Northern Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is providing $2 million to help the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre renovate a newly purchased building and expand community services for Indigenous residents.
The funding comes through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) and will support the creation of an accessible cultural and community space on Red River Road. The centre plans to use the additional space to broaden programming related to education, skills development, housing, justice, health and cultural teachings.
“Our government is proud to support the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre as it expands into a new space to better serve its community for years to come,” Northern Development Minister George Pirie said in a statement. He said the project will help “create a safe, welcoming cultural space for Indigenous people that nurtures healing, development and self-determination.”
The expanded facility will place a strong focus on healing and wellness in an environment free from discrimination, the organization said.
Local MPP Kevin Holland said the project will strengthen supports for Indigenous families.
“This investment will help create a welcoming space that supports community, culture and opportunity for years to come,” he said.
The province says the investment aligns with its commitments to reconciliation and to supporting Indigenous-led community services in Northern Ontario.
The NOHFC has invested more than $983 million in nearly 8,000 projects across the region since 2018, leveraging $2.9 billion in additional investment and creating or sustaining more than 12,350 jobs, according to the province.