By: Chantel Downes
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Lakeland This Week
City of Cold Lake council discussed a request from Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN) during a Sept. 14 special council meeting. Council authorized the City to provide a letter of support for CLFN’s grant application for a community gathering space planned between Hotel Dene and Casino Dene along Highway 28.
The facility is expected to accommodate about 400 seated guests or more than 600 standing guests. It could host conferences, cultural gatherings, community celebrations, corporate functions, meetings and entertainment while also helping nearby hotels handle accommodation overflow, according to the City.
Although CLFN initially requested support for an application to the Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP), CAO Kevin Nagoya told council the proposed funding source had changed shortly before the meeting.
CFEP provides grants of up to $125,000 to upgrade, expand, purchase or construct public-use community facilities. However, Nagoya explained that the program was not considered suitable for the gathering-space proposal because of its connection to Casino Dene.
“The Casino Dene is a for-profit venture for Cold Lake First Nations, and CFEP is for not-for-profit organizations,” Nagoya explained.
CLFN instead plans to seek funding through the provincial Aboriginal Business Investment Fund, which supports community-owned businesses and other economic initiatives led by First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities.
The deadline for that funding program is Oct. 15, 2026, giving CLFN additional time to complete the application.
Nagoya also told council that CLFN was considering applying to CFEP for a different initiative, possibly involving a new event arena. However, the City had not received enough information about that proposal for council to consider a letter of support during the Sept. 14 special meeting.
Council unanimously made a motion to approve a letter of support for the gathering space project.