Casino On Track

'It s unlikely that there are very many experienced casino workers locally, so we will have to bring in some of the senior casino people from other areas,' said Michael Novak, president and CEO of Sonco Group. 'We also will be training local people, so I would say 98 to 99 per cent of the employees will be local people.'
Ground has already been broken for the casino next to the Amsterdam Hotel on Mountain Road near Magnetic Hill. Novak said the foundation should be poured this fall and other tenders for construction will be going out soon.
'We are very pleased. We are on time.'
Sonco Gaming, based in Halifax, was awarded the contract to build and operate the casino, the first of its kind in New Brunswick. The casino could turn out to be a lucrative cash cow for the provincial government. Finance minister Victor Boudreau said the casino is expected to generate about $50 million a year and the province will get a 50 per cent cut of that, or $25 million.
Novak and Boudreau were on hand yesterday to announce that Sonco Gaming would contribute a financial gift of $500,000 over five years to establish a Joint Research Chair in arts, culture and tourism for New Brunswick. The money will be shared by l Universit de Moncton and Mount Allison University.
Dr. Stephen McClatchie, a spokesman for Mount Allison, said the money would basically be used to hire a research chairperson, who would in turn direct what kind of research would actually be done. The money -- which will amount to $100,000 a year from 2010 to 2015 -- will not be going directly to artists and musicians. The specific direction of the research won t be known until a person is actually hired.
The intent of the research chair is to find ways to stimulate arts and culture in New Brunswick and use it to make the province more attractive to tourism and eventually create more jobs in those sectors.
'l Universit de Moncton has always been a key partner in the development of cultural and artistic activities and this joint-chair will enable us to build stronger ties with various community groups,' said UdeM president Yvon Fontaine.
'It will allow our two institutions to establish a more structured collaboration, and to build on the tradition that has been established, especially in the artistic field.'
The contribution is Sonco s way of living up to its promise of community involvement, which was part of its bid to land the casino contract. Novak said the casino will include a 1,800-seat entertainment complex and gallery space which will eventually host concerts and exhibits by local artists.
The casino is also expected to draw more visitors to Metro Moncton, so putting money into arts and culture seemed appropriate, he said. New Brunswick is already home to many museums, historic sites, performing arts companies, galleries and cultural events. There are tour companies and cruise lines looking for new products. The research chair funded by the casino will look at ways to expand these industries and make them more attractive to tourists.
The Casino New Brunswick complex will include a casino with 600 slot machines, 20 tables, eight poker tables, a high limit room, restaurant, lounge, 128-room hotel and the entertainment/convention facility.
Novac dismissed the notion that the complex will lead to an increase in criminal activity in Metro Moncton.
'That concern has been addressed by law and order people after researching other communities where casinos have been built. I think people have seen too many old movies,' Novac said.
He said the casino would be loaded with about 400 surveillance cameras and its own team of more than 24 security guards, 'so this is the last place that any criminals would select for their enterprise.'
Novac said his company is deep in construction planning at the moment but would be doing more to get closer to the community once the casino is up and running.
Novac and the Halifax-based Sonco Group have been involved in many property development projects throughout North America, including the Great Blue Heron Charity Casino in Port PerryOnt.,the Grey Eagle Casino on the Tsuu T ina Nation just outside Calgary.