Smoking Experiment at Bingo Hall Boosts Numbers

Smoking Experiment at Bingo Hall Boosts Numbers

Monday, April 18, 2005 at 17:36

Smoking may soon be permitted in a La Ronge bingo hall after a weekend experiment produced a larger turnout.

The experiment was staged by the bingo hall’s operator, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, to gauge support for smoking.

The band has reported lower turnout and declining revenue for community and band activities since they installed the no-smoking policy at its Keethanow Bingo hall.

Under regulations governing First Nations communities, the band has the authority to bypass a provincial regulation prohibiting smoking in public places.

Chief Tammy Cook-Searson says band council will meet to review the weekend bingo hall experiement and to discuss re-introducing it on a permanent basis.

Cook-Searson says attendance was up by as many as 100 people on Saturday alone.

Council is scheduled to meet between May 9th and 12th after which time they are expected to comment further on the matter.