By Trevor Greyeyes
Peguis begins work on temporary housing following apartment fire
Peguis First Nation has begun repairing its former COVID-19 isolation units to provide temporary housing for residents displaced by the July 11 apartment complex fire.
Chief Stan Bird said funding from the Peguis Surrender Trust and insurance coverage is being used to repair the units, which were damaged by flooding and have remained vacant for several years.
A company has been hired to complete the repairs and make the units habitable. Bird said they will also be equipped to make residents’ temporary stays more comfortable.
Planning is also underway for the fire-damaged apartment site. Bird said a site design is being developed that will make use of existing infrastructure near the former complex.
The Canadian Red Cross confirmed that it worked with Peguis leadership and community partners following the fire.
“As requested by community, the Red Cross provided emergency assistance for affected residents, including temporary accommodations, food, clothing, personal items, and transportation,” the organization said in a written response.
The Red Cross directed further questions about recovery and rebuilding efforts to Peguis First Nation leadership.
Construction Advances on $91M Naawi-Oodena Housing Project
Construction is taking shape on Endayaan Omaa, the first housing project at the Naawi-Oodena urban reserve development in Winnipeg (right).
Peguis First Nation is one of the seven Treaty One Nations leading the redevelopment of the former Kapyong Barracks lands along Taylor Avenue.
Announced in March, the $91-million apartment project will create 260 homes, including 109 units offered at below-market rents. Endayaan Omaa means “home is here” in Anishinaabemowin.
A recent photograph of the site shows several storeys of the building now standing, with exterior walls and window openings visible as construction continues. Completion is expected in 2028.
Brokenhead Ojibway Nation Chief Gordon BlueSky said the development reflects both the challenges Treaty One Nations have overcome and their long-term vision for the land. He also noted that most of the workers employed at the construction site are Indigenous, with the workforce currently tracking at roughly 60% participation.
While formal applications will open closer to the 2028 move-in window, Treaty One and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) have established the framework for the 109 affordable units.
The homes will be open to the broader community, with a primary emphasis on housing for students and families with moderate and median incomes. Rents are projected to sit 10% to 20% below southwest Winnipeg’s typical market rates.
Based on current local averages, targets are estimated to sit around:
- $1,050 to $1,150 for one-bedroom units
- and $1,300 to $1,400 for two-bedroom units.
The Kapyong Barracks closed in 2004. Following a lengthy legal battle with the federal government, the lands were formally converted into Canada’s largest urban reserve in 2022.
Endayaan Omaa is part of a much larger plan for Naawi-Oodena, which is expected to eventually include approximately 5,000 homes as well as commercial, cultural and community spaces.