Louis Bull Tribe’s Bear Hills Casino & Travel Resort opens to public

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June 19, 2024 is being called the day that changes everything for Louis Bull Tribe. 

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“Today is a day that has been many years in the making for Louis Bull Tribe,” said Gordon Rauscher, president and CEO of the Bear Hills Casino & Travel Resort. “This was a dream decades in the making. There were many days over the last five years we weren’t sure this day would come but here we are.” 

Rauscher also announced he would be handing over operations of the casino to General manager Roger Anderson. 

Following official grand opening ceremonies, the ribbon was cut and the doors of the Bear Hills Casino & Travel Resort, located just off the QEII between Wetaskiwin and Ponoka, were opened to the public — 30 years after Louis Bull Tribe leadership proposed the idea of building a casino. 

“I want to savour this moment,” said Erika Bull-Giroux, Louis Bull Tribe director, Socio-Economic Development and the newly named executive director of the Bear Hills Casino Society – the charitable wing of the casino, which is fully owned and operated by Louis Bull Tribe. 

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“The money made here at the casino will assist Louis Bull Tribe,” she said, noting money made at the casino will be used to assist with housing, infrastructure, youth and elder programming. 

“We want to assist our people to find their identity and their spirits to get over all those barriers. It will help our people grow. Today changes everything for Louis Bull Tribe.” 

The casino opened with 200 slots and 10 table games, a lounge and live entertainment, employing 90 people — 50 per cent of which are First Nations and 34 per cent are from Louis Bull Tribe of the greater Maskwacis area. 

“Today is all about economic reconciliation and the benefits this will mean to your community,” said Alberta Gamily, Liquor and Cannabis president and CEO Kandice Machado. 

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The Bear Hills Casino is the sixth First Nations-hosted casino, and Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin MLA and Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson said he had been told the Province would not approve any more casinos in Alberta. Realizing the importance such a project would have on Louis Bull Tribe and the area, Wlson said he pushed “to get it done”. 

“We got it done and I’m so honoured I could be a small part of it.” 

Louis Bull Tribe Chief Desmond Bull was a youth when talk about a casino started and he wanted to recognize the decades of leadership that worked to bring the idea to fruition and that the opening of the casino is just one step toward a better future for the people of Louis Bull Tribe. 

“Today is a celebration with so many people to acknowledge,” he said. “This is just Phase 1 and I look forward to seeing how it develops in the future.” 

The site will continue to be developed in phases over the coming years, and once complete, will include an event center, a hotel, a cultural center, restaurants and rodeo grounds. 

“This is for the betterment of the Tribe and other First Nations in Alberta…today belongs to everyone.” 

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