CASINO FUNDS SUPPORT MOBILE PLAYGROUND PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN IN THE BIRCH HILLS AREA

Jack Langford, MLA for Saskatchewan Rivers, on behalf of Municipal

Affairs, Culture and Housing Minister Carol Teichrob, announced today

that the Birch Hills and District Recreation Board has received $1,500

in casino profits through the Associated Entities Fund.



"The province established the Associated Entities Fund to distribute a

portion of casino profits for the benefit of Saskatchewan people,"

Langford said. "Since the beginning of 1997 more than $4.5 million in

casino profits have been distributed throughout Saskatchewan for

programs that support children, youth and families."



The Birch Hills and District Recreation Board in partnership with the

North East Parks and Recreation Association, is organizing a mobile

playground program for children ages five to 10 in the Birch Hills

area, including the community of Muskoday. Children who might not

ordinarily have the chance to go to the lake, or special venues like

the Kinsmen Water Park in Prince Albert, are targeted to participate

in this safe, structured program of storytelling, games, special

events, sport camps and a wind-up picnic.



The Associated Entities Fund receives a portion of the profits

from Casino Regina, the Gold Eagle Casino in North Battleford,

the Northern Lights Casino in Prince Albert and the Painted Hand

Casino in Yorkton.

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For more information, contact:



Trudy Jackson

Communications

Municipal Affairs, Culture and Housing

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-4011