Cow Lake Store and Resort - Convenience Store
RR 82 Highway 752 SE 27-38-08 W5--- Clearwater County AB T0M 0C0 · Food - General
Inspection summary
Cow Lake Store and Resort - Convenience Store has been inspected 3 times by Alberta Health Services (Environmental Public Health) since March 18, 2024. The most recent inspection, on May 5, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests and Cleaning and sanitizing.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
PestsHigher risk
Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.
Recorded 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 5, 2026. For example:
Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded once on March 18, 2024. For example:
Does the operator use approved methods for cleaning and sanitizing equipment, utensils, and surfaces?
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded 2 times on March 18, 2024. For example:
Do food handlers refrain from handling food while ill and have acceptable attire and hygiene?
Permits, records and postingLower risk
Operating permits, required signage, written procedures and logs. These findings are administrative: the documentation was missing or out of date at the time of inspection.
Recorded once on March 18, 2024. For example:
Are appropriate food handling practices and plans in place to ensure that food is handled in a manner that makes it safe to eat?
About this data
These results come from Alberta Health Services (Environmental Public Health), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
3 inspections
- Monitoring Inspection
2 infractions
- 16. Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
- Pest monitoring is being completed but records are not being maintained (AHS pest control checklist provided).*** Please complete the pest control checklist on a monthly basis. ***
- 16. Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
- CONTINUES: At the time of the inspection, daylight was visible at the back door. *** Please repair/replace the damaged weather stripping. ***
- 16. Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
- Monitoring Inspection
1 infraction
- 16. Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
- At the time of the inspection, daylight was visible at the back door. As of April 25. 2025, the operator confirmed that the building shifts and is trying to find properly fitting weatherstripping. The AHS pest control checklist has been provided for monitoring.Please continue to monitor the gap, repair as needed, and fill out the pest control checklist on a monthly basis.
- 16. Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
- Monitoring Inspection
5 infractions
- 04. Does the operator use approved methods for cleaning and sanitizing equipment, utensils, and surfaces?
- At the time of the inspection, the Quats sanitizer for the ice cream scoops was not at an appropriate concentration. Quats sanitizer is required to be at 200ppm.*** Please ensure that the Quats sanitizer available is at acceptable concentration. This may require changing the sanitizer more frequently. ***
- 05. Do food handlers refrain from handling food while ill and have acceptable attire and hygiene?
- At the time of the inspection, the hand sink was blocked by the ice cream flavour sign. Staff described process for scooping ice cream that used hand sanitizer and possibly gloves in place of handwashing.*** Please ensure handwashing is completed before transitioning to scooping ice cream. Gloves and hand sanitizer do not replace handwashing. ***
- 06. Are appropriate food handling practices and plans in place to ensure that food is handled in a manner that makes it safe to eat?
- At the time of the inspection, temperatures of refrigeration and freezer temperatures was being completed but not recorded. *** Please ensure that temperature monitoring is recorded. ***
- 13. Are properly operating hand washing sink(s) accessible to food handlers, located in suitable areas, and stocked with appropriate hand washing supplies?
- At the time of the inspection, the hand sink was blocked by the ice cream flavour sign. *** Please ensure the handwashing sink is accessible at all times and that staff are washing hands. ***
- 16. Is the facility free of unapproved animals, vermin and/or insects (unless noted elsewhere), and maintained to prevent the entry or harbourage of pests?
- At the time of the inspection, daylight was visible at the back door. The gap may be large enough for pests to enter.*** Please ensure that the gaps at the back door are blocked to prevent pest entry. ***
- 04. Does the operator use approved methods for cleaning and sanitizing equipment, utensils, and surfaces?