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
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
Hope, BC

REGION
Lower Mainland

CLIENT
Mamele’awt Qweesome & To’o Housing Society

PROJECT TEAM
CHP Architects
VanMar Constructors

BUILDING SIZE
4 Storeys
45 Units

PROJECT COST
$18.6 million

COMPLETION DATE
July 2021

The Mamele’awt Qweesome Housing Society (MQHS) recognizes that there is a rental housing challenge in Hope that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable residents of the community. To address this need, MQHS redeveloped a vacant site with a four-storey, wood-frame apartment building (37 units) and eight family townhomes (8 units) for a total of 45 units. In addition to the residential units, the new apartment building includes in-suite laundry for family units, outdoor space for children, ample parking spaces, indigenous features and artwork in key areas of the building, including the lobby, and a large tenant amenity space.

M’akola Development Services (MDS) has worked closely with MQHS to hire an architect and design team to design concept plans. The architect was brought on board in 2017 to support conceptual design under the Indigenous Housing Fund (IHF) Request for Proposal (RFP) process. MDS also procured the Construction Contractor, coordinated site due diligence, completed a feasibility study, submitted proposals for project funding and continues to support operations planning and programming for this project.

The Riverstone began construction in November 2019 and completed in June 2021.

MDS Services

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