Indigenous Company RavenStone Construction Signed As Main Sub-Contractor On West Vista Neighborhood Project
Celebrating the signing of the historic Memorandum Of Understanding for the West Vista project are, from left: owners Elaine and John Lichtenwald, RavenStone Construction President Dan Williams, Khowutzun Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer Jodee Dick, and Mark MacDonald of Business Examiner
NORTH COWICHAN – A signed Memorandum Of Understanding between RavenStone Construction and the owners of the proposed West Vista Neighborhood development in North Cowichan is being hailed as a landmark for Economic Reconciliation for First Nations.
“This contract is real Economic Reconciliation – something I like to call Reconcili-Action,” RavenStone owner Dan Williams states of the MOU, for the phased project on 31 acres bordering Bell McKinnon and Herd Roads, and the Trans-Canada Highway. “Signing the Memorandum of Understanding to be the main sub-trade contractor on the West Vista project is a real opportunity for an Indigenous company to be a leader in a major development.
“Even within our own land in the Cowichan Valley, we’ve had to pick up the scraps from other projects. We’ve had to fight for opportunities like this.”
The development could include up to 850 much needed multi-family housing units (townhouses, clusters and affordable housing), a hotel, and a light industrial/commercial component. It is expected to yield over $60 million in property taxes by year 25 of the project for the Municipality of North Cowichan.
“We are very proud to sign this MOU with Dan Williams and RavenStone Construction on what is a wonderful project that we know will help address the lack of housing in the Cowichan Valley and provide well-paying jobs for their First Nations employees,” states Elaine Lichtenwald, co-owner of West Vista with her husband John. “This is just the right thing to do, to make sure a First Nations company gets the priority position for employment, especially since they only got minimal, minor consideration on the new Cowichan Valley Hospital across the street.”
First Nations leaders are enthusiastic about the opportunity for RavenStone.
One of the province’s most accomplished leaders, Chief Robert Louie of Westbank First Nation and Chairman of First Nation Lands Advisory Board (National), adds
“I have known Dan Williams and his company, RavenStone for several years. Dan is a great and deserving individual and his company is well suited to perform construction infrastructure and building in a progressive and professional manner.”
“I am so pleased to see Indigenous People and their companies involved in projects such as this. Economic reconciliation is crucial to not only Indigenous People, but to the overall economy of the country.”
West Vista is 500 feet from the new Cowichan District Hospital. This 31-acre PHASED development, that could include up to 850 much needed multi-family housing units (townhouses, clusters and affordable housing), a hotel, and a light industrial/commercial component.
Jodee Dick is Chief Executive Officer of the Khowutzun Development Corporation (KDC), which fosters partnerships to support its group of companies.
“We are very proud and excited for RavenStone, one of our Roundtable contractors on this great opportunity,” states Dick. “KDC is here to support all of our citizen-owned companies and ensure they get meaningful participation within our territory.”
KDC was wrongly shut out of major contracts on the new $1.446 billion Cowichan District Hospital, which is 500 feet away from West Vista, and the opportunity for RavenStone can right a serious wrong, as it means well-paying jobs for First Nations workers within the Cowichan Tribes’ traditional territories.
“The North Cowichan Official Community Plan identifies that 1,208 new units will be required by 2025, and that goal is not reachable without West Vista being developed,” says Lichtenwald, noting the North Cowichan website only includes one multi-family application for 35 townhomes. “All forms of home units, including Affordable Housing, are in our plans. Ellis Don, which is building the Cowichan Hospital, will have 1,000 workers on the project, and they need accommodation as well. And up to 700 people will be employed at the hospital when it’s completed.”
West Vista fits well within the North Cowichan OCP’s Climate Change guidelines, as it is creating complete, compact, more energy-efficient communities, which allow residents to walk to amenities, with the new hospital literally across the street. Everything will be within a 5 minute walk through neighbourhoods connected by Green Streets. The Bell McKinnon area has also been designated as needing an elementary school.
The owners plan on having the development proposal to council this fall. The development, then called Bell McKinnon Northwest Neighbourhood, was submitted to the Municipality of North Cowichan two years ago, before Council voted to change the Urban Containment Boundary, leaving the development on the outside looking in.
“We’ve never seen a housing crisis like we have now,” Williams states. “Where are all the people going to live? It will be great to have a solution for that right here on land within the Cowichan Tribes territory.
“This represents what our future is as a business and as an Indigenous company, as we are building a real middle class in our Nation where that is non-existent. This is a game changer for our people,” Williams adds. “Jobs in skilled trades for Indigenous workers through projects like this are helping move our people out of poverty.
“The only way we can get there is through opportunities like West Vista,” he adds. “Where else have you seen an Indigenous construction company get a chance like this one? We’ve never had anything like this before, and it means long-term employment within our own backyard, in our traditional territory.”
By Business Examiner Staff
