Community gaming centre a great opportunity, says Squamish Nation

Sylvie Paillard Whistler Question

The opportunity for revenue from a proposed gaming centre on Highway 99 is just too good to ignore, said the Squamish Nation’s head of project development and negotiation, Toby Baker. “They are a massive amount of economic stimulus.” Baker is talking with the B.C. Lottery Corporation (BCLC) and proposed operator Boardwalk Gaming and Entertainment Inc. to introduce a licensed gaming centre with a bingo hall, artisans’ gift shop and about 100 slot machines at Highway 99 and Valley Drive. “For us with a small community of over likely 300 members, when you can create something in your backyard that gives you an opportunity to affect 50 families, grassroots, food on the table, a new brand of living, it’s something that you just cannot ignore.” The District of Squamish rejected a BCLC proposal to build the mini-casino in the municipality if it sat within sight of Highway 99. But what seems to be opposing priorities between the neighbouring governments need not create resentment, said Baker. “No one is trying to thumb their nose at the neighbouring municipalities,” he said. “It will blend well with Totem Hall. It’s going to look far from a blight of an entry point into the District of Squamish. No one desires that.” District of Squamish residents will not be directly consulted on the matter, said Baker, but the district will be involved to a certain degree. “Through the district we have agreed that we will look at joint opportunities for participation in an advisory panel on design. We will look at maybe some social investments that can be made in our community and to the broader community to address any potential issues.”

Baker said “research is very, very good” to show that the existence of a gaming centre does not adversely affect a community. Nonetheless, he said, some of the revenue generated will be shared with social programs. “We should be able to maybe redirect some of those proceeds into social programming or recreational programming. “We held that out to the district and they seemed open to coming up with ideas around that.” BCLC public relations manager Greg Walker said host governments receive 10 per cent of revenue and last year, Kamloops got $215,655 from the 50 slot machines in their facility.