Billy Idol played Casino Rama on Thursday, so I decided to make the trip up to Orillia to see the show, since he's somehow not playing Toronto on this tour. Was it worth the trip?
There seems to be a growing trend for mostly older bands to do the casino circuit in lieu of playing in nearby big cities. This is the first time I decided to check out a show there.
Great venue for concerts, I highly recommend Rama for fun and entertainment!!! Food at the 'Simcoe Yard House' is really good, lots of selection. The casino is great, slots, tables, my favorite is Ba. Casino Rama Concerts.
I had hoped to take my girlfriend to Rama by way of a two-hour scenic motorbike ride, but it was cold and rainy, so I considered the options. There's the Tai Pan Tour bus to Casino Rama, which is quite the deal at just $10 per trip. If you don't mind being beholden to their bus schedule. We rented a car instead. Rama is nearest to Orillia, so we decided to make an overnight trip of it, finding this quaint Hotel Champlain Quality Hotel via Hotwire.
After we checked in, I bumped into a friendly guy wearing a Billy Idol VIP laminate pass in the hotel lobby. His sister is the head of the Billy Idol Fan Club, he said. But he couldn't get us backstage. He did mention that if we got to Casino Rama by 5 p.m. we'd likely be able to get into the soundcheck.
Not being the hugest fan, though, we opted instead to check out what culture could be found nearby. We hit up the main drag of Orillia, strangely named Mississauga Street. It almost felt like home! There's a bunch of neat spots in town, like the Mariposa Market, where they had Muskoka Berry Tarts.
A few doors down, a lazy cat welcomed us in the window of Boudicca Used Books. Next door was Alleycats Music & Art, which was mostly filled with overpriced vinyl � not too dissimilar from Toronto.
They did have a cool selection of buttons, including one of Corey Heart.
And look who was staring down at me from the top CD shelf!
Across the street, I really wanted to check out Extreme Rockstar Clothing, figuring it looks like a place Billy Idol might be found hiding out in. But it was inexplicably closed on this early Thursday afternoon.
It was getting closer to showtime, so we found a place to eat nearby the hotel instead of getting there early and taking advantage of the $19.95 all-you-can-eat buffet at Casino Rama.
We arrived at Casino Rama to a rainy parking lot. Hey, at least the parking's free. If downtown Toronto ever got their own Casino, I bet parking would cost more than the buffet dinner.
Rama Casino Shows
We had about 45 minutes to kill before the show, so we walked around the casino complex, which I found really dark, except for the bright lights of the slot machines. It was pretty depressing, watching all these old ladies gambling away their pensions. Perhaps unique to Casino Rama, they've got a children's card game WAR that you can bet on and win (or lose) big!
By 8 o'clock it was showtime! Unlike most Toronto gigs I've been to, where there's a local supporting act, at Rama they get right down to business. We had 14th-row floor seats and everyone around us seemed older than us, making me wonder if they make a habit of comping casino regulars with free show tickets.
The front few rows appeared to be made up of Fan Club members. A few lucky female fans had a great time caressing Billy Idol's upper thigh. Billy didn't seem to mind. Nor did the laid back security. Try this move in a Toronto gig and you're likely to be tossed out by a meathead bouncer.
Behind us, though, was another story: Bored-looking couples in their 50s and gaggles of Soccer Moms, sitting on their hands during the performance.
Billy Idol was animated throughout his show, playing a few newer songs alongside big hits that at least got some of the crowd on their feet.
Hearing White Wedding and Mony Mony live were definite highlights of the trip. He did an amusing cover of The Doors' L.A. Woman, altering the lyrics to Ontario Woman. I almost missed hearing the usual call out of 'Toronto, how do you feeeeeeeel?'
At 57, Billy Idol's still a class act. Full of bravado, fist pumps and handshakes to the faithful fans in the front rows. He even had a giant Sharpie on stage with him to sign autographs while singing.
Altogether, I'd say it was a welcome departure from the Toronto concert experience and definitely a memorable trip to Casino Rama. Maybe you'd consider checking out a show there next month if you're a fan of Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Collective Soul, Third Eye Blind or Journey.
Photos by Roger Cullman Photography.
While some casinos in Ontario are reopening this morning, the doors remain locked at Casino Rama.
However, the operator of the gambling facility east of Orillia received some good news recently.
On Friday, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment became the first Canadian employer to receive a loan from the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corp. (CEEFC) under its Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF).
The agreement provides Gateway with access to $200 million of liquidity.
'These funds will provide us with capital to support restarting our operations and returning people back to work when it is safe and viable to do so,' Gateway CEO Tony Santo said in an email to employees.
He noted the pandemic 'hit our employees and their families and communities hard' and said the company is 'appreciative of the LEEFF program.'
He said the loan is a shot of good news amid months of dire news.
