L-R: S/Sgt Chris Swain, Inspector Chris Bear, MP Alistair MacGregor, CVRD Vice-Chair Ian Morrison, Mayor Siebring, Mayor Staples, Chief Seymour, Cst Jen Morgan
NORTH COWICHAN – Local partners gathered on August 7 to officially break ground at the corner of Ford Road and Drinkwater Road, where the new North Cowichan- Duncan RCMP Facility will be located. Construction on the integrated facility, which will bring Forensic Identification Services, South Island Traffic, Indigenous Policing, and municipal and provincial officers together under one roof, is expected to begin in early 2021. Construction is estimated to be completed in the fall of 2022.
Many of the materials that will be used in the new building are innovative, such as mass timber. The new proposed facility will be built with specific energy consumption targets and will be net zero ready. Currently, we are carrying out a feasibility study, with the help of funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. At this time, Council has not yet made a decision on potential future uses of the old RCMP building and land, but will be taking this into consideration at future meetings.
“I am so pleased to be here today celebrating this milestone, as getting to this point has been years in the making,” said Mayor Al Siebring. “A project of this scope involves numerous partners, whom I’m excited to celebrate with today, and I want to thank everyone involved for their dedication and commitment in getting this project off the ground.”
“This is an exciting day for myself and my colleagues,” said Inspector Chris Bear, Detachment Commander for the North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP Detachment. “We have long outgrown our current space, and with the many advancements in law enforcement over the last 40 years, this new building will meet the needs of a contemporary policing model, accommodating the enhanced operations and necessary policing technologies to provide enhanced public safety.”
The total estimated budget for the project is $49.03 million, with the Municipality funding 40 per cent of the total cost and the RCMP funding 60 per cent. For more information on the new RCMP facility, visit www.northcowichan.ca/RCMP.