A summer of good news for Nipissing First Nation

August 8, 2019
Construction on a state of the art childcare facility in Duchesnay Village in Nipissing First Nation is currently underway. The daycare and community hall building will be completed by the end of the summer.

By Kelly Anne Smith

NIPISSING FIRST NATION— It is a summer of good economic news for Nipissing First Nation (NFN) as numerous construction projects are underway.

NFN is entering a $12 million-dollar venture with Miller Group Ltd. for the replacement of the 1937 timber deck Duchesnay Creek Bridge on Hwy 17B, which has been closed since January. The project includes one kilometre of paving and the removal of the bridge that crosses over the abandoned Canadian National Railway line.

In his July video address to the community, NFN Chief Scott McLeod explains that NFN has a 51% stake in the limited partnership. Chief McLeod says the project is expected to build capacity, address critical infrastructure and create jobs.

The collaboration has been in the works for more than a year, says Chief McLeod.

“The first project in the partnership with Miller Paving is getting kicked off with an official breaking ground.”

NFN is looking for employees who work in the construction trade to apply for positions within the company.

The new timber girder and arch Duchesnay Creek Bridge is expected to have a ground-breaking in September and the project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2020.

Chief McLeod also shared more news in his June video update.

“NFN has been able to secure, in partnership with Cassellholme, 16 long-term beds that will be available for elders in our community that require long-term health care.”

Housing for seniors requiring supports was announced as well by Chief McLeod.

“We are moving to build units for assisted living in both the Duchesnay, Yellek areas and also in the Garden Village area. We will be going ahead with construction some time this year.”

The Chief has said between 10 to 12 beds will be available in both ends of Nipissing First Nation.

Turning to childcare, NFN is currently building a state-of-the-art facility in Duchesnay Village for the Couchie Memorial Daycare Centre. The new daycare and community hall building is expected to be ready at the end of the summer.

And just announced by the province, Yellek Road will be rehabilitated with $809,000 in funding from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program.