Deeptesh Ghosh
Thursday, June 27, 2024
Reading Time: 3 minutes
River Rock Casino Resort (“River Rock”) celebrated its 20th anniversary yesterday with a grand event, marking two decades of delivering Vancouver’s most exciting gaming, live entertainment, dining, and all-suite accommodations. Since opening in 2004 as Metro Vancouver’s premier 4-Diamond destination resort, River Rock has continued to attract guests seeking a complete entertainment experience.
The anniversary celebration was held in the main atrium, which is currently undergoing a major transformation to house Gordon Ramsay Steak, the first of Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay’s fine dining restaurants in Canada.
Popular emcee, voice actor, and award-winning radio & TV host Kevin Lim hosted the event, beginning with a welcome from Stephen Lee, CEO of Musqueam Capital Corporation, acknowledging the Musqueam land. The event featured “vintage” photos of Great Canadian Entertainment leaders and Lim, and remarks from Matthew Anfinson, CEO of Great Canadian Entertainment, and Terrance Doyle, President and Chief Development Officer, who shared stories from the resort’s rich history. They acknowledged the resort’s dedicated team members and offered a special champagne toast to honor the 136 “Day One” employees, many of whom were in attendance.
Anfinson highlighted Great Canadian Entertainment’s $500 million investment in River Rock and its role as one of Richmond’s largest employers, with over 850 team members. He emphasized the resort’s innovation, including the first curved escalator in Canada, a state-of-the-art convertible seating system in its theatre, and the ‘P3’ project collaboration with the City of Richmond, TransLink, and the Vancouver Airport Authority, which developed the south parkade in time for the 2010 Winter Olympics and now serves thousands of commuters daily.
“We are very proud to celebrate two decades of entertainment and excellence at River Rock Casino Resort. This destination stands as a beacon of innovation, continually pushing the boundaries to provide unparalleled experiences for our guests,” said Anfinson. “This success would not be possible without the unwavering dedication and hard work of our exceptional team, whose passion drives our achievement. Together, we have built more than a casino; we have created a legacy of community, opportunity, and shared success. Here’s to many more years of celebrating special moments!”
Kevin Lim entertained guests with a fun trivia game, asking them to name famous artists who have performed at River Rock. Guests fondly recalled memorable acts such as Billy Idol, Earth Wind and Fire, Boys II Men, Kenny Rogers, and Donny & Marie Osmond, and reminisced about the opening event two decades earlier featuring Huey Lewis. Lim also highlighted the partnership with LiveNation, promising more top acts in the resort’s approximately 1,000-seat theatre.
Malcolm Brodie, Mayor of Richmond, and Jerry Williamson, Director of Gaming Facilities & Development at BCLC, spoke about the over $280 million that the City of Richmond has received from BCLC as their share of gaming revenue generated by River Rock, which has been reinvested in important capital projects such as the Richmond Olympic Oval and Minoru Seniors’ Centre. MLA for Richmond South Centre, Henry Yao, also provided congratulatory greetings on behalf of the Province.
A highlight of the event was a charitable cheque presentation to Natalie Meixner, President & CEO of the Richmond Hospital Foundation, by Wayne Odegard, General Manager of River Rock Casino Resort. In a special twist, Odegard doubled the donation to $20,000 when Meixner rolled a seven or higher with oversized, inflatable dice.
The event concluded with a ceremonial cake cutting, where Anfinson, Doyle, and Odegard lit sparklers to celebrate the milestone anniversary while Huey Lewis’ anthem “The Power of Love” played nostalgically.
Earlier this year, as part of the 20th-anniversary celebration, River Rock announced a series of significant upgrades expected to be completed throughout the year to enhance the guest experience for decades to come.
Highlights include:
- Gordon Ramsay Steak will occupy a new space in the main atrium with indoor and outdoor dining.
- KOI, a new culinary venture by celebrated restaurateur Michael Zhang, will open later this year, offering a modern fusion dining experience.
- The Jade Room will expand with new slot machines, elevating the gaming options available to guests.
- The resort’s floor layout will be refreshed for better navigation and accessibility.
- A new Privé Lounge will be added, featuring a dedicated bar on the gaming floor.
- The conference facilities will be expanded, providing more space for meetings, events, and gatherings.
- The on-site marina will be dredged to fully reactivate the 130-slip marina.
- The buffet has been renovated to include à la carte offerings with panoramic views of the mountains and marina.
- Technical upgrades to enhance the audience’s experience in the theatre.
“We’re incredibly excited to introduce these enhancements at River Rock Casino Resort,” said Wayne Odegard, Regional Vice President, River Rock Casino Resort. “As a pioneer in gaming and hospitality in the market, and one of the very few entertainment resorts in British Columbia, we have always been proud of our resort and its robust amenities. These dynamic upgrades will not only provide our discerning guests with expanded choices but allow our special brand of hospitality to shine even brighter.”
