(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

take a look inside

O’Chiese leaders open doors to state-of-the-art casino in Red Deer

Sep 8, 2023 | 9:09 PM

The Red Deer Resort & Casino, powered by O’Chiese Business and Investment Centre (OBIC), is ready to welcome visitors to its new glitzy moneymaker, the grandest in central Alberta, they say.

On Friday, OBIC hosted a VIP Vegas-style event which included tours of the casino and a momentous ribbon-cutting.

Doors open to the general public at midnight, with a tournament ready to get underway in the state-of-the-art poker room Saturday morning.

Of course there are still some very visible upgrades which continue to happen on the facility’s exterior, and that includes the construction of a new event centre tower on the north side where two bars formerly stood.

Officials say construction — and the paint job — is moving ahead rapidly, and they hope all will be complete by some time this November.

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“The completion of the casino is a major milestone for us and the City of Red Deer,” said George Yammine, CEO, O’Chiese Business and Investment Center, the owners of Red Deer Resort & Casino. “The casino will be a key driver of tourism and economic growth in the region, becoming a hub for entertainment for the region and beyond.”

The Red Deer Resort & Casino is the former Cambridge Hotel, which was the Sheraton, which was the Capri when it opened over 50 years ago.

Featuring 241 unique guestrooms, it also has 15 modern meeting rooms, a sprawling 53,000 square foot conference centre, and now a groundbreaking casino which owners say will “reshape local entertainment.”

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

In all, the expansion is increasing employment at the resort by 20 per cent, with a need for dealers, servers and housekeeping professionals.

The casino features slot machines, table games, a poker room, dining rooms, a bar and more.

Its design, the company notes, also respects the cultural heritage of the O’Chiese First Nation, who acquired the property in October 2020.

READ MORE: O’Chiese First Nation celebrates taking ownership of Cambridge Hotel

Says a description:

The sunrises over the Alberta prairies and the sunsets over the Rocky Mountains inspired the design for the casino space. An integrated waterfall symbolizes shared values of a deep connection to nature, ancestral lands, and the spiritual importance of water. With more than 38,000 square feet of play space, the casino’s design highlights the region’s beautiful landscape.

“We look forward to welcoming guests to Red Deer Resort & Casino and providing them with a world class entertainment experience,” said Adrian Strawberry, Hotel Operations Manager, O’Chiese Hospitality. “We have worked tirelessly to bring this project to fruition and we cannot wait for you to experience it.”

Asked if they see Red Deer Resort & Casino becoming a destination akin to Grey Eagle in Calgary or River Cree in Enoch, Strawberry said it will very much have its own uniqueness, and won’t be exactly like those other venues.

But they do hope to attract shows and concerts like those other venues do.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)

“The opportunity has always been here for reconciliation and relationship; we had an opportunity here to join with O’Chiese on a vision they had, and it’s been a magnificent project,” said Red Deer Mayor Ken Johnston. It’s a major, major boost not only to O’Chiese with their people and the jobs they’ve created, but to Red Deer itself — for tourism, economic development, and making us an entertainment and gaming draw. This is transformative.”

Rocky Mountain House Mayor Debbie Baich was also among the dignitaries in attendance Friday, speaking highly of the efforts made by O’Chiese to see this come to fruition.

“I’m so excited for O’Chiese First Nation. It’s fantastic that band and council have worked so hard over multiple councils to make this investment possible,” she said. “I’m very happy for chief and council as well because this has provided some well-needed and deserved jobs for members.”

For more information, visit www.reddeerresortandcasino.ca.

(rdnewsNOW/Josh Hall)