Casino to open Monday
Crawford Dr. facility will launch with 300 employees
The new Shorelines Casino Peterborough is opening on Monday at 5 p.m., states a new press release from its B.C.-based operator, Great Canadian Gaming Corp.
“Opening day will be an exciting one for our 300 team members - 180 of which are new - who are all very eager to showcase the new facility to the city and the marketplace,” stated Bryan Buchanan, general manager at Shorelines Casino Peterborough, in the release.
The 50,000-square-foot fullservice casino, which will operate around the clock, will have an array of the newest slot machines, states the press release, live dealer table games such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat, a Racebook and a live entertainment area.
There will be 500 slot machines to start and 22 table games.
The casino will have a 40-seat modern casual restaurant called the Windward Restaurant and Lounge along with a 280-seat daily-themed all-you-can-eat buffet called The Buffet.
The grand opening celebration will commence at 5 p.m. Monday and include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live entertainment and a gift for the first 2,500 guests, the release states.
“As we get ready to open our doors and offer an unparalleled gaming and entertainment experience to our guests, we want to recognize the efforts of all the local businesses and trades personnel who worked on this project,” Buchanan added.
“Hiring local talent was very important to us and together we have constructed an exceptional facility.”
Mayor Daryl Bennett said Thursday he’s glad a new casino is now within the city limits.
It means the city can now benefit from the new jobs, he said, as it also collects about $6 million a year (in shared revenues, plus property taxes generated from the casino and the hotel under construction next door.)
“We’re looking forward to the first cheque coming in – when it arrives, it will be welcome,” Bennett said.
Although city council hasn’t debated or voted on the issue, Bennett noted that councillors and city staff have agreed in principal that the money should be spent on infrastructure projects – particularly since municipalities can’t count on federal and pro-
vincial grants to do construction projects.
He also said he heard that businesspeople who have to come to meetings in Peterborough often don’t stay overnight for lack of evening entertainment.
This might change all that, he said.
“The casino’s not for everybody… but I see it as being a bit of a draw, in that regard,” Bennett said.
Shorelines Casino Peterborough is located at 1400 Crawford Dr. along The Parkway in Peterborough’s south end.
Great Canadian Gaming also operates casinos in Belleville and Gananoque.