b'In addition to the private residential units, the developmentWe are actively trying to engage Indigenous trades and/will also feature a sweat lodge and communal lodge, the latteror trades that have Indigenous employees, reports Sarah of which will provide room for shared cooking and eating,Anderson, Business Development Manager with Bockstael. celebrations, socializing, culturally relevant supports andProject challenges are nothing out of the ordinary. That being on-site healing opportunities. said, Bockstael and their partners have gone to great lengths to Boucha explains that one of the goals behind The Villagesensure the project stays aligned with its budget and timelines.design was to promote a sense of community andThe budget has to be affordable, says Anderson. We have togetherness through a mix of private, semi-private and semi- had to be creative and dive deep into the details to ensure we public to public spaces in which residents can choose are getting good value for every component of the work.to interact.During our initial consultations, we were told by a lotAs for timing, Bockstael is implementing strategies to meet of individuals who have experienced homelessness thattheir end-of-year goals, such as early procurement planning, community is a really big part of their experience, notessequential tendering and a sequential permitting process, the Boucha. When we see encampments, we see people livinglatter of which the City of Winnipeg has been actively assisting. together because of the safety, support and comfort thatThe team is on track to welcoming residents to Astum Api they provide. So when somebody in that situation movesNiikinaahk by late 2021. And while stakeholders are eager to into a home like Astum Api Niikinaahk, we want to make itintroduce new homes for some of the citys most vulnerable a seamless transition and keep that connection so that theyresidents, they hope this community village is one of moredont feel they are abandoning their community.to come.RISING UP Indigenous people represent only 12 per cent of Winnipeg 2 , Construction on The Village is currently underway. At time ofand yet they are vastly over-represented in the population print, Bockstael Construction has awarded the foundation andexperiencing homelessness, says Robertson. This project undergrounds and is rounding out the projects team. is important because it begins to fill a tremendous need for low-barrier, affordable and culturally relevant housing, but our city needs more.1 https://winnipegsun.com/news/news-news/indigenous-population-over- Were excited to be part of this project, he continues. Andrepresented-among-winnipegs-homeless-street-census certainly, our client, the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, inspires 2https://winnipeg.ca/cao/pdfs/IndigenousPeople-WinnipegStatistics.pdf us every day in the work that they do. Build your case on a strong foundation.We have the expertise, the experience and the right tools for every job.A Leading Litigation Boutique For Over 30 Years.HILLCOUNSEL.COMIssue 3 Fall Edition 2021 BUILD MANITOBA 39'