Developer prioritizes resort and spa

The idea of bringing a “boutique casino” to Valemount is on the back burner, as the developer’s priority is simply getting the Saas Fee Valemount Village Resort and Spa off the ground..

Weeks away from the sod-turning on the 70,000 square-foot construction project, including 148 condos and 20 town-houses, developer Shirley Sander’s “first priority is getting the site property built. The [casino] idea’s been presented, but we really haven’t done anything with it yet,” she said.

Initially, Sander thought that the “boutique casino,” would fill 20,000 square feet, almost a third of the entire development, but she’s now “not sure about that yet.”

Sander also said that the casino will create 125 to 150 new jobs, which Shawn Alain, president of the Valemount chamber of commerce would “welcome.”

Doug Fleming, chief administrative officer for Valemount, said that they haven’t heard anything new on the casino project. From the town’s perspective, “we would probably, number one, talk with BC Lotteries Corporation about process and they actually make the decision on whether a casino would come to the community or not and then the municipality takes the ball from there,” said Fleming.

If Valemount eventually gets a casino, it will be one of 18 in British Columbia. Alain said that the chamber of commerce has sent letters to the casino, police, municipality and addiction services in the city of Quesnel to see how the Billy Barker Casino Hotel has affected that town, positively or negatively. Although the letters have been sent, “we haven’t had much of a response,” said Alain.

Quesnel, a city of about 9,900 people, has had their casino since 1999. “I would certainly say on a positive note, it is certainly a good drawing card for tourism,” said Mayor Mary Sjostrom. The casino owners are locals and “they’re just a great community booster,” she said, adding that “they are a really good corporate citizen and they spend a lot of money and contribute to a lot of charitable causes.”

In addition to being a community booster and tourist draw, the Billy Barker Casino Hotel has also generated over $5.7 million to date for Quesnel since 1999. The city council uses the money for capital reinvestment projects, said Sjostrom, supporting the basic infrastructure of the town.

Although casino development can be controversial, Sjostrom said that the postives outweigh the negatives, at least in the case of Quesnel. Addiction is a concern, she said, adding that “we seem to keep a pretty good handle on that” and have the benefit of a local gambling addictions counselor.

Sander believes that a casino in Valemount would be “fabulous” for the town, but cautioned that her plans are still in the preliminary stage, but “I’m still hoping it will happen,” she said.

Saas Fee has been asked to sponsor the gaming tables at the Canoe Mountain Rodeo and Music Festival July 10, 11 and 12. When asked if this was a way for Sander to ingratiate herself into the community, she said, “I was asked to sponsor it and I thought it was a good idea. I didn’t have any ulterior motives in it. That’s the first time they’ve asked me to do something at the rodeo, so I thought I better start putting my face out there.”

Although the initial reaction to the casino idea was generally positive from the town, said Sander, she is looking for some more municipal support. “I am coming through and I’m delivering. I’m hoping that when I deliver what I say I’m going to do, I’ll start getting some municipal support,” she said.