Commitment to revitalize Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and Matawa First Nations Management (Matawa) have reached financial close on a retrofit project for the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre. The CIB is lending $15 million through its Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative (ICII), in addition to RBC’s $5 million of financing, to support the project located in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The collective financing supports the environmentally sustainable revitalization of the new community hub whose staff will deliver essential education, health, social services, and community programming to more than 10,000 Matawa First Nations community members and families.

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 one location.

“We are grateful that, after purchasing this unused property in Thunder Bay four short years ago, we now have the finish line within sight,” said Rosemary Moonias, president of Matawa First Nations Management Board of Directors. “Having reached financial close on loan financing with the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada, we are looking forward to the spring 2025 completion of the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre. It will be a place where Indigenous people and communities can heal and grow within a wrap-around and culturally sensitive approach.

The Centre is expected to provide more than 20,000 social, health, and holistic care appointments each year, significantly improving current standard and access to these critical services.

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

This project is financed through the ICII, whereby the CIB is investing in infrastructure projects providing a direct benefit to Indigenous communities.

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. The Matawa Training and Wellness Centre is anticipated to open by the spring of 2025.

“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 Ehren Cory, CEO of CIB. “The 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.” (Credit: CIB)

The partnership with Matawa First Nations Management (Matawa) reflects the power of collaboration in supporting the needs of the Matawa First Nations community, according to Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

“Together, we are modernizing the Training and Wellness Centre to ensure that accessible, high-quality health care and social services are available to everyone. As the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s first retrofit project in an Indigenous community, this initiative highlights the importance of working together to advance the health, well-being, and resilience of First Nations communities across Canada.”

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