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Casino showdown? Two groups unveil separate plans for the Battlefords By Angela Brown SaskToday.ca
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NORTH BATTLEFORD — Competing casino proposals have emerged in the Battlefords, with Battlefords Tribal Council (BTC) and Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation each pursuing plans to replace and relocate the aging Gold Eagle Casino. The BTC project called Gold Eagle Landing was discussed at a press conference on Dec. 10 at the Gold Eagle Lodge, a hotel built and owned by BTC, next door to the casino, which is located on land owned by MGBHLM. The casino is operated by the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority. BTC’s initiative would include a new casino, a hotel and spa, a new Sakewew High School, a 100-unit affordable housing project, major new health sector investments, and a proposed 3,000-seat/two-pad arena and events centre. “We’re going to have to talk to the mayor and the council of North Battleford first,” said Wayne Semaganis, tribal representative with Battlefords Tribal Council. “What are the steps we need to do to address all these? Realistically, we’re going
to have to sit together with the chiefs and our board [to discuss] what should go first, so that we can make sure that when we sit with the financing people that it’s a plan that everybody can see and will help follow that we can develop.” He said BTC will need to engage in more meetings with the city and the province to discuss the proposal. “When it comes to gaming and it comes to health, these are provincial businesses that we need to be a part of,” Semaganis said. “We need them to understand what it is we’re proposing, and how we plan to get it rolling, and how we get it financed....” Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation announced on Oct. 27 it is
proposing to relocate and expand the Gold Eagle Casino to a new site, where it purchased land along Highway 16 West in North Battleford. The 67-acre site is at the location of the former Best Canadian Motor Inn, south of the existing Riverview neighbourhood. The proposal is to move the Gold Eagle Casino from its current location in North Battleford to the new site, which has much more space. At the current site, the land is owned by Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation. The current Gold Eagle Casino is operated by SIGA. The group that directs funds to the community for the casino is Battlefords Agency Tribal Chiefs Inc. (BATC) Community Development
Wayne Semaganis, tribal representative with Battlefords Tribal Council, shown at the press conference on Dec. 10, 2025. | Photo by Angela Brown Corporation. While Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation has already proposed a new casino, BTC are also proposing a new casino to replace the current aging
North Battleford firefighters honoured for service during wildfires By Angela Brown SaskToday.ca
NORTH BATTLEFORD — North Battleford Fire Department firefighters were honoured with the Saskatchewan premier’s commendation for their service at the La Ronge wildfires this past summer during a special ceremony at North Continued on page 2
North Battleford city council along with North Battleford firefighters at council’s meeting on Dec. 8, 2025. | Photo by Angela Brown
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structure. “We’re the only ones that can have a casino in the Battlefords under the current gaming framework,” said Semaganis. “All we want to Continued on page 2
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