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Canada’s First and Friendliest Gambling Hall!
When people think about a casino, they usually don’t think about all of the ways it gives back to its community, but in Dawson City, Yukon, things are run a little bit differently. Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall is Canada’s only not-for-profit casino, and giving back to the community is what they do best.
Canada’s first legal gambling hall, Diamond Tooth Gerties opened in 1971 and is operated by the Klondike Visitors Association, a community non-profit whose mandate includes destination marketing, community events, and community well-being. All profits from operating Diamond Tooth Gerties are reinvested in the community in many ways, including grant programs, fundraising opportunities, sponsorships, destination marketing, and wages, to name a few.
One of the larger contributions that Diamond Tooth Gerties gives each year is to the Crime Prevention and Victim Services Trust Fund, a grant program for projects that support crime prevention and services to victims in the Yukon. Diamond Tooth Gerties has contributed to this fund since its inception in 1998, amounting to more than $2,700,000 over the past 10 years.
Another way that Diamond Tooth Gerties gives back to their community is through a Community Event Casino Program, which invites local non-profits to host events in the space in the winter months and receive a donation from Diamond Tooth Gerties in return.
Situated on the banks of the Yukon River and surrounded by pristine wilderness, Dawson City is a popular vacation destination for people of all ages. Whether you want to experience the northern lights, the world-class hiking, or take in the nightly can-can shows on the stage of Diamond Tooth Gerties, there is sure to be something to please everyone that visits. Money from Diamond Tooth Gerties is used to market Dawson City as a tourist destination, which helps stimulate the local economy.
When you visit Diamond Tooth Gerties from early May until late September, you’ll experience three different performances from Miss Diamond Tooth Gertie and her Gold Rush Girls. Diamond Tooth Gertie will dazzle you with her wit, charm, and powerhouse vocals. Wowing you with high kicks and splits, the Gold Rush Girls will undoubtedly keep you captivated with their colourful skirts and hootin’ and hollerin’. With performances ranging from old-timey can-can all the way up to contemporary rock and pop, these shows will have you tapping your toes and singing along in no time.
When you walk into the 120-year-old building that houses Diamond Tooth Gerties, it’s comforting to know that the money you spend is being reinvested into the community. With the Yukon being just a short flight from Vancouver, it might be time to start planning that trip of a lifetime.
For more information on Diamond Tooth Gerties and all the other ways they give back, you can visit DiamondToothGerties.ca
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Opening in 1971, Diamond Tooth Gerties prides itself on being Canada’s oldest casino! The Klondike Visitors Association came up with the idea of opening a casino in order to promote tourism to the Klondike. They had already been hosting “Klondike Nights” which included music, dancing and games of chance at both the Palace Grand Theatre and aboard the SS Keno, so a casino didn’t seem so far fetched.
