Living Sky Casino’s first time in the Swift Current Business Excellence Award spotlight is for a big reason, with the casino unveiled as the SCBEX Spirit of Swift Current 2017 Member Business of the Year.
“Living Sky Casino does amazing things for our community, and it should be very proud, and the Chamber is very proud to recognize you,” Swift Current and District Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Karla Wiens said while announcing the award.
She noted that the award is presented in recognition of what they have done in and around the community, for volunteerism, and just for the great business they are offering in and around Swift Current.
“It’s always a tough decision because we have so many deserving businesses,” she admitted. “But the Living Sky Casino has really outdone themselves in their past 10 years of operation here in Swift Current. They do so much that I don’t think the community is even aware of. Their staff volunteers all over the place. They have so many events in and around Swift Current. And they really, really, worked hard to become part of our community and to better Swift Current and surrounding area. So the Chamber Board of Directors felt that Living Sky Casino was a very, very worthy recipient of the Member Business of the Year Award.”
The Living Sky Casino opened on December 29, 2008 and is drawing closer to its 10th anniversary in Swift Current.
This is the first SCBEX recognition for Living Sky Casino, but the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority has collected a series of business and tourism award recognition over the years. SIGA, which operates Living Sky Casino along with five other First Nations casinos in the province, won the Tourism Employer of the Year Award during the 2017 Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence.
“Our vision when we built here was not just to come and build a casino and take. It’s sharing success. And being a part of the community, and being a great corporate sponsor, corporate partner. That’s what we wanted to achieve, and I think we’re doing it,” Living Sky Casino General Manager Trevor Marion said after Monday’s surprise announcement.
“We can say, for this year, it’s our turn to brag. That we’re Business of the Year. You take a look at some of the businesses that have won this before, it’s a great category and it’s a great accomplishment to be in.”
“On behalf of the 185 staff, this is a beautiful honour. We thank you very much for that.”
He said it was fitting recognition as the Casino begins a celebration of their first decade in Swift Current.
“We’re going to announce some things to come up,” Marion said. “But more so, what we’ve done for the community since we got here because we’ve had a number of obstacles to pass since we came to town.”
Living Sky Casino will be presented their award at the SCBEX Awards, hosted at the Living Sky Casino Event Centre, on October 26.
