PRINCE ALBERT, SK – The Boreal Healthcare Foundation is proud to announce a $375,000 gift from the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) to the Equip the Vic Campaign – an investment that will have a profound and lasting impact on mental health care and culturally inclusive services at Victoria Hospital. SIGA’s support will help address long-standing gaps in access to care while reducing the need for patients to travel long distances to other communities for healthcare.
“The Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority is proud to make a $375,000 contribution to the Victoria Hospital Redevelopment and Expansion Program – Equip the Vic – Better Care Close to Home for Prince Albert. This gift will help tens of thousands of northern Saskatchewan residents access care closer to home. Our Community Investment Program invests $1.89 million each year in the communities where SIGA Casinos operate, including Northern Lights Casino, here in Prince Albert,” said Zane Hansen, SIGA President and CEO.
“SIGA is proud to support the redevelopment and expansion of Victoria Hospital. For nearly 30 years, SIGA has had a major presence in Prince Albert with the Northern Lights Casino. This $375,000 gift is SIGA’s way of sharing success with the community where our employees have lived and worked since 1996 and is part of our commitment to community well-being, reconciliation, and economic progress for Saskatchewan’s 74 First Nations,” said Chief Reginald Bellerose, SIGA Board Chair.
SIGA’s investment supports the hospital’s expanded Adult Inpatient Mental Health Unit and the First Nations & Métis Health Spiritual Care Centre. This investment responds to a growing mental health crisis by offering spaces that foster resilience, recovery, and dignity, while supporting the hospital’s expanded Adult Inpatient Mental Health Unit, which is increasing capacity from 29 to 43 beds.
The First Nations & Métis Health Spiritual Care Centre plays a critical role at Victoria Hospital, supporting patients and families from admission through discharge. Staff assist with communication between healthcare teams and patients, support inclusion of traditional healing practices, coordinate medical transportation and language translation, and offer culturally safe guidance for understanding treatment and discharge plans.
“SIGA’s generous gift is a powerful example of what can happen when organizations come together to uplift an entire region”, says Pat Weir, Chair of the Equip the Vic Campaign. “This donation will help ensure that everyone in northern Saskatchewan, our families, neighbours, and friends, can receive the healthcare and support they deserve, right here at home. It’s through partnerships like this that we’re building not just a hospital, but a stronger, more compassionate community.”
The design of the hospital has been guided by the voices and leadership of the Prince Albert Grand Council, who have worked closely with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, Ministry of Health, and Boreal Healthcare Foundation to ensure the facility reflects the needs of the communities it serves.
“The Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) recognized a significant opportunity over 25 years ago with the development of the Northern Lights Casino (NLC). The success of the NLC has played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA), which now oversees gaming profits to support organizations and events in need of financial assistance,” says Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte, of the Prince Albert Grand Council. “PAGC remains actively involved in the construction and operation of the new Victoria Hospital. This $375,000 contribution is a shining example of the strong commitment First Nations have toward the development of this essential regional health facility.”
This investment is part of the Equip the Vic Campaign, and its $40 million goal to ensure the redeveloped Victoria Hospital opens fully equipped from day one. The Victoria Hospital is northern Saskatchewan’s major healthcare hub, serving over 150,000 residents. The redevelopment of the Victoria Hospital includes critical enhancements to mental health services, diagnostic imaging, surgical services, maternal and pediatric care, and cultural supports.
Each year, more than 24,000 patients bypass Victoria Hospital. Not because they want to, but because beds are full, or services are unavailable. Thanks to donations like SIGA’s, 10,000 fewer community members will need to travel for care each year. This is vital for positive long-term outcomes and keeping families and loved ones nearby during challenging times.
“This gift from SIGA is a powerful act of leadership that reflects our shared commitment to equity in healthcare. By supporting spaces that promote healing, dignity, and cultural safety, SIGA is helping us build a hospital that belongs to everyone, and supports everyone, regardless of which corner of Saskatchewan they call home,” said Cody Barnett, CEO of the Boreal Healthcare Foundation. “The Victoria Hospital Redevelopment is being shaped in partnership with community voices, and together, we are creating a facility that reflects the values and needs of the people this facility serves. This is how we change healthcare – not just for today, but for generations to come.”
Together, we are building a future where every person receives the high-quality care, they deserve, close to home. Visit equipthevic.ca to learn how you can be part of this transformation.
