A breaking ground ceremony on October 9, 2019 heralded the start of a major construction project for the Lower Kootenay Band.
LKB Chief Jason Louie along with key partners gathered on Old Community Road to celebrate.
“I do want to acknowledge that this is the original village site of the Lower Kootenay Band,” said Chief Louie. “This is where all the community members lived at one time. It was also the site of the Saint Peters Church, which is no longer here. It was the vote of the community. Our democracy has spoke loud and clear to remove it.”
Chief Louie said the new building will revitalize the property and free up space in existing LKB homes.
“Houses which should be used for community members, we’ll be able to convert those back into homes,” Said Chief Louie. “[The new administration building] will be a state of the art building.”
The $5.1 million project is expected to be built by the end of August next year. It is fully funded through the First Nations Health Authority.
T.A. Rendek and Associates Ltd was awarded the contract to build the structure. Dave Kitazaki of dk Architecture will provide the designs. Kitazaki is an award winning architect who grew up in Kamloops, B.C. and is a member of the Xaxl’ip (Fountain) First Nation. Both Dave Kitazaki and Terry Rendek partook in ceremony.
LKB Director of Development Services, Curtis Wullum was also present. As was the First Nations Health Authority Community Capital Assets Director, Mark Fitz-Morris.
The building will have an unobstructed view of the flatland leading to the Kootenay River and the Selkirk Mountains. Chief Louie smiled as he looked over the grounds with his shovel in hand and said, “My only asking is that my office will be facing west. It’s just a beautiful sight out here.”