STATUS
In Construction

LOCATION
Chawathil First Nation IR#2 Reserve Lands

REGION
Lower Mainland

CLIENT
Chawathil First Nation

PROJECT TEAM
The Nerdy Architect
Mierau Contractors

BUILDING SIZE
4 townhouse buildings
31 rental homes

PROJECT BUDGET
$26.5 million

EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE
Spring 2028

MDS is working with Chawathil First Nation to develop and construct a 31-unit, multi-residential housing development on Schkam IR #2 reserve lands outside of Hope, BC.

This project represents the first new housing developed in Chawathil First Nation Territory (on reserve) in the past 20 years. The Nation’s goals for this development are to improve living conditions on reserve, provide affordable rental rates that reduce the cost of living, and enable members living off-reserve to come home.

Extensive community engagement guided the design process. Surveys, open houses, interviews and focus groups have ensured that Chawathil priorities and the local context are meaningfully reflected in the development.

The development includes four wood-frame townhouses that will provide a mix of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-bedroom units. The unit mix and style was determined based on community need, which identified housing for Elders who may care for family members or require care, and a need for housing for larger families.

The development features:

• Bright and welcoming interior spaces
• Exterior colours drawing inspiration from Chawathil identity
• Roof lines referencing the nearby mountains to reinforce a sense of place
• Durable metal roofing to enhance safety in response to increasing forest fire risk
• Air conditioning systems for indoor comfort and healthier air quality
• Cultural gathering areas including a harvest table and food processing space
• Half basketball court suggested by Chawathil Youth

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
In Development

LOCATION
Village of Laxgalts’ap

REGION
North

CLIENT
Nisga’a Village of Laxgalts’ap

PROJECT TEAM
dys architecture
IDL Projects

BUILDING SIZE
30 rental homes

PROJECT BUDGET
$26.1 million

EXPECTED COMPLETION DATE
Summer 2028

The Village of Laxgalts’ap, located within the Nisga’a Nation, is working with MDS to develop a 30 unit affordable housing project on Nation land. This wood-frame apartment building will provide a mix of studio, 1- and 2-bedroom apartments, providing affordable housing for Indigenous families, individuals, and Elders living independently on reserve. The project also includes surface parking, an amenity space, community garden plots, and storage spaces in the building.

As the development consultant, MDS is delivering a comprehensive suite of services, including project management, land use planning, communications and engagement support, and the coordination of local government approvals. MDS is also preparing capital and operating budgets, managing contracts and invoices, developing and administering funding applications, managing consultants, and overseeing construction administration.

This development is funded by BC Housing’s Indigenous Housing Fund, providing $9.9 million in funding. It is also funded by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Affordable Housing Fund, providing $8.6 million in funding.

Construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2026, and complete in summer 2028.

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