An exciting economic reconciliation project involves federal, provincial, and City of Portage la Prairie partners, as well as Dakota Tipi First Nation and its development team.
The Portage development will highlight:
- mixed-use development
- 54 units
- commercial main floor
- 4 storey building with EIFS and masonry exterior finishes
- modern interior units with quartz countertops
A site visit took place last Friday afternoon at 1525 Saskatchewan Avenue W, with provincial Minister of Housing Bernadette Smith, Mayor Sharilyn Knox, representatives of the City, and the Dakota Tipi Economic Team/Ticaye Developments Team alongside Kenmare Developments. The location is the future site of a mixed-use development project known as 'Portage Commons'. It promises to transform the Saskatchewan Avenue W area with 54 affordable housing units and eight commercial storefronts that will provide retail and services for Portage residents.
Dakota Tipi First Nation Chief Dennis Pashe said it's definitely a good-news event.
"It's an opportunity for different levels of government to work together and meet each other. The project and what we hope to accomplish are all coming together. It's definitely a sign of reconciliation in many ways — through housing or economic development. It gives our young people something to look forward to. We don’t always have to be in the background; we need to be involved in all aspects of society."
Pashe emphasized that this project goes beyond lip service to reconciliation and represents action.
"We're focusing on Dakota Tipi because it's better for us to move ahead and see ourselves involved in economic development. We're open to suggestions and services, and economic development is something we want to engage in ourselves."
Mayor Knox attended and expressed her excitement for the development.
"It fits right into our Saskatchewan Avenue rejuvenation project. It's going to be a beautiful building. We're very excited for Kenmare Developments and Dakota Tipi and their partnership in doing this. So, we wish them well on the project."
Kenmare Developments President Kyle Kostenuk outlined the project's progress.
"It's going to be a really nice and full project here. As you can see, we're completing remediation on the site right now. We plan on piling next month. Essentially, the project is a 54-unit mixed-use development. The main floor will be commercial and will include a lobby, which will house six to eight tenant spaces. The details of these spaces are still being determined. The second to fourth floors will have standard rental units with modern features like quartz countertops. The building itself is wood construction, but the finish will be masonry, so it will have a very nice street-front presence. Our construction timeline is about 14 months from start to finish. We plan on starting piling next month and beginning concrete work right away, with the goal of advancing as quickly as possible."
Bernadette Smith, Minister of Housing, Addictions, Homelessness, and the minister responsible for mental health, also attended. She noted it’s great to see Dakota Tipi developing new housing in Portage la Prairie.
"It's always exciting to see new housing being built across our province. My mandate is to end chronic homelessness across Manitoba, so seeing new folks involved in building housing means more people getting into homes. I'm super excited for the town of Portage la Prairie and the partnerships being formed here, but even more so, I'm proud of the work being done by the First Nation community."
Dakota Tipi Councillor Karl Stone said it's a great beginning for genuine reconciliation.
"Our people of Dakota Tipi are finally getting a chance to move forward with true partnerships with different governments. We hope to create a path forward so that our people will have the same opportunities for generations to come. It's been a long time coming, but we’ve finally received recognition of our rights and territories. We're happy that the message is out there now that we're here, and we've always been here in the Portage la Prairie area. We're here to work together and seize opportunities for our people."
Stone explained that the development brings great opportunities for people to live and stay in Portage, as well as attract people working on projects in the area, including in Southport.
"They'll be able to have housing here and bring different business opportunities to the community. We're working toward partnering with the City on future projects. There are many exciting business ventures to come and a lot of opportunities for the people of Dakota Tipi."
The $18-million project is the first in a series of similar developments that Dakota Tipi plans in Portage la Prairie, and a 145-unit development on traditional Dakota lands at The Forks in Winnipeg.
