Starlight Casino and Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Announces Partnership With The Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation

NEW WESTMINSTER, BC, March 23, 2016 /CNW/ - Today, Starlight Casino, through Gateway Casinos & Entertainment's corporate giving program, GatewayGIVES, announced their multi-year partnership with Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation towards the new Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre being built as part of a large hospital redevelopment.

"Royal Columbian Hospital is a vital part of our region. It serves the ill and injured throughout British Columbia, and we are thrilled to build on our existing relationship to ensure our community remains healthy and vibrant," said Rowland England, General Manager of Starlight Casino in New Westminster.

The GatewayGIVES 3-year commitment of $45,000 will support the 75-bed Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre.  Royal Columbian Hospital ("RCH") provides acute psychiatric care for more than 4,000 British Columbians every year. RCH is also the primary academic centre for psychiatry and mental health education and training through the UBC Faculty of Medicine. Their vision for mental health is one that encompasses space for education, research and patient care.

"One out of every five of us will experience mental health concerns at some point in our lives," said Doug Eveneshen, Chair of Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation. "Our aim is to open a facility that delivers state-of-the-art patient care, groundbreaking research and increased psychiatric training. Thoughtful partners such as GatewayGIVES are critical to reaching our goal for the region."

GatewayGIVES is the branded corporate giving and community engagement program for Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, which operates 18 casinos and community gaming centres in British Columbia and Alberta. With over 3,800 employees, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment is one of the largest employers in Western Canada. 

"Through this program we are able to give back and support the communities where we operate. The relationship we have with Royal Columbian Hospital is one we are very proud of and we're extremely excited to be making this long-term commitment to a project that will help so many," said Tony Santo, CEO of Gateway Casinos & Entertainment. 

Mental health continues to be the largest diagnosed chronic health issue in British Columbia. The redeveloped Mental Health and Substance Use Wellness Centre is urgently needed. The current space has physical limitations and provides no room for growth. The new centre will offer a state-of-the art building with more beds, improved care through patient-centered design, and the latest medical technologies. The construction is set to begin this year with a goal of having the new building serving patients in 2019. To learn more about Royal Columbian Hospital redevelopment and follow the project's progress go to www.rchfoundation.com

About GatewayGIVES
Gateway Casinos & Entertainment operates casino properties in communities across Western Canada. As a company, we gain so much from each of these communities and believe it is our responsibility to give back, pitch in and provide support to the causes that matter most to our neighbours. Through GatewayGIVES, we're proud to offer not just our resources, but also our time, our know-how and our properties in supporting local charities and initiatives in the communities where we operate. To learn more about GatewayGIVES, please go to GatewayCasinos.com.

About Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation
Located at the heart of one of the fastest growing health regions in Canada, Royal Columbian Hospital serves a population of more than 1.7 million people, or one in three British Columbians. Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation is an independent charitable foundation that raises millions of dollars annually to help fund priority equipment needs, facility enhancements, research, education and innovation at the hospital. For more information about Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation, visit www.rchfoundation.com or contact us at 604 520 4438.

SOURCE Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Limited

For further information: Media Contact: Tanya Gabara, Director, Public Relations, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment Ltd., 604-296-5052, [e-mail]