(Photo credit: rendering of proposed event centre, City of Prince Albert)
The City of Prince Albert has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Montreal Lake Cree Nation, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, and Lac La Ronge Indian Band.
The partnership aims to bring a planned Convention & Cultural Event Centre in the Yard District to fruition. Both parties will create a plan to explore and pursue different ways to fund the construction and operation of the event centre.
The goal is for the parties to share ownership of the completed facility. The Woodland Cree Nations will own up to 45% of the event centre, while the City of Prince Albert will own the rest.
The project will promote cultural heritage, the support and growth of economic development, and the enhancement of cohesion within the participating and surrounding communities.
“To demonstrate our commitment to the planned Convention & Cultural Event Centre and enter into a one-of-a-kind partnership between the Woodland Cree First Nations and the City of Prince Albert on this new facility would be game-changing and the first of its kind in Canada, ultimately benefiting our communities and the people we serve,” said Chief Joyce McLeod of Montreal Lake Cree Nation.
The event centre is proposed to be built on a serviced property adjacent to the new Aquatic & Arenas Recreation Centre. It will have a 4,500-seat capacity and spaces for various cultural, entertainment, and business events.
The new building will become the new home of the Prince Albert Raiders community-owned hockey club, the Prince Albert Northern Bears, Prince Albert Mintos, and potentially, the Senators Cup.
As of now, a construction start date for the new event centre is still in the air.