The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority(SIGA) and the Northern Lights Casino unveiled plans for a multimillion dollar expansion project to the casino on Wednesday. The expansion will increase the current gaming floor square footage and make many other changes to both the interior and exterior.
The construction will begin in October and an additional 31,000 square feet will be added to the current structure.
“This is a great day,” Zane Hansen, the President and Chief Executive Officer, SIGA said. “When you see your work come together and you can re-invest. We are all about inclusive development so with our First Nation partners -the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, you see how important it is to the PAGC, you have heard from the City on the proceeds of this place and what it does. That really feels great.”
Northern Lights Casino is located on Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Prince Albert. Representatives from SIGA, Northern Lights Casino, Peter Ballatyne Cree Nation, and Prince Albert Grand Council took part in the official uneveiling for the expansion project and ceremonial sod turning ceremony at the vicinity of the Northern Lights Casino.
“We are going to expand the gaming floor, you can see how crowded it is in here now. The expension will cos over 30 million dollars and the construction window will be about 18 months. We are going to do it in two phases because we are trying to minimize disruption of operations, so one part of the building to the south will go first and the the second part of the building after that. We have gotten all the staff re-assigned or re-deployed, so there wont be any lay-off due to the construction. The General Manager and her team did a good job on that,” Hansen said.
Hansen said the expansion will increase the casino’s capacity to better serve its customers and the City of Prince Albert. The region and entire province will enjoy this enhanced tourism destination and benefit from the increased economic activity the expanded casino will bring.
While responding to a question about when the expansion process will start, Hansen said “A few details are still remaining to get through. There is alot on this project to put together but it won’t be long. We want to create a whole new experience for our customers and staff.”
“Today is awesome, it was amazing and awesome to have everybody here, all our support systems here together in one room and to celebrate this expansion. It is awesome. we have our team here and it’s just great,” Angela Isbister, General Manager, Northern Lights Casino said. “Our customers are going to be excited about this, more floor space, bigger restaurant, bigger smoking room for our customers to make use of.”
Isbister said more indigenous designs will be included in the expansion and it will make the casino more popular. The major refreshing of the interior and exterior designs of the building will however not take away its roots in the First Nations. Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation was not left out of this important event.
“Today is a special day, I can say that. Its been a long time coming and we have been working with SIGA to make this day a reality. Its a good day for the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, SIGA and the City,” PBCN Chief Peter Beatty.
During construction, Northern Lights Casino will remain open.
