CASINO

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“The vision of the new casino was not to be a square warehouse box but a Vegas Style Casino.”

Holness said the vision was to create a facility which would be viable over the long term.

“Be it noted that all agreements were negotiated and developed to withstand the test of time and possible changes over a period of a 25-year time frame which coincided with the Sask. Provincial Government – Sask Liquor and Gaming Authority Framework Agreement for First Nations Gaming

Operations in the province of Saskatchewan,” he shared.

The development of the casino was very much a co-operative process starting with the member First Nations.

“The YTC Chiefs who are the shareholders of PHC Holdings Ltd. has been supportive of the board of directors and have provided direction when called upon,” said Holness. “They were the leadership that had the vision to develop First Nations casino operations in the Province of Saskatchewan under the management and super- vision of Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA).”

Financing of the new casino was of course critical, and was not secured without a bump in the road.

“It is important to note that arrangements for financing took a little twist when the estimated costs for the construction of the building shell went from $10M to $12M and the financial institution that had agreed to finance at $10M backed away from the deal,” said Holness.

“This was when Concentra Financial stepped up to the plate and were able to secure the core lending funds from Credit Unions in Yorkton and the surrounding area. Special tribute to those credit unions that had faith in the Painted Hand Casino project and put up the funds through Concentra Financial for the $12M loan over a 15-year-term at a fixed interest rate over the term of the loan.”

These Credit Unions were: Crossroads Credit Union – Canora, SK, Foam Lake Credit Union – Foam Lake, SK, Cornerstone Credit

Union – Tisdale, SK, and Cornerstone Credit Union – Yorkton, SK by and through Concentra Financial Commercial Operations Branch.

“If our credit union leaders had not put faith in this project to lend the money for its development, we would not be here today,” said Holness.

One of the most important elements of the project was the input from the elders and senators of the Yorkton Tribal Council.

“During the interior/ exterior design phases of the casino, the inter- ior architects consulted with the elders and senators on three separate occasions and after each meeting, the architects made the suggested changes that were brought up and discussed at these meetings,” read Holness.

“Everything was on the table for discussion; designs on the carpet, types of pictures and interior decor, waterfall as center piece on gaming floor, exterior border at top of building, statue out-front of the building, teepee poles on the front canopy entrance and the band logos on the front of the building.”