Released on January 23, 1996
Joanne Crofford, minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Gaming
Corporation, today announced that a company owned by the Star Blanket
Cree Nation of Balcarres will operate the gift shop at Casino Regina.
A three-year lease agreement has been signed by the corporation with
Qu'Appelle Crafts Ltd. The gift shop, to be known as the Star Blanket
Gift Shop, will open as part of a special preview of Casino Regina
January 25, and will be open to the general public January 26. It will
employ up to six people, part of the 352 jobs created by the operation of
the casino. An additional 150 jobs were created by the casino
construction and renovation project.
"This agreement demonstrates the positive economic impact that Casino
Regina will bring, not only to Regina but to Saskatchewan as a whole, by
providing new opportunities for business," Crofford said. "It also
demonstrates a positive benefit of the historic partnership between the
Government of Saskatchewan and the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations covering casino operations in the province."
Star Blanket Gift Shop is located in the west wing of the casino complex
and will offer a wide range of First Nations arts and crafts and Casino
Regina items such as T-shirts, caps and pins. Manager of the gift shop is
Carol Starblanket.
Crofford said the Gift Shop lease agreement resulted from a Call for
Proposals issued by Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation.
The gift shop contract is one of three major contracts let for ancillary
services at Casino Regina to date. Marwest Food Services was awarded the
contract for restaurant services, creating 140 jobs. The contract for
parking was awarded to Professional Parking Ltd. of Regina, which created
17 jobs as a result.
It is anticipated that when Casino Regina is in full operation, the
ancillary services will provide from 150 to 200 jobs, in addition to the
352 permanent jobs in the casino itself.
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for more information, contact:
Ron Stengler
Saskatchewan Gaming Corporation
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-1591