Cabinet ministers Jeremy Harrison and Everett Hindley joined local community leaders in Meadow Lake Thursday for the official grand opening of the Northwest Community Lodge.

The new facility, which welcomed residents earlier this month, replaces the 53-bed Northlands Pioneer Lodge. The Northwest Community Centre will be able to accomodate up to 72 residents once fully operational. Harrison is the M-L-A for Meadow Lake while Hindley is the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Seniors and Rural and Remote Health for the provincial government, who provided $30.5 million towards the building of the Northwest Community Centre. Local funding covered the remainder of the $38 million capital project.