Residents and visitors alike have been hitting the links at St. Eugene Golf Resort for exactly 25 years.
While the golf course and resort has grown into an award winning facility, it could have easily never happened.
Former ʔaq̓am chief and former chair of the St. Eugene Resort Sophie Pierre says the biggest challenge they overcame was the location.
“The land where the golf course was built was part of an Indian reservation equally shared by five bands. That meant we had to get the approval of all five bands to proceed with this project,” she said.
“After two years of internal marketing and speaking with many people from each of the bands, a vote was taken and the five bands unanimously agreed to move forward with the project as equal owners.”
A quarter of a century later, Pierre says it’s clear they made the right choice.
“Twenty-Five years later we’re looking forward and we’re celebrating the decision people made to reclaim the residential school and the land surrounding it for future generations. The decision the people made to build the resort was right.”
Golf course superintendent Graeme Douglas says the history of St. Eugene is reflected in everything they do from their crews to the landscaping.
“That became very important. The front with the elm trees and the monument, it’s a special place and has a special feeling,” he added.
“With the history of the building as a residential school we had to be very careful and respectful about how we did the landscaping and of course there’s a high percentage of Indigenous people working with us.”
Golfers hitting the course today can expect some goodies and refreshments to celebrate 25 years since the first ball was struck.
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