Blockland hopes to reopen in September, first with a soft launch, then with a more elaborate event that will include door prizes and "good specials."

For the moment, repairs at the bakery are at a "standstill," said Kristina Watson-Blockland, the storeowner's daughter.

The delay in starting repairs to the bakery is attributed to the bakery's insurance company rather than to the repair contractors, said Watson-Blockland.

The damages to the bakery are estimated at about $50,000.

"Hopefully soon the contractors can start the repairs. Perhaps next week."

Charges have been laid against the driver of the SUV.

Godfrey Mansfield, 74, was charged with careless driving, said Strathmore RCMP Const. Shannon White.

At the time of the accident, Blokland's wife Ellie was in the back end of the bakery but was unharmed when the SUV came through the windows.

Blokland said if anyone had been hurt in the accident, he would have "walked away from the business."

Blokland added that due to angle parking on Second Avenue where the bakery is located, this type of accident could have happened, and can still happen, to any of the neighboring businesses.