By Ian Holmes

Substantial development begins in Stz’uminus First Nation

Mar 29, 2017 | 5:52 PM

LADYSMITH — Years of planning are starting to show for Stz’uminus First Nation, whose ambitious property development vision is becoming reality.

The band’s Oyster Bay Development (OBD), 65-acres straddling the Trans Canada Hwy just north of Ladysmith, had a new gas station and Tim Hortons open last week at Oyster Sto’Lo Rd.

Coast Salish Development Corporation CEO Ray Gauthier, who heads the economic development arm for Stz’uminus First Nation, told NanaimoNewsNOW a nearby 10,000 sq/ft commercial-retail development is already 80 per cent leased.

He said pre-construction work has begun for an 81-room hotel in the same area, which Gauthier expects will open in May, 2018. Gauthier said these and several other development projects will provide short, medium and long-term benefits for Stz’uminus members.

“With the idea of creating economic stability for the band, that in turn provides some assurances for the kinds of things that we can plan for as far as the community is concerned,” Gauthier said.

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Gauthier said other OBD plans involve up to 400 assisted living units. He estimated construction of that aspect of the development is 12 to 18 months away. He noted a smaller single-family housing component is planned as well. Gauthier said OBD is anticipated to be a 10-15 year build-up, which he expects will create upwards of 400 jobs within that time.

“We’re not just measuring success on the basis of making money,” Gauthier said. “We’re measuring success on the benefits that are going to come out of this in terms of creating better and more opportunities for community members, and one of those will be jobs.”

Gauthier said a critical part of their development strategy is to have band members qualified for the various development and operational jobs that OBD will create.

Ladysmith mayor Aaron Stone said the development will have broad-reaching positive impacts.

“There’s employment opportunities for people in both communities and it just strengthens our partnership and the impact that we have in terms of regional economic development,” Stone said.

The Town of Ladysmith and Stz’uminus signed a memorandum of understanding in 2012 which included water and sewar services for the First Nation.

Gauthier said the band’s first major economic project was born six years ago by purchasing a 7.5 per cent stake in the Fortis natural gas storage facility at Mt. Hayes near Ladysmith, which he said has provided a constant revenue stream. Another economic generator is a 600 unit housing project at Holland Creek in Ladysmith on Stz’minus land, which Gauthier expects will take 7-10 years to complete. 

He noted Stz’minus members voting in favour of land management independent of Indian Affairs has been “the cornerstone” in gaining ultimate control over their land-use goals.

“We’re just at the very beginning phases, we have a lot of work to do, we’ve done a lot of work, we think that the future is bright for us and we’re going to keep working hard to get there,” Gauthier said.

ian.holmes@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @reporterholmes