Whitefish Lake looking for grant dollars to build multiplex with restaurant & rink

A letter of support was requested during the County of St. Paul council meeting on July 25th from Whitefish Lake First Nation (Goodfish).

The letter of support requested is for the council to accompany a grant application for the proposed Whitefish Lake Multiplex. 

During the County Council meeting, Josh Edwards from CAP Engineering, Project Manager for Whitefish Lake First Nation requested a letter of support from the council to accompany their grant application.

The multiplex would contain an eatery and an Indigenous Hall of Fame. In addition to the Multiplex, Whitefish First Nation is looking to construct an ice arena serving Whitefish Lake First Nation and surrounding communities. 

The community does not have any food or beverage restaurants serving in the community. Residents have to travel 80 kilometres to the nearest fast-food location. 

The Multiplex as stated in their business care, the eatery will include a food service area and the concession will have both indoor and drive-through services. 

While having an arena containing a concession area is not unusual, it was stated that providing a local outlet/drive-through is a significant community improvement. 

In their request to the council, it was stated that not only does the community benefit from having a local source of meals and snacks but they created additional uses for the new multiplex. 

They’re wanting to strengthen the local economy and provide additional local employment opportunities. 

Their goal is to establish a sit-in and drive-through food and beverage service. This will be the community’s first restaurant with the capacity to serve local communities alongside regional recreation, cultural and sporting events, including catering services. 

Economic Development implications show that forecasted population growth makes this the right time for investments in community infrastructure and recreational facilities and assets. 

The proposed facility will provide a venue for local sports programs to develop, and it will address a critical need for youth programs that will support the family services centre. 

The administration is recommending supplying a letter of support in principle to CAP Engineering, the project manager for Whitefish Lake to accompany their grant application for the proposed Whitefish Lake Multiplex, eatery, and Indigenous hall of Fame.