Great Canadian Casino Corporation postpone new gaming centre

"We’ve delayed a number of our projects. That’s one of them. But we have not announced any cancellation of projects," said Howard Blank, vice-president of media and entertainment for the company. "We’ve haven’t scrapped plans on anything in Maple Ridge. We just haven’t announced anything in terms of when we would break ground."

Blank said capital projects are on hold due to "uncertain economic times." The company also announced layoffs this week, but Blank said he wouldn’t comment on the number of layoffs that have been made. Great Canadian Casino Corporation owns the Haney BingoPlex, which it purchased from Ridge Meadows Bingo Association for $1 million last fall. "We’re not announcing the number (of layoffs)," he said.

The company plans to build the community gaming centre at 22692 Lougheed Hwy., which is currently a vacant lot. Plans for the building include a 500-seat bingo hall, 150 slot machines, off-track horse race betting, a 150-seat restaurant and bar, a community hall that could have seating for 250 people and a 303-stall parking structure.

In order to get municipal approval to proceed with the project Great Canadian Casino Corporation will have to fund the extension of 227 Street to Haney Bypass as well as a traffic light at 227 and Lougheed Highway. The company has stated it wants to achieve a silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard for the building, which will include a green wall and green roof. The company predicts the gaming centre could create 60 to 70 jobs.

"We have plans to build what we’ve shown (in open houses and public meetings)," said Blank. The company has never given a specific timeline for when construction of the gaming centre would be completed.

Cathie Lemmen, president of the Ridge Meadows Bingo Association, said she’s still confident the community gaming centre will be built. "Right now everything is on hold but so it is with every other big organization," said Lemmen. "It’s just corporations sitting tight. That’s all it is," she said.