By Matt Kelly

Gold Eagle Casino and SIGA celebrate 20th anniversary

Mar 2, 2016 | 5:47 AM

The province’s very first SIGA casino, The Gold Eagle, is celebrating two decades in the Battlefords. They held a 20th anniversary function on Monday, Feb. 29.

SIGA started with The Gold Eagle in North Battleford on March 1, 1996 and have since expanded to six casinos across the province, coming a long way from moving into an empty Mark’s Work Warehouse building and an old Bonanza restaurant in the city.

“They put in machines, slots and tables and then we financed our own operations. We didn’t want to have large gaming companies coming to finance it and taking control away. So we started small, very responsibly, and we grew over time using our own revenues and our own cash flows,” said Blaine Favel, who was the Grand Chief of the FSIN during the creation of SIGA and the opening of the Gold Eagle.

The 20th birthday of the casino is a major milestone for the corporation said SIGA president and CEO Zane Hansen.

“It’s just really a proud moment for us and a testament to all the hard work our employees have done over the years serving their customers. We’re so proud to be here, 20 years later and we look forward to many more to come.”

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Over the 20 years in the Battlefords, The Gold Eagle has become a major part of the economic and entertainment landscape of the area.

“To start we had 88 employees here and we have over 300 now, so it’s been a big contributing force to the local economy. I think it’s done lots for creating employment for Aboriginal people that’s much needed and I think it’s been a good addition to the entertainment scene,” Favel said.

Hansen added SIGA and the Gold Eagle have become very active in donating to and supporting a number of causes all across Saskatchewan.

mkelly@jpbg.ca