Under the B, broken

A broken heating system has brought Bingo to a standstill in Prince Rupert.

The current totem Bingo hall has called its last number as the British Columbia Lottery Corporation shut down the operation due to inadequate heating in the third avenue location.

With the Chances Gaming Centre not scheduled to open until the summer (and maybe later judging by the state of progress at the First Avenue site), it’s going to be one serious bit of withdrawal for local bingo players who became a fixture on the bingo scene in the city.

The Daily News provided the sad details for the local bingo players, but a glimmer of hope for the local charities that depend on the funds raised through the bingo society.

COLD HOUSE MEANS BINGO LOST FOR NOW
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, March 09, 2007

Local bingo players have dobbed their last card for a few months after Totem Bingo was closed by the B.C. Lottery Corporation because of inadequate heating

Robin Cook, corporate communications officer with the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, said the bingo hall was closed Feb. 28 and nine people were laid off.

“The new Community Gaming Centre is scheduled to open in Prince Rupert this summer. We were hoping to keep this location open until that happened,” said Cook.

“Unfortunately, the leased building did not meet the requirements, so it had to be closed.”
According to Cook, the building’s boilers failed several months ago and the landlord was unable to replace them. This left the facility without any heating.

“The landlord set up portable heaters as a temporary measure but it didn’t meet the requirements and it was freezing cold in there. We had no choice but to close the operation. We aim to provide a fun experience for people and it was just freezing in there.”

The British Columbia Lottery Corporation has inspectors who visit facilities around the province to ensure safety and comfort standards.

“Totem Bingo was the only facility in the city. It’s really unfortunate there is going to be a gap. But if we can’t provide a comfortable safe environment our hands are tied,” said Cook.

In the meantime, all 41 affiliated charitable community organizations, members of the Prince Rupert Bingo Association, will continue to receive funding.

The funds come through the Gaming Policy and Enforcement Branch, however enforcement branch officers have informed the B.C. Lottery Corporation that those funds will not be stopped just because Totem Bingo has closed.

“They have informed us that all the charities associated with Totem Bingo will be transferred to the new facility when it opens and there will be no gap in funding,” said Cook.

The new Chances Community Gaming Centre was expected to open this spring however construction delays have pushed back the opening of the facility.

“For the new site, we are expecting the opening to be late spring, early summer,” said Craig Briere, business manager of the Prince Rupert Bingo Association. “We are still working out the final timeline but we ran into a few construction delays.”

This winter has not been great for construction.

“Obviously, like it has been for everybody else, the winter’s weather has not co-operated as much as we would have like it to,” said Briere. “But we are dealing with it and we are progressing as fast as we can.”

The new Community Gaming Centre includes plans for a restaurant, and 150 bingo seats, 60 to 70 slot and electronic gaming machines and both arcade-style and live entertainment. It comprises 36,000 square feet, with 5,000 square feet of patio, and a convention centre on the lower level.

“That size places us as one of the largest gaming centres — casinos or Community Gaming Centre — in northern B.C. and with that and due to the quality of the building, the build right now is roughly at about $12 million. It’s a big undertaking but well worth it,” said Briere.