South Peace Historical Society

    • Home
    • About / Contact Us
    • About Dorthea Horton
    • About This Collection
    • Bibliography
    • Brief History of the Peace
    • Credits
    • South Peace Historical Society Archives (External Link)
  • Table of Contents

    • Part 1: First Nations of the Peace River Region
    • Part 2: The Fur Trade Era
    • Part 3: Transportation and Communication
    • Part 4: Old Timers and the Price of Land
    • Part 5: Dawson Creek: The Story of the Community
    • Part 6: Mysteries, Adventures and Indian Legends
    • Part 7: Arts, Crafts and Recreation
    • Part 8: Agriculture
    • Part 9: Church Histories
    • Part 10: Schools
    • Part 11: Health Care
    • Part 12: Industries and Enterprises
    • Part 13: Policing the Peace
    • Part 14: Pouce Coupe, Rolla, and Other South Peace Communities
    • Part 15: Chetwynd and the Fort St. John Area
    • Part 16: The Alberta Peace
    • Part 17: Natural History of the Peace River Region
    • Part 18: Interviews with Old Timers
    • Part 19: Remembering Our Veterans

  •  

BN01-27: Elders’ Housing Plans Finalized

Recent History – 2004-2006

By Gary Rusak

The layout of a proposed Elders’ Housing project was finalized at a meeting held earlier this week, the architect for the project said on Tuesday.

“To date what we did was define the needs that were set by the committee, that included elders, and then we did a design around those needs,” said Douglas Cardinal, an Ottawa-based architect who was hired for the project.

“(The conceptual drawing) met everybody’s approval as we worked back and forth with the committee. Everybody agreed on how we interpreted their needs in the drawings.”

Cardinal, who gained acclaim for his work on the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa and the First Nations’ University in Regina, said work on the project is on track.

“Now we want to go to the next phase which is to make it happen,” he said. “We want to make their vision into a reality.”

The architect designed 14 separate units, each one in the shape of an octagon with one bedroom and a central living room area.

“We wanted to make the layout respectful of the traditional value of people and reflect their culture,” he said.

The next step for the project, that is to be located on a donated acre of land just off 17th Street across from the Willowbrook townhouses, will be to secure funding. Cardinal said that he is unable to estimate how much the project would cost.

“That is what we are exploring now,” he said. “We would know more detailed costs when we get into further analysis. We are looking at frame construction. Personally I would like to see as much wood as possible and wood finishing being used.”

The Dawson Creek Native Housing Society is spearheading the project and is hoping to have enough funding to build the 14 units and break ground early in 2006. So far, the project has progressed through internet communication, faxes, and teleconferences, but Cardinal said he is looking forward to being on site and personally meeting the building committee and the elders in the future.

“When the project goes to the next level, I’m sure we will meet,” he said. “It’s a good group and I enjoy meeting with them through the internet and the telephone. But, of course, I would really enjoy meeting them in person.”

This article is taken from the Peace River Block Daily News, Dawson Creek, with the permission of the publisher. The Daily News retains all rights relating to this material. The information in this article is intended solely for research or general interest purposes.

« BN01-26: Planing for Elders’ Housing Project

BN01-28: Focusing on Aboriginal Involvement »

© 2023 South Peace Historical Society. All Rights Reserved.