Hiring begins in Shorelines Casino Belleville

The shell of the 48,000-square-foot building has now been built and walls are expected to go up in the coming days.

The company is still on schedule to open the building in either March or April of 2017, said Andy LaCroix, executive director for Great Canadian Gaming’s Ontario East region, which also includes Shorelines Casino Thousand Islands and Kawartha Downs.

The casino is expected to give Belleville a huge economic boost, as it’s expected to create about 300 new jobs and some revenue from gambling also goes back into the community.

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Casinos overseen by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, such as this one, must donate 5.25 per cent of the first $65 million they earn from electronic games, as well as four per cent of money earned through table games to their municipality

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LaCroix said he and his team are looking forward to opening the casino in Belleville. “Everything is moving forward positively,” he said.

Great Canadian Gaming, the British Columbia-based company that will run the casino, recently hired a local person to work as the casino’s human resources manager, LaCroix said. As of July 21, positions for marketing coordinator and slot technician supervisor were also being advertised through the company’s website.

“We’re starting to put some positions in the market right now, to stay ahead of the game and to make sure we get people hired and trained and familiar with the operations,” he said. “We’ll get those positions filled, have them at the other properties training and getting used to our ways.”

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LaCroix said Bellevillians can expect to see dozens more jobs posted in the near future, as the company plans to advertise positions at job fairs and with help from local partners, such as Loyalist College and the military and First Nations communities

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LaCroix said he’s also looking forward to seeing Shorelines Casino contribute to the community. He said the company has a program called Proud, which encourages employees to volunteer for community organizations. Those who exceed a certain number of hours of volunteer service can ask the company to make a financial donation to that organization.

Great Canadian Gaming is also now making an effort to sponsor community events LaCroix said, pointing out that it has already sponsored some Belleville Chamber of Commerce functions.

In addition, the casino will likely become a place for businesses to hold functions, as it will have a restaurant, a stage area for entertainment, VIP rooms and a “state-of-the-art responsible gaming centre” where people can learn about the risks of gambling.

“Everyday brings us closer to opening,” LaCroix said. “We’re really excited. You’ll see more and more of us as we go along.”