BUSINESS
COVER:
Thomas
King: Canada's Native Writer Tells His Story
BIOGRAPHY:
John
Trudell: Warrior-Poet Waxes on Bone Days
Margaret
Vickers: The Hand of Change
BUSINESS:
Casino
of the Rockies
Historic Milestone for Rambots Construction
CULTURE:
Grizzly
Bears Under the Gun - Again
EDUCATION:
A
Gathering of the Elders
ENVIRONMENT:
Government
of Quebec seeks to Divide Cree Nation and Foster Genocide
HISTORY:
Thomas
Prince: Canada's Forgotten Aboriginal War Hero
HUMOUR:
Bee in the Bonnet: Drum Beaters
POLITICS:
Civic
Aboriginal Leader First to Run for City Hall
Historic
Milestone for Rambots Construction
By Staff Writers
A historic milestone for Rambots Construction occurred
with a soft opening of the latest addition to the Casino Rama: a 289-room
Luxury Suites Resort Hotel. It marks the completion of $210 million Casino
Rama Resort expansion plans, more than three years of construction.
The first phase of construction consisted of:
-40,000 ft. of casino expansion;
-new executive offices;
-a bus terminal;
-a Dreamcatcher Sports Lounge;
-a Poker Room;
- and a Legends Food Court.
The second phase included 38,000 ft. of casino modifications namely:
Rinaldo's Ristorante, Casino Link and Sweet Grass Path gaming floor elements,
and was completed last fall.
Last summer, the third construction phase, a 5,000-seat multi-purpose
entertainment centre, opened with a feature performance by Faith Hill
and received fantastic reviews.
Many top name acts have appeared during the past year and the line-up
for upcoming performances lists many top draws in the entertainment field
including, Country sensation Trisha Yearwood.
The latest star of the show, however, is the 289-room Luxury Suites Resort
Hotel, which forms the fourth phase of the Casino Rama Resort Expansion
Project.
The resort theme includes a river of art and imagery crafted by a pool
of Mnjikaning artists that flows throughout the expansive 380,000 ft.
lodge style architecture and interior design.
One of the finest properties of its type, the hotel boasts approximately 15,000 ft. of ballroom and meeting room space including, the Silvernightingale Grand Ballroom, the Anishnaabe Junior Ballroom and the Wendat, Pottawotami and Chippewa Meeting Rooms.
The recurrent theme in the hotel is the celebration of Anishinabe legends
and the significance of the fish weirs in Mnjikaning's history.
Custom carpet designs to decorative railings, wall sconces, paintings,
giant murals and exceptional First Nations artwork created by Mnjikaning
Art Studio II set the stage for this unique destination resort.
The Mnjikaning First Nation Project Team say it is a "voyage of discovery" where guests are invited to find and enjoy the countless First Nation - Lake Country icons, symbols and designs.
To compliment the existing casino culinary experiences, two newly themed restaurants were added: The Weirs Restaurant (all-day dining), and St. Germain's Fine Dining (steakhouse).
Relax and unwind
And, for the perfect place to relax and unwind, the Firestarter Lounge
located near the hotel lobby was added. The third floor contains a pool
and spa area with an exercise room, saunas, hot tub and steam rooms and
features a Roof Top Terrace and Juice Bar and two more meeting rooms,
the Mississauga and Algonquin Rooms.
In addition, the complex includes 5,000 ft. of themed retail space featuring
a First Nation Art Gallery, Boutiques and a Cafeteria.
The guest suites contain such amenities as individual gas fireplaces,
two phone lines with data ports, voice mail, on-demand in-room movies,
Nintendo and high-speed Internet surfing, 32" televisions, in-room
safes, irons and ironing boards, hairdryers and make-up mirrors, individual
climate control, separate glass showers and soaker tubs, and marble bathrooms.
The Club Lounge on the eighth floor provides services to the upgraded
guest suites on the eighth and ninth floors which feature exclusive Club
Elevator service.
Fish weir theme
The crown jewel, however, is the 17,000 ft. Grand Rotunda which serves
as the central hub for the entire Casino Rama Resort complex. Its architecture
and interior design celebrate Mnjikaning's unique First Nations culture
while welcoming and honouring the four directions/colours of man.
The massive timber structure stands over 75 feet tall and forms a gigantic
circular fish weir. For those who may not know, Mnjikaning translates
from the original Chippewa to the English phrase "fish fence,"
or weir.
The weirs were originally built before the time of the Great Pyramids and have been maintained by the Mnjikaning people for the last several hundred years. Thus Mnjikaning is the place of the fish fence to all who know it.
Inside this idealized giant fish weir, visitors will be treated to a one-of-a-kind multi-media cultural experience that will set the stage for the fifth and final phase of the Casino Rama Resort Expansion Project; the $25 Million First Nation Cultural Centre/ Museum.
The Centre is planned to be located off-site and is currently in the
pre-development stage.
Hundreds of First Nation members have worked on this project, in capacities
ranging from project executive, administrative staff to certified electricians,
plumbers, carpenters, labourers, and apprentices. Rambot's First Nations
Employment Program has been very successful in placing many First Nations
members from across Ontario in positions on site.
In fact, more than 550,000 person hours or 300 person years of First
Nation employment have been created from the Casino Rama Resort construction
build alone; simply, an unprecedented accomplishment!
Rambots takes great pride in promoting First Nation education and training
opportunities and continues to co-sponsor two Mnjikaning members in college
Construction Management programs.
Rambots has been instrumental in forging First Nation Trade Apprenticeship
Programs with Trade Unions and has created professional training opportunities
within the Casino Rama Resort Consultant Team. Positions included Architecture,
Engineering and Interior Design disciplines.
The Casino Rama Resort development has had a profound impact on First
Nation people and the entire Lake Country Region. The result is a truly
unique, first class, entertainment and cultural experience.
Congratulations Gchi Miigwech to all of our Consultants, Trade Contractors
and Suppliers who helped make this incredible project a reality!