STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Colwood, BC

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
Hulitan Family and Community Services Society

PROJECT TEAM
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
Casman Projects

BUILDING SIZE
97 childcare spaces

COMPLETION DATE
August 2024

Hulitan Early Years Centre is in Colwood, BC, and was a collaboration between Hulitan Family and Community Services Society, School District 62, and the Ministry of Education and Childcare. Completed in August 2024, the early years centre offers 97 spaces to Indigenous and non-Indigenous children on the Westshore of Vancouver Island. It includes 48 free childcare spaces for Indigenous families, with 24 for infant toddlers and 24 for children ages three to five.  

The School District is an important partner on the project as they have entered into a long-term lease with Hulitan, to provide a portion of their land for the development of this space and was involved throughout project development process. Capital funding for this project included grant funds provided by the Ministry of Education and Childcare through the New Spaces Fund, The City of Colwood through development cost charges, fee waivers, Grant funds to pay for the required frontage improvements to align with future City objectives.  In addition, Aboriginal Headstart provides ongoing operational funds to support long-term affordability of childcare delivery at the Centre.  

M’akola Development Services acted as Owner’s Representative and development consultant from the initial concept of this project through to its completion. This included management and coordination of municipal approvals, funding applications, and procurement of design and construction management teams as well as ongoing contract administration, budgeting and proforma development.  

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Owner’s representative
• Site and land use planning 
  
• Capital and operating budgets 
• Funding applications, management, and reporting
• Design phase management
• Local municipal approvals 
• Procurement and consultant management
• Construction administration
• Project management services

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Langford, BC

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
M’akola Housing Society

PROJECT TEAM
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
Scansa Construction

BUILDING SIZE
2 buildings
100 housing units

TOTAL PROJECT COST
$43 million

COMPLETION DATE
Fall 2021

M’akola Development Services (MDS) partnered with  M’akola Housing Society (MHS) for the design and construction of the mixed use (commercial and residential) Station Avenue project in Langford, BC.  

The development is a two-phased affordable housing project designed to support urban Indigenous families, elders/seniors, and singles in need of stable, affordable and high-quality housing in the Westshore area. Phase One of the project was funded by BC Housing’s Provincial Investment in Affordable Housing: Aboriginal Housing Initiative (PIAH).  

Phase One, completed in March 2020, includes the construction of a six-storey, wood frame building consisting of 60 units of self-contained rental units in studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom layouts. Approximately, 6,500 sq. ft. of commercial space is owned and operated by Hulitan Family and Community Services Society (HFCSS). HFCSS provides social and emotional support through programs and services to Indigenous children, Indigenous youth, and Indigenous families. In addition, approximately, 4,000 sq. ft. of commercial space on the ground floor will be used as MDS office space to further advance affordable housing in the Province.  

Phase Two, completed in the fall of 2021, involved the construction of a six-storey development with 40 units of affordable housing in a second building at the rear of the site. This project was approved under the 2018 Indigenous Housing Funding call and received full support from BC Housing.  

The M’akola Development Services team was responsible for the feasibility analysis, business case development, site planning, and project management through construction, to one year warranty review stages. 

MDS Services

• Feasibility Analysis    
• Site Due Diligence    
• Funding Applications    
• Design Team Procurement   
• Rezoning   
• Project Management of Project Planning and Construction   
• Operations  

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Kamloops, BC

REGION
Interior

CLIENT
Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family & Community Services

PROJECT TEAM
Richard Hunter Architect
D&T Developments

BUILDING SIZE
18,624 s.f.
31 housing units

TOTAL PROJECT COST
$6.9 million

COMPLETION DATE
November 2020

Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family & Community Services (LMO), with the support of the City of Kamloops, has completed construction of a 31-unit residential building to house First Nation, Métis and Inuit youth who are aging out of care alongside Elders. This unique project, in honour of Alex’s Story, is aiming to provide a culturally supported, safe and suitable home for youth who can fall through the cracks on the housing continuum.

“Ki-kek-yel-c” means to cover young protectively; how birds wrap wings around their young. The name was gifted to LMO by a group of Secwepemc speakers to honour the territory. “A Place of Belonging” is the name of LMO’s first housing project and honours the Métis and the efforts of the organization to bring this much needed project to life.

The project vision included the development of a 31 unit, two-storey apartment building comprised of 15 studio units and 16 one-bedroom units. Six of the 31 units will be adaptable. Through a partnership with AHMA, tenant support workers will be available on-site for youth to access.

To date, MDS has prepared a feasibility analysis, need, and demand, and, through successful funding applications, securing funding from both the federal and provincial government to mobilize the project through to construction. MDS led a successful comprehensive community engagement strategy through a contentious rezoning process. The project broke ground in May 2019 and received substantial completion in August, 2020.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Feasibility analysis and studies
• Need and demand study
• Procurement and consultant management
• Partnership development
• Community engagement
• Construction administration

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Courtenay, BC | K’ómoks territory

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
M’akola Housing Society

PROJECT TEAM
Joe Newell Architect
AFC Construction

BUILDING SIZE
18,062 sq. ft.
35 units

TOTAL PROJECT COST
$7.2 million

COMPLETION DATE
March 2019

M’akola Housing Society (MHS), in partnership with the City of Courtenay, the Wachiay Friendship Centre, and the support of the Comox Valley Regional District, developed a 35-unit affordable housing complex for low-income singles and those at risk of homelessness, with a focus on Indigenous peoples, in Courtenay, BC.

The high need for adequate and suitable housing in the Comox Valley, as well as MHS’s 19 years of experience operating in the region, garnered the project a high level of support from the community at large and has become a strategic priority for the City of Courtenay.

The M’akola Development Services team was responsible for the feasibility analysis, coordination of design development, site planning, and project management through construction. In addition, the team facilitated partnerships between numerous organizations and collaborated to honour the traditional territory of the K’ómoks First Nation. Construction was completed in the Spring of 2019.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Feasibility analysis
• Need and demand study
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Procurement
• Partnership building
• Community engagement
• Construction administration

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Chilliwack, BC

REGION
Interior

CLIENT
Mamele’awt Qweesome Housing Society

PROJECT TEAM
Craven Huston Powers Architects
VanMar Constructors

BUILDING SIZE
77,625 sq. Ft.
80 housing units

PROJECT COST
$21 million

COMPLETION DATE
March 2019

The vision of the Waterstone was to create a walkable residential / mixed-use development that will increase the stock of quality, affordable housing in Chilliwack for low-income Indigenous families and singles.

With a range of affordability, the Waterstone development provides housing along the housing continuum from market housing through to moderate income, to affordable housing. A ground level commercial component, with an on-site daycare and playground will bring needed services and amenities to the tenants and surrounding residents. There are a total of 80 residential units, made up of one- to four-bedroom apartments, with 50% of the units designated as adaptable and five one-bedroom units voluntarily designed as wheelchair accessible.

Mamele’awt Qweesome Housing Society (MQHS) committed to adopting the highest sustainability standards as set out by the municipality and BC Building Code. Project specific goals will meet and exceed BC Housing’s Design Guidelines and Construction Standards (2014). These included: reducing energy consumption and GHG emissions during construction and operations; improving indoor environmental quality for tenants; and reducing operating, maintenance costs, and energy costs for future residents. The Waterstone began construction in August 2017 and completed construction in February, 2019.

MDS Services

• Need and demand study
• Population projections
• Housing and community infrastructure assessment and planning
• Community engagement
• Land use planning
• Project management
• Operations