File photo of the Co-op Centre from August 2024. (City of Meadow Lake/meadowlake.ca)

By meadowlakeNOW Staff

Economic anticipation

Economic growth in Meadow Lake sparks demand for hotel development

Dec 3, 2024 | 5:00 PM

As residents in Meadow Lake eagerly await the completion of the Co-Op Centre, there’s a renewed sense of optimism when it comes to economic prosperity for the city.

“It seems like every time you turn around there is another restaurant coming,” said Trevor Dignean, administrator for the Meadow Lake and District Chamber of Commerce.

“I know we’re getting a Pizza Hut here. Now we’re getting a Mary Brown’s Chicken and Burger King is coming…so we’re definitely good on the restaurant side.”

While he’s happy to see any new business startups, Dignean said there’s a bigger need in Meadow Lake when it comes to hotels.

“With our new facility and arena opening in May, you know that’s going to create lots and lots of traffic and bigger events, so that would be the biggest concern that we probably have here is accommodations.”

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Mayor Merlin Seymour agrees more beds would be a welcome addition to the community. He said there just aren’t enough hotel rooms to attract the large events they’d like to hold when the Co-Op Centre opens. The state-of-the-art facility will house an NHL-size arena, administration space, fieldhouse, and will serve as a central gathering place for a variety of recreational, cultural and community events.

“Coming up in February of 2026, Meadow Lake, in conjunction with Flying Dust [First Nation], is hosting the Saskatchewan Winter Games. So, definitely a hotel would be a benefit. We do have some really great places to stay in town, but if you’re trying to attract a bunch of new people or a bunch of people to a concert or sporting event, you have to have a place for them to lay their heads down.”

Several years ago, Seymour said a hotel was planned for Meadow Lake. Canalta Hotels bought property on the west side of the city where Tim Hortons, Boston Pizza and Dairy Queen were developed.

“The original plan was to build a hotel, but being based out of the Drumheller area, when the oil and gas industry tanked, they pulled back the reins on building a hotel,” Seymour said.

Right now, Flying Dust First Nation is putting water and sewer infrastructure in a parcel of land north of the city. Seymour hopes the proactive work means good news on the horizon.

Chief Tyson Bear told meadowlakeNOW the First Nation is following through on the ongoing vision of prior leadership to be self-sustaining and business orientated.

“We’re building relationships with developers,” said Bear. “There’s potential to have a Canadian Tire possible, a Marks Work Warehouse, Sports Chek. There are so many opportunities we’re looking at including a hotel.”

While he couldn’t confirm any specific developments, Bear did say there will likely be ground breaking in the spring on new business.

“Being bordered up to the city of Meadow Lake, we want to be included in the economic development of the city,” Bear said. “There are a lot of First Nations in the area and without them in the community, I don’t think that there would be an economy in Meadow Lake that would thrive as well as it does.”

All parties are looking forward to the potential of economic reconciliation in the future. In the meantime, Dignean said the excitement for the opening of the new Co-op Centre is ‘unbelievable.’

“Everybody just wants it open now.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com

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