STATUS
In construction

LOCATION
Penticton, BC

REGION
Interior

CLIENT
M’akola Housing Society

PROJECT TEAM
Public Architecture
Chandos Construction

BUILDING SIZE
28 housing units

PROJECT BUDGET
$19.6 million

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE
Summer 2026

MDS is working with M’akola Housing Society to develop 28 units of affordable housing for urban Indigenous families, seniors, and individuals living in downtown Penticton.

Located at 603 Main Street, this mixed-use building is five storeys tall and includes a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom family units. The building also features a central outdoor courtyard space located on the second floor, and an open-air covered parking area. Two commercial spaces are available on the main floor, one of which will be operated by M’akola Housing Society to support their growing portfolio of buildings in the Okanagan region.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Owner’s representative services
• Site due diligence
• Capital and operating budgets
• Partnership development
• Local government approvals
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Procurement and consultant management
• Budget and contract management
• Construction administration
• 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
Port Alberni, BC

REGION
Vancouver Island

CLIENT
M’akola Housing Society

PROJECT TEAM
MacDonald Hagarty Architects
AFC Construction

BUILDING SIZE
40 housing units

PROJECT BUDGET
$22.8 million

ANTICIPATED COMPLETION DATE
Spring 2027

MDS is working with M’akola Housing Society to develop 40 units of affordable housing for urban Indigenous families, seniors, and individuals living in downtown Port Alberni.

Located at 2866 4th Avenue, this mixed-use development is five storeys tall and includes a mix of one-, two-, three-, and four- bedroom family units. The project also features a community room, and bike storage for residents. Up to four commercial spaces will be available on the main floor, with one operated by M’akola Housing Society to support their growing portfolio of buildings in the area.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Owner’s representative services
• Capital and operating budgets
• Partnership development
• Funding applications, management and reporting
• Procurement and consultant management
• Budget and contract management
• Construction administration
• Project management services

STATUS
Complete

LOCATION
Nisga’a Nation

REGION
North

CLIENT
Nisga’a Lisims Government

PROJECT PARTNERS
Turner Drake and Partners

COMPLETION DATE
December 2025

PROJECT WEBSITE
Housing – Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government

In Spring 2022, MDS produced a Housing Needs Report for the Nisga’a Lisims Government. The report provided both Village- and Nation-level perspectives on housing needs, with the goal of guiding policy development, informing land use planning, and supporting housing grant initiatives.

Since the last Housing Needs Report, Canada’s housing landscape has changed considerably, intensifying housing challenges for many Nisga’a Nation members, both On-Lands and Off-Lands. Furthermore, new data, including the complete 2021 Census, became available at the end of 2022. In light of these changes and the updated data, our team worked with the Nation to produce an updated housing report that builds upon past findings and recommendations.

Our process for preparing this report began with the collection and analysis of data from government sources, including the Nisga’a Lisims Government and Nisga’a Village Governments. We then hosted community dinners and open houses to gather insights into community members’ knowledge and housing experiences, with particular attention to how needs have evolved since 2022. In addition, a survey was distributed to Nisga’a Citizens both On- and Off-Lands. These findings were further explored through focus groups with the Village Governments, the Nisga’a Urban Society, and the Nisga’a Lisims Government. All information gathered was synthesized by our team into a summary of findings to guide current and future initiatives, and support the implementation of effective housing solutions.

MDS SERVICES PROVIDED

• Housing needs assessment
• Engagement and facilitation
• 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