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