'Back in the spring, we believed that this shutdown would be for a few weeks,' said Santo of the government shutdown of casinos on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
'However, we have now seen that the closure has lasted far longer and there is continued uncertainty about how long the shutdowns will stretch.'
That uncertainty has been taxing for employees, says Corey Dalton, president of Unifor Local 1090, which represents employees at Casino Rama and Gateway Casino in Innisfil.
'After being off of work for more than six months, all of our casino members are struggling financially at this point,' Dalton told OrilliaMatters.
Unifor Local 1090 and Gateway recently negotiated an agreement that extended health benefits for unionized employees until the end of September, he said.
The new LEEFF funding prompted Gateway to extend benefits for all members until Oct. 31, at which point they will review benefits again.
'We are extremely grateful and applaud Gateway for this decision,' said Dalton.
Another key component of the agreement included the opportunity for members to enrol in a 'paid inactive leave' program that would provide members with ongoing financial support through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program.
'The paid inactive leave program has been very beneficial for a large amount of our members,' said Dalton. 'Unfortunately, this program was scheduled to expire on Sept. 26. Late last week, the federal government indicated that they would be extending CEWS into 2021. We now anxiously await important details from the federal government on the extension and any limitations the program may have.'
Rama Casino Shows Online
Dalton said employees are eager to get back to work. An August poll of members concluded 70% of unionized Casino Rama employees were 'comfortable to return to work if safety precautions are implemented.'
Dalton said provincial regulations handcuff casino operations.
'The Ontario government has placed extensive restrictions on casinos,' he said, noting table games are currently prohibited from reopening and all casinos are limited to a maximum of 50 guests.
Billy Idol played Casino Rama on Thursday, so I decided to make the trip up to Orillia to see the show, since he's somehow not playing Toronto on this tour. Was it worth the trip?
There seems to be a growing trend for mostly older bands to do the casino circuit in lieu of playing in nearby big cities. This is the first time I decided to check out a show there.
Great venue for concerts, I highly recommend Rama for fun and entertainment!!! Food at the 'Simcoe Yard House' is really good, lots of selection. The casino is great, slots, tables, my favorite is Ba. Casino Rama Concerts.
I had hoped to take my girlfriend to Rama by way of a two-hour scenic motorbike ride, but it was cold and rainy, so I considered the options. There's the Tai Pan Tour bus to Casino Rama, which is quite the deal at just $10 per trip. If you don't mind being beholden to their bus schedule. We rented a car instead. Rama is nearest to Orillia, so we decided to make an overnight trip of it, finding this quaint Hotel Champlain Quality Hotel via Hotwire.
After we checked in, I bumped into a friendly guy wearing a Billy Idol VIP laminate pass in the hotel lobby. His sister is the head of the Billy Idol Fan Club, he said. But he couldn't get us backstage. He did mention that if we got to Casino Rama by 5 p.m. we'd likely be able to get into the soundcheck.
Not being the hugest fan, though, we opted instead to check out what culture could be found nearby. We hit up the main drag of Orillia, strangely named Mississauga Street. It almost felt like home! There's a bunch of neat spots in town, like the Mariposa Market, where they had Muskoka Berry Tarts.
A few doors down, a lazy cat welcomed us in the window of Boudicca Used Books. Next door was Alleycats Music & Art, which was mostly filled with overpriced vinyl � not too dissimilar from Toronto.
They did have a cool selection of buttons, including one of Corey Heart.
And look who was staring down at me from the top CD shelf!
Across the street, I really wanted to check out Extreme Rockstar Clothing, figuring it looks like a place Billy Idol might be found hiding out in. But it was inexplicably closed on this early Thursday afternoon.
It was getting closer to showtime, so we found a place to eat nearby the hotel instead of getting there early and taking advantage of the $19.95 all-you-can-eat buffet at Casino Rama.
We arrived at Casino Rama to a rainy parking lot. Hey, at least the parking's free. If downtown Toronto ever got their own Casino, I bet parking would cost more than the buffet dinner.
Rama Casino Shows
We had about 45 minutes to kill before the show, so we walked around the casino complex, which I found really dark, except for the bright lights of the slot machines. It was pretty depressing, watching all these old ladies gambling away their pensions. Perhaps unique to Casino Rama, they've got a children's card game WAR that you can bet on and win (or lose) big!
By 8 o'clock it was showtime! Unlike most Toronto gigs I've been to, where there's a local supporting act, at Rama they get right down to business. We had 14th-row floor seats and everyone around us seemed older than us, making me wonder if they make a habit of comping casino regulars with free show tickets.
The front few rows appeared to be made up of Fan Club members. A few lucky female fans had a great time caressing Billy Idol's upper thigh. Billy didn't seem to mind. Nor did the laid back security. Try this move in a Toronto gig and you're likely to be tossed out by a meathead bouncer.
Behind us, though, was another story: Bored-looking couples in their 50s and gaggles of Soccer Moms, sitting on their hands during the performance.
