STATUS
In construction

LOCATION
Burnaby, BC

REGION
Lower Mainland

CLIENT
M’akola Housing Society

PROJECT PARTNERS
City of Burnaby
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
BC Housing

PROJECT TEAM
IBI Group
TL Housing Solutions

BUILDING SIZE
130 housing units

PROJECT COST
$90.5 million

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE
Fall 2026

M’akola Development Society (MDS) is developing affordable rental housing for indigenous individuals, families and seniors in Burnaby on behalf of M’akola Housing Society (MHS) . This 130-unit, six-storey building contains a mix of  studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. It also features underground parking, an indoor amenity room, and outdoor spaces such as a playground, dog run, and outdoor gathering space for people living in the building. The project will adhere to Step 4 of the BC Step Code.

This project has received $10.6 million in funding from the federal government through the Affordable Housing Fund. It has also received $23.5 million in funding through BC Housing, which includes $14.7 million from the Community Housing Fund, an $8.8 million Cost Pressure Grant, and $1.3 million in annual operating funding. The City of Burnaby is providing the land for this project, valued at $13 million, by way of a long-term lease at a nominal fee, along with $1.4 million towards feed waivers and site preparation and off-site servicing works. Metro Vancouver has also waived $867,000 in fees to support the project.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Owner’s representative services
• Site due diligence
• Local government approvals
• Funding applications
• Procurement and consultant management
• Design phase management
• Budget and contract management
• Construction administration
• Capital and operating budgets
• Project management services

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Vancouver, BC

REGION
Lower Mainland

CLIENT
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society

PROJECT PARTNERS
BC Housing
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
City of Vancouver

PROJECT TEAM
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
WCPG Construction

BUILDING SIZE
80 shelter beds
25 supportive units
143 rental homes
2 social enterprise commercial units

PROJECT COST
$145 million

COMPLETION DATE
March 2026

Located at East Hastings Street, this new development is named Ho’-kee-melh Kloshe Lum, meaning “To Gather, Good Spirits” in the Chinook Jargon. The development prioritizes Indigenous residents and incorporates design elements to foster culture and community.

M’akola Development Services (MDS) worked as the development consultant for BC Housing and the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society to build a range of housing options for people of all ages struggling to find a place to call home. It includes 80 safe shelter beds for people and families experiencing homelessness, 25 studios and one-bedrooms for people who are ready to move from the shelter to more independent living, 87 affordable rental homes for people and families with lower incomes (one, two and three-bedroom units), 56 market rental homes to help pay for the cost of the more affordable units, and 2 social enterprise space operated by the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society. The building also includes courtyard access, a rooftop multi-purpose and landscaped area, and a multi-level day centre with a range of services available, such as a dedicated cultural gathering space, lounge areas, a gym, an art studio and counselling spaces.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Site analysis and feasibility
• Planning and policy analysis
• Funding applications
• Site and land-use planning
• Operations planning
• Project management

STATUS
In construction

LOCATION
Quesnel, BC

REGION
North

CLIENT
Quesnel Tlilicum Society

PROJECT TEAM
Formline Architecture + Urbanism
Yellowridge Construction

BUILDING SIZE
35 rental homes

PROJECT BUDGET
$23.2 million

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION
May 2027

MDS is working with the Quesnel Tillicum Society to develop 35 affordable and secure rental homes for Indigenous Elders, families and young adults living in Quesnel.

This five-storey building will offer a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom homes, along with a shared communal space on the fifth floor that will bring residents together in an intergenerational community. The building is located next to the society’s child care centre and friendship centre, providing tenants with the opportunity to connect to a broader network of culturally grounded programs and services.

Construction began in November 2025, and is expected to complete in May 2027.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Owner’s representative and project management
• Feasibility analysis and studies
• Procurement and consultant management
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Local government approvals
• Design phase management
• Construction administration

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Courtenay, BC

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
Wachiay Friendship Centre

PROJECT TEAM
MacDonald Hagarty Architects
Kinetic Construction

BUILDING SIZE
40 affordable housing units

Target Population
Urban Indigenous people

PROJECT COST
$16 million

COMPLETION DATE
March 2025

MDS provided development consulting services for the Wachiay Friendship Centre Society (WFC), who work to support the urban Indigenous population in Courtenay. The now finished affordable housing project is owned by the WFC and was built on land that they owned and used as a parking lot adjacent to the current Friendship Centre.

The housing development is a five-storey, wood frame building with a total of 40 studio and 1-bedroom units, including an indoor amenity space. Of the 32 one-bedroom units, 9 are fully accessible, and the remaining 23 are adaptable to meet target tenant needs. MDS acted as the primary point of contact and owner’s representative throughout the development. MDS helped WFC procure a full design team and advance designs, successfully receive multiple sources of funding, prepare and receive re-zoning and the required development permits, and oversee construction and handover to WFC for operations.

The project was made financial feasible through funding from BC Housing’s Community Housing Fund, CMHC’s SEED and Co Investment programs, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund, and the Comox Valley Regional District’s Homelessness Support Service Funding. The project offers a range of affordability options from deeply subsidized and rent geared-to income to near market units.

MDS SERVICES OFFERED

• Site and land use planning
• Site due diligence
• Local government approvals
• Partnership development
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Capital and operating budgets
• Procurement and consultant management
• Project management

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Kitimaat Village, BC

REGION
North

CLIENT
Haisla Nation Council

PROJECT TEAM
Low Hammond Rowe Architects
Yellowridge Construction

BUILDING SIZE
23 housing units

PROJECT COST
$9.1 million

COMPLETION DATE
September 2024

M’akola Development Services (MDS) partnered with Haisla Nation to explore housing options for their Members living on and off the Traditional Territory of Haisla Nation. This involved collaboration with Haisla staff on community outreach and design. MDS staff employed a multi-pronged community engagement and consultation approach, working closely with Haisla Nation Council to reach Members across BC through focus groups, surveys and community forums.

The result of this research and engagement was the design of a new 23-unit, three-story apartment building on-reserve in Kitamaat Village. The building consists of 5 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom, and 6 three-bedroom apartments as well as ground floor community space, and ample shared deck/outdoor spaces. 

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Need and demand study; population projections
• Housing and community infrastructure assessment and planning
• Stakeholder engagement and consultation
• Land use planning under Haisla’s land code
• Project management services
• Invoice and contract management
• Operations support