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The casino, which is estimated to cost $15 million, will be located 16 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Highway. ((GOOGLE MAPS/TYLER STEPHENS/BRANDON SUN))
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Hemisphere Gaming Inc. has signed a 10-year agreement with the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to develop and manage the Spirit Sands Casino near Carberry. The casino, which is estimated to cost $15 million, will be located 16 kilometres south of the Trans-Canada Highway. Construction is expected to begin in the spring. (GOOGLE MAPS/TYLER STEPHENS/BRANDON SUN)
On behalf of the Town of Carberry and area, we would like to register our concern and displeasure with many of the comments made by the Brandon Sun and members of Brandon City Council in regards to the Spirit Sands Casino stories that have run recently in your paper.
There have been numerous references to our town and surrounding community as "barren," "middle of nowhere," plus several other negative and misleading comments printed in these articles, and upon your editorial page regarding the casino issue.
We are disheartened that one of the few surviving major media outlets for western Manitoba has taken a stand that the only place a casino should be built is within Brandon. This is somewhat close-minded, not to mention it is fostering an "us versus them" style of debate, pitting two communities against each other for the sake of economic development.
Many of our citizens work and play (and even shop!) in Brandon but live in Carberry, just as there are many people from Brandon who commute every day to Carberry for work and pleasure.
The Spirit Sands project will be a boon for many businesses throughout western Manitoba, many of which are located in Brandon.
This project is located between the communities of Carberry and Glenboro, just north of Spruce Woods Provincial Park, one of the crown jewels of the provincial park system. The population between the Town of Carberry, Village of Glenboro and RMs of North and South Cypress has experienced double-digit growth over the last five years. As of the last census, we have more than 5,000 people who work and live in our vibrant and growing communities.
The fact is Brandon has had three chances to land a casino/entertainment complex and each time it has been either rejected or fell through for a variety of reasons.
This project, though it may not be within the city limits of Brandon, will still benefit Brandon and western Manitoba businesses and our tourism efforts in the short and long run.
We would hope that the Brandon Sun and Brandon City Council would be more supportive in the future of its fellow neighbouring communities than it has been as of late.
Town Council
Carberry
Republished from the Brandon Sun print edition November 19, 2012
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