Billy Idol was animated throughout his show, playing a few newer songs alongside big hits that at least got some of the crowd on their feet.
Hearing White Wedding and Mony Mony live were definite highlights of the trip. He did an amusing cover of The Doors' L.A. Woman, altering the lyrics to Ontario Woman. I almost missed hearing the usual call out of 'Toronto, how do you feeeeeeeel?'
At 57, Billy Idol's still a class act. Full of bravado, fist pumps and handshakes to the faithful fans in the front rows. He even had a giant Sharpie on stage with him to sign autographs while singing.
Altogether, I'd say it was a welcome departure from the Toronto concert experience and definitely a memorable trip to Casino Rama. Maybe you'd consider checking out a show there next month if you're a fan of Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Collective Soul, Third Eye Blind or Journey.
Photos by Roger Cullman Photography.
While some casinos in Ontario are reopening this morning, the doors remain locked at Casino Rama.
However, the operator of the gambling facility east of Orillia received some good news recently.
On Friday, Gateway Casinos and Entertainment became the first Canadian employer to receive a loan from the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corp. (CEEFC) under its Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF).
The agreement provides Gateway with access to $200 million of liquidity.
'These funds will provide us with capital to support restarting our operations and returning people back to work when it is safe and viable to do so,' Gateway CEO Tony Santo said in an email to employees.
He noted the pandemic 'hit our employees and their families and communities hard' and said the company is 'appreciative of the LEEFF program.'
He said the loan is a shot of good news amid months of dire news.
'Back in the spring, we believed that this shutdown would be for a few weeks,' said Santo of the government shutdown of casinos on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
'However, we have now seen that the closure has lasted far longer and there is continued uncertainty about how long the shutdowns will stretch.'
That uncertainty has been taxing for employees, says Corey Dalton, president of Unifor Local 1090, which represents employees at Casino Rama and Gateway Casino in Innisfil.
'After being off of work for more than six months, all of our casino members are struggling financially at this point,' Dalton told OrilliaMatters.
Unifor Local 1090 and Gateway recently negotiated an agreement that extended health benefits for unionized employees until the end of September, he said.
The new LEEFF funding prompted Gateway to extend benefits for all members until Oct. 31, at which point they will review benefits again.
'We are extremely grateful and applaud Gateway for this decision,' said Dalton.
Another key component of the agreement included the opportunity for members to enrol in a 'paid inactive leave' program that would provide members with ongoing financial support through the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program.
'The paid inactive leave program has been very beneficial for a large amount of our members,' said Dalton. 'Unfortunately, this program was scheduled to expire on Sept. 26. Late last week, the federal government indicated that they would be extending CEWS into 2021. We now anxiously await important details from the federal government on the extension and any limitations the program may have.'
Rama Casino Shows Online
Dalton said employees are eager to get back to work. An August poll of members concluded 70% of unionized Casino Rama employees were 'comfortable to return to work if safety precautions are implemented.'
Dalton said provincial regulations handcuff casino operations.
'The Ontario government has placed extensive restrictions on casinos,' he said, noting table games are currently prohibited from reopening and all casinos are limited to a maximum of 50 guests.
'Both the Union and the employer have asked the Ontario government to review this cap,' said Dalton.
'Local 1090 maintains a strong belief that the guest-limit needs to be proportionate to the physical size of each casino. Casino Rama has one of the largest gaming floors in Ontario in terms of square footage - there is an ability for Gateway to provide safe, physical distancing for a larger number of patrons than other facilities which can be 20% (or even less) of the square footage,' Dalton explained.
Santo agreed, saying the '50-customer capacity limit ... makes reopening very challenging.'
Santo said they 'have developed extensive health and safety plans corporately and for each of our sites. These plans include two metres physical distancing, the installation of Plexiglas for areas of frequent employee/guest interactions, rigorous cleaning measures and the mandatory use of masks or face coverings for all individuals entering the gaming sites.
'Our health and safety standards have been reviewed by external subject matter experts and they have been proven to be successful through the re-opening of select food and beverage outlets across the company,' he said.
'Despite our detailed plans that well exceed the protocols and oversight in every other area of the economy, there is no sound science to support why we are not allowed to open while big-box stores, restaurants and gyms are allowed to re-open,' Santo explained.
Rama Casino Shows 2019
'We operate in a highly regulated sector and are already accustomed to following government-mandated parameters,' noted Santo. 'We have complete confidence that our operations and our employees can safely and successfully operate under these added health and safety protocols.'
He said Gateway is 'continuing to appeal to the appropriate government agencies in all provinces to allow us to re-open our operations in a safe and viable way.'
At 10 a.m. this morning, the 11 properties operated by Great Canadian Gaming Corporation (GCGC) re-opened. At each of these sites, guests are required to reserve a two-hour gaming time-slot.
Casino Rama Shows July 2019
Caesars Windsor will be re-opening on Oct. 8 by invitation only. All other Ontario casinos remain closed.
