The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) and Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) have provided $20 million in support of energy retrofit works at the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre in Thunder Bay.

Under the terms of the arrangement, CIB is lending $15 million through its Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative, while RBC will contribute $5 million. 

Upgrades that are planned as part of the retrofit project include electrical systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. The redeveloped building is expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately 70 percent, according to a RETScreen Clean Energy Management assessment completed for this project. 

More than 10,000 Matawa First Nations community members and families depend on the hub to access education, health, social services and community programming.

The facility addresses a critical infrastructure gap for the nine First Nations member communities by centring Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services, Matawa Health Co-operative and Awashishewiigiihiwaywiin – Matawa’s social services department – into a single location.

The Matawa-member communities who will benefit from the revitalized centre include: Aroland First Nation, Constance Lake First Nation, Eabametoong First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Long Lake #58 First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation and Webequie First Nation.

“Our investment in the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre, through our Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative, marks our first investment in a First Nation Retrofit project,” said CIB CEO Ehren Cory. “Our partnership will make an impact for the 10,000 community members who will benefit from the education, health, social services, and community programming offered through the transformed centre.”

The renovated centre is anticipated to open by the spring of 2025.