It’s shovels in the ground for some of our Indigenous neighbours in northeastern Alberta
November 2020 - Things are getting concrete – literally! – for some of the six communities taking part in our $50 million, five-year Indigenous Housing Initiative. Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, all six communities have made progress toward their goal of getting houses built for those among their members who need it most. The two Métis communities involved in the Initiative, Conklin and Chard, recently secured land from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo for a nominal price. Construction is well advanced for Heart Lake First Nation, Cold Lake First Nations and Beaver Lake Cree Nation, while Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation is busy planning to launch the Initiative in 2021. Cold Lake First Nations is working with a local builder, Value Master Homes, which has construction of some ready-to-move units underway at a building yard in Cold Lake. Since this is a multi-year Initiative, each community is moving at its own pace, and some are further along in the process than others. See the photos below for a glimpse of the work that’s going on.
Scenes from the communities:
Site prep and utility lines in Heart Lake First Nation near Lac La Biche, Alberta during August 2020. 
Cold Lake First Nations Chief Roger Marten inspecting progress on one of the first new homes being built in his community, September 2020. 
Ready-to-move homes being built by Value Master Homes, a Cold Lake-based company, for Cold Lake First Nations. 
Heart Lake First Nation Chief Curtis Monias & Lise Warawa from Cenovus Local Community Relations check out construction progress near Lac La Biche, late September 2020. 
Ready-to-move homes being built by Value Master Homes, a Cold Lake-based company, for Cold Lake First Nations. 
A new home, built by Nelson Lumber, being moved to Heart Lake First Nation in early November. Find out more about the launch of our $50 million Indigenous Housing Initiative.
This summer, the communities of Chard and Conklin secured parcels of land so they can build new homes as part of our Indigenous Housing Initiative. Read the story.
Learn about our approach to Indigenous reconciliation.