SIGA doubles down on employee development and well-being

The first word that comes to Wade Williams’ mind when asked about the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority (SIGA) is opportunity.

Williams started at SIGA as a security officer in 2019 at its Dakota Dunes Casino. He left to study business at university and returned as a summer student at SIGA’s central office in Saskatoon. He has stayed on as an integrity officer.

Williams wanted to work at SIGA because he saw the opportunities it gave his mom, who has worked there for two decades, including generous health benefits for the whole family, training opportunities and the flexibility to attend his school events. He has now experienced this himself, taking two months of paternity leave with top-up pay when his daughter, Violet, was born.

“I didn’t even know that was something dads could do,” he says. “It was amazing to get to stay home with my little girl for the first two months of her life.”

Shane Fluney, administration manager at Gold Eagle Casino, also appreciates the investments SIGA makes in its employees. He recently completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree with tuition assistance from SIGA. Right now, he is gaining new experience on a temporary assignment as a lead on the organization’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) team.

“Learning and development is one of the main highlights for me as a lifelong learner,” he says. “SIGA invests up to $6,000 per employee annually for training. That's a significant amount of funding for employees to increase their knowledge. Especially in our industry, with technology and the industry evolving so quickly, it's so important to have an educated workforce.”

SIGA runs seven casinos across the province as well as online PlayNow.com. It is a non-profit organization with 100 per cent of its net income going back into Saskatchewan. SIGA has almost 1,600 employees, more than 65 per cent of whom are First Nations. In addition, 83 per cent of its board of directors are First Nation.

Desiree Gervais, vice-president, human resources, says that SIGA seeks to not only employ First Nations people but to ensure that they earn a competitive salary, comprehensive benefits and a good pension.

“As a top First Nations employer in the province, even across Canada, I feel like we lead the way in so many areas, but it really comes down to our company culture. We are a guiding light that other organizations look up to,” she says.

One of the main reasons that many employees say they work at SIGA relates to SIGA’s Guiding Principle Miskâsowin, which means sense of belonging. “It really feels like a family environment,” she says. “We have made an impact on second and third generations of families and we also have a lot of family members who work together at SIGA. And the environment just feels like a family, where milestones are celebrated, and we care for each other and have fun.”

SIGA takes pride in its cultural roots and places emphasis on its efforts in Truth and Reconciliation. On the last Friday of every month, employees are encouraged to wear orange; as well, they receive four additional statutory days off to participate in significant First Nations dates that are recognized by SIGA.

SIGA also recognizes the importance of employee health and well-being and provides resources and support in a culturally appropriate way. “The organization’s health and well-being framework is guided by the medicine wheel, which represents the interconnectedness of nature, of health and well-being, to provide a balanced support system for all employees,” says Gervais. This includes four in-house health and well-being coordinators who are there to support employees.

This article appeared in the magazine announcing this year's Saskatchewan's Top Employers winners, published February 4, 2025 in the Regina Leader-Post and Saskatoon Star Phoenix. This article was prepared with the financial support of the employer, which reviewed but did not write its contents.