For Immediate Release
December 15, 2017
CONTRACT AWARDED, SOD-TURNING CEREMONY MARKS BEGINNING OF CONSTRUCTION ON $1.2M DRAINAGE DITCH PROJECT
Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation, Treaty 6 – A project dating back decades got its start today as the Project Management Team for the Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation held a sod-turning ceremony to mark the official beginning of the construction phase of the Drainage Ditch Project – a $1.2M Capital Project funded through the Department of Indigenous Services Canada.
“We are extremely happy to be at this point and begin the project” stated Chief Roy Petit of the Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation. “The Project Management Team has worked hard with federal and provincial officials to arrive at today and we look forward to working with our partners to see this project completed.”
Members of the Project Management Team include:
- Chief Roy Petit, Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation
- Councillor Edwin Ananas, Public Works & Housing – Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation
- Don Poon, Project Manager – SAL Engineering, Saskatoon, SK
- Brian Seesequasis, Lands Manager – Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation
- Jeff Brown, Capital Projects Manager – Department of Indigenous Services Canada
Brian Seesequasis, the Lands Manager for the Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation says the Nation has lost out on revenue because of the flooding. “More than 9000 acres of our lands have been flooded out since 2007, we’ve lost revenue from land leases, and our people have lost out on economic opportunity – today is a good day for the future prosperity of the Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation.”
The Drainage Ditch Project will see an additional culvert installed and pre-existing culverts lowered on the drainage ditch crossing Highway 212 at the Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation.
“The beginning and eventual completion of the Drainage Ditch Project will result in jobs for our people during the construction phase; it also means we can get back to the land… and create additional revenue for the people of the Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation” concluded Chief Petit.
In an open, competitive-bid process, Mocon Construction of Martensville, SK was awarded the $1.2M contract. Construction is expected to begin in early January 2018. Traffic accessing Highway 212 just west of the Band Office will be re-routed during construction.
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For more information, please contact:
Chief & Council Communications
306-467-4523 ext 237
communications@beardysband.com
