FIRST NATIONS HOUSING CONFERENCE
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Muskrat Dam First Nation takes pride in their ability to persevere and thrive as a community in remote Northwestern Ontario. The Community Housing Department has a vision to provide high-quality housing projects as a component of the infrastructure and foundation for creating a safe and healthy community.
Despite challenging winter conditions, the Muskrat Dam Community finished building two triplexes in a duration of only 9 weeks in the Fall and Winter of 2017. The triplexes were built to be energy efficient using Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs), which are a high-performance building system for residential and light commercial construction. The triplexes also incorporate heated floor systems and quality building materials. The Muskrat Dam housing department worked closely with an industry manufacturing company and hired local people to assemble the buildings.
Muskrat Dam First Nation is no stranger to success as this is the third time the community is being awarded at the First Nations Housing Conference. For their most recent accomplishments, Muskrat Dam is being awarded a Community Housing Recognition Award for 2019.
North Caribou is a community known for its hard work, friendly environment, and togetherness. The housing department in North Caribou is continuously working on improving houses in the community. Recently, they built two new houses and provided major and minor housing renovations for a number of other homes.
Good leadership is a major factor for the community’s success. In North Caribou, Gary Benson, the housing construction manager has over 30 years of experience in housing. He manages six construction crews, leads the housing department and ensures they assist community members with major and minor renovations.
The community strives to improve their housing department by taking part in educational programs and training. Last year, twelve young community members received certificates in plumbing and drywalling.
Community members continue to work in unity to improve to their housing program. For this achievement, North Caribou Lake First Nation is being awarded a Community Housing Recognition Award for 2019..
Wauzhushk Onigum Nation (WON) is a community that takes pride in their ability to manage their own housing projects using resources from the land. Providing housing for the community is one of their highest priorities. This past Fall, they constructed two energy efficient triplex units. Each building unit consists of three bedrooms and one washroom. The units are a single storey construction with a crawlspace. In addition, they worked on renovations for existing homes with an aim to provide community members with a healthier lifestyle.
Both triplexes were constructed to meet the structures of the Ontario Building Code and OBC SB-12 energy efficiency for new housing standards. With the communities’ ability to manage their own projects, services such as framing, insulating, vapour barrier, windows and doors, siding, roofing, and finishes were all provided by the community using 3 teams of community contractors.
The future of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation will be focused on working together to fulfil the need for housing in addition to advancing the quality of homes for the community by the community. For this achievement, Wauzhushk Onigum Nation is being rewarded a Community Housing Recognition Award for 2019.
Beausoleil First Nation has made innovative and remarkable efforts to progress their community housing program with the building of a 6 Plex Multi- Unit Building and a 5-unit housing project. The 5-unit housing project includes two 1-bedroom units and three 3-bedroom units. The community continues their efforts as they work towards completing a 7-unit housing project. Working on these projects are contractors and members from the community, along with support from local sub-trades from surrounding areas.
The 6 Plex Multi-Unit Building included several unique features such as sprinkler systems and propane furnaces with heat pumps. The housing department is continuously trying to build more energy-efficient homes to lower hydro cost for the occupants. It was the goal of the community to provide high-quality affordable housing while working to fulfil the need for housing and reduce overcrowding in the community.
As Beausoleil First Nation continues to thrive with innovative housing projects, the efforts of the community deserve to be recognized. For these accomplishments, Beausoleil First Nation is being awarded a Community Housing Recognition Award for 2019.
The Builders Challenge event was once again hosted by TV and Radio personality and all ’round handyman Jon Eakes. The challenge consists of 4 demonstrations and competitions detailing proper techniques for Chimney Installation.
These demonstrations taught delegates:
