Secretary of State Buckley Belanger Visits Prince Albert

Secretary of State Buckley Belanger Visits Prince Albert for Key Infrastructure Tour and Cultural Partnership Discussions

Prince Albert, SK – Earlier today, the City of Prince Albert was pleased to welcome Secretary of State Buckley Belanger, who was joined by senior staff members, for a visit that included a tour of the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre and meaningful discussions about future developments and partnerships in the community.

The tour provided an opportunity to showcase the City's newest facility, the Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre, partially funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) and the Government of Saskatchewan.  The twin arenas opened to the public in March with the aquatics set to open later this summer. 

“Important community projects like this don’t happen without real teamwork between the City, the Province, and the Federal Government.  The Lake Country Co-op Leisure Centre is a great example of what we can get done for growing communities like Prince Albert when we all pull together,” said Secretary of State Belanger.

The tour wrapped up with a meeting to discuss the proposed Convention and Cultural Event Centre, a legacy partnership between the City of Prince Albert and the Woodland Cree First Nations. The proposed Centre represents a shared vision to create an inclusive space for cultural celebration, economic development, and youth engagement across the region.

“This meeting was very positive, and we are continuing to build momentum with the Federal Government on the development of a Convention and Cultural Event Centre in Prince Albert,” said Chief Joyce McLeod, who participated in the tour alongside fellow Woodland Cree First Nations Chiefs. “Moving forward with Phase II in The Yard District would not only expand event hosting capacity closer to home but also provide much needed space for evacuations during emergency events such as the recent wildfires.”

The visit also served as a platform to highlight the significant growth and momentum underway in Prince Albert, particularly the nearly $1 billion expansion of Victoria Hospital. This major investment in healthcare infrastructure will bring new professionals and expanded services to the region, further strengthening the City’s role as a central hub for northern Saskatchewan.

“Anytime we are able to meet with the Federal Government directly in our City, it is a benefit,” said Mayor Bill Powalinsky. “For them to see firsthand the growth and the partnerships is so important and how we all celebrate the cultures of the region is tremendous. It was an absolute pleasure to meet with Secretary of State Belanger.”

The City of Prince Albert thanks Secretary of State Belanger for his visit and looks forward to continued collaboration with federal partners to support regional development, reconciliation, and shared prosperity.

Media Contacts:

Mayor Bill Powalinsky