Indigenous themed thermal spa coming to Saskatoon's Dakota Dunes Resort
![Daktoa Dunes Thermal Spa Dakota Dunes Resort unveiled a new thermal spa on July 24.](/content/dam/ctvnews/en/images/2024/8/13/daktoa-dunes-thermal-spa-1-6999435-1723581812154.png)
A new thermal spa is coming to one of Saskatchewan’s popular tourist destinations.
On July 24, a ground breaking ceremony was held at the Dakota Dunes Resort located south of Saskatoon.
The spa will be adjacent to the already established casino and golf course owned by the Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
“This will take it to the next level as far as adding the thermal spa to the overall resort property. This will be another profit centre of the Whitecap Dakota Nation and another employment generator,” said Chief Darcy Bear of Whitecap Dakota First Nation.
The thermal spa will be the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. The inclusion of Indigenous themes will make it the first of its kind in Canada.
The total cost of the project is expected to reach $52 million. Construction is set to begin mid-August.
Indigenous Services Canada has contributed $17 million to help cover the cost.
"Increasingly Whitecap has become an important part of Saskatchewan’s plan to generate revenue from this region," Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu told reporters at the announcement.
“I think it is important for the federal government to continue to contribute to economic development of communities like Whitecap because that is the self-determination part,” Hajdu added.
Employment opportunities are a key point of the building of the spa and its eventual operation.
It’s estimated over 300 jobs will be created for the construction phase, and over 150 jobs will be created when the spa is complete.
Bear says the nation once had a 70 per-cent unemployment rate.
Now it’s down to six per cent.
“This is now a new business and a new product coming to the Saskatoon area that’s going to differentiate ourselves from other provinces,” Bear said.
The spa has a projected opening date in November of 2026.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7032779.1726006252!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
LIVE Watch live here: The Trump-Harris 2024 presidential debate is tonight
U.S. Vice-President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump are meeting face-to-face tonight in the ABC presidential debate that comes less than two months before election day. Watch live here as the U.S. presidential nominees face off in the high-stakes debate.
U.S. presidential historian predicts results of November elections. Here's who he says will win
An American presidential historian is predicting a Kamala Harris presidency as the outcome of the upcoming U.S. elections in November.
6 things to watch for when Kamala Harris debates Donald Trump
The fundamental question ahead of their meeting in Philadelphia, one of the highest-stakes national debates in a generation, is whether – and how – the presidential candidates can deliver a compelling message.
Canadians want to tip 15% at restaurants, don't want to tip for takeout, survey says
Despite what the default options on the payment terminal might read, most Canadians still want to tip around 15 per cent, according to a new survey.
Dave Grohl says he fathered a child outside of his marriage
The Foo Fighters frontman announced that he recently became a father again, writing in a statement on his Instagram page on Tuesday that his new baby girl was born 'outside' of his marriage to his wife Jordyn Blum.
$2M home belonging to children's musician Raffi on the market
Canada’s children’s troubadour is selling his B.C. home, which is now up for grabs for $1,995,000.
PwC plans to track employees' location while at work. Is this practice legal in Canada?
As PricewaterhouseCoopers plans to enforce its back-to-office policy by tracking employees in the U.K., one employment lawyer explains whether the practice is legal in Canada.
B.C. man allowed to keep Great Dane in condo where pets prohibited: tribunal
A B.C. man has won his fight to keep a Great Dane in his condo – despite the building’s ban on pets.
Terror suspect entered Canada with student visa in June 2023, immigration minister confirms
A Pakistani citizen who was arrested last week in Quebec and charged with plotting a terrorist attack in New York City came to Canada on a student visa in June 2023, Immigration Minister Marc Miller has confirmed.