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Living
Sky Casino
Swift
Current
(
To Open December 29th, 2008 )
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On December 3, 2008,
the Living Sky Casino turned on its teepee of light.
The Saskatchewan Light Pollution Abatement Committee is opposed to
the sky-polluting lighting scheme chosen by the Living Sky Casino.
The "teepee of light" copies the theme chosen by the
Dakota Dunes Casino south of Saskatoon as well as Yorkton's
Painted Hand & Prince Albert's Northern Lights casinos.
The 'teepee of light' on the Living Sky Casino has the potential of
creating the same local controversy in Swift Current as elsewhere because it
will produce light trespass onto residents' properties, produce
glare and will destroy the night sky. We are very concerned
that this is the future of casinos in Saskatchewan, especially as
this now makes a total of four.
The Living Sky Casino project is a joint partnership with File
Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, Nekaneet First Nation, SIGA
(Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority) and the
Government of
Saskatchewan. Thalden Boyd
Architects of St. Louis, Mo. designed the interior. Eldred
Architects of Swift Current designed the exterior.
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42,000 watts of
wasted energy bounces off clouds above the Living Sky Casino in
Swift Current
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Chronology
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December 4, 2008 
The Prairie
Post publishes this
article
reviewing a public light pollution meeting in Swift Current
(speaker Rick Huziak).
December 3, 2008
The Living
Sky Casino turns on its sky-pointing spotlights, becoming the 5th
SIGA casino to show its disdain for the environment.
July 18, 2008
The Prairie Post runs
a
new article
on the proposed
lighting for the Living Skies Casino. Among other things, it
is revealed that SIGA has now adopted 'six' as the standard
number of spotlights to sit atop their facilities.
May 23, 2008
Swift
Current KAIROS group sends this
letter to
SIGA and the government along with a 314 name petition. The
petition remains in circulation. Sign
it here
.
May 16, 2008
Article "Groups
trying to save the night sky (Petition circulated to encourage
light pollution abatement)" appears on page A15 -
A16 of the Prairie Post. Article not
available online.
April 24-25, 2008
Representatives from
REPAS
and SLPAC appear at Swift Current Enviroforum. Details can be found in
the Spring 2008 issue of the 'Repas Review' (
PDF
192kb
).
April 10,
2008
Open letter
to Mayor Larson published in Southwest Booster .
Feb 28, 2008
Supporting letter
published in Southwest Booster .
Apr. 20, 2007
SIGA press release for the Living Sky (!!!) Casino.
In the release, SIGA Board Chair, Ray Ahenakew states “The new state-of-the-art Living Sky Casino and entertainment facility
will be inviting and spectacular.
It will reflect First Nations culture and values in its
design and architecture.”
The release confirms that Thalden Boyd Architects of St.
Louis, MO remains the controlling designer.
Their design will incorporate up-facing, unshielded
spotlights. The SLPAC
is disappointed that the
“culture and values” are not in tune with the culture and
values of surrounding residents’ not wanting their properties
lit up all night. See full announcement
here
.
May 7, 2007
Letter of protest to Mayor -
Rick Huziak / SLPAc (
pdf
). No response as of July 11, 2007.
April 20, 2007
Ground breaking ceremony ( April
21st Leader
Post story
) (
photo only
)
May 31, 2005
Land
purchase announcement ( pdf
)
Oct. 20,
2004
City
of Swift Current votes to allow casino to be built.
Construction to begin Spring 2005 with opening in 2006. (PDF)
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If
you are not happy with
how the casino will be lit, please write directly to Ms. Larson
and let her know how you feel:
Mayor
Sandy Larson
City Hall, PO Box 340
Swift Current, SK.
S9H 3W1
E-mail: admin@swiftcurrent.ca
or
contact your choice of councillors.
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