Ut'àkwädí̢ch'e dzänù 

 Construction Update

Progress continues as the shop-assembled walls have been moved to site and have been erected by crane and secured into place by the carpentry crew. Roof assembly is in progress and expected to be completed by the end of the year. Sealing the building before the end of the year is priority as winter weather sets in. 

Thank you to all our neighbors and hardworking crew members as we work additional weekend hours to take advantage of warmer weather windows as they happen.

 Welcome to the Team! 

We are pleased to introduce Lisa Gallant-McRobb as the new Manager of the Family Preservation Wellness Centre. Lisa's a proud Cree/Metis woman and member of the Manitoba Metis Federation. 

Lisa, a mother of three Tlingit children, made Whitehorse her home in the summer of 2000. 

Over the past 3 and a half years, Lisa has been actively involved in supporting women and children escaping violence. Her roles at the Yukon Women’s Transition Home, Kaushee’s Place, and as a support worker/ Team lead on call for SART (Sexualized Assault Response Team) reflect her commitment to making a positive impact. 

In her new position at the Family Preservation Wellness Centre, Lisa is eager to leverage her life’s journey and diverse experiences to foster safety and meaningful change in the lives of women and children she will be working with. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Lisa as she takes on this important role. 

Yukon First Nation Training

We are proud to highlight the valuable contribution of Yukon First Nation members working on site of the Family Preservation Wellness Centre. As of now, a total of 11 Yukon First Nation employees are actively engaged in various capacities, representing multiple First Nations across the Yukon. Here is a breakdown by First Nation: CAFN:7, Gwitchin:1, Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation:1, Selkirk:1, Carcross/Tagish:1. In addition to these numbers, Ketza/Walker joint venture has been proactively recruiting and hiring additional Yukon First Nation members, welcoming new team members in September, October, and November. On average, 3 Yukon First Nation workers were involved in the prefab shop, with 7-10 workers on-site during those three months. 

The Ketza/Walker joint venture boasts a team comprised of 3 carpenters, 2 journeymen, and 6 apprentices. These dedicated individuals are presently contributing their skills and efforts to the project. 

Technical skills acquired by the apprentices during the past month include: continued training in prefab construction processes, lessons on planning and sequencing of prefab walls, on-site learning about crane safety, signaling and rigging. 

Crew members have also developed essential soft skills such as: blueprint reading, material ordering, priority management, and practical application of commercial building practices. 

This collaborative effort showcases the commitment of the Ketza/Walker team to foster a diverse and skilled workforce, promoting the growth and development of Yukon First Nations members in the construction industry. 

We look forward to the continued development and success of our Yukon First Nation citizens on this project.  

Reflection of the past year 

As we bid farewell to 2023, it’s time to reflect on the significant milestones achieved in the Family Preservation Wellness Centre Project. 

This past year has been marked by progress, collaboration, and the dedicated efforts by our project team of City Spaces, Connective, and KZA, the cultural advisory committee, and the community advisory committee. 

The planning had been years in the making, but the journey really began in earnest in February when the project went out to tender. After engaging in a unique Yukon First Nation Procurement Process, we successfully secured our contractor (Ketza/Walker construction JV) in April. The commencement of this significant endeavor was marked with a blessing ceremony that same month. 

The month of May brought a pivotal moment as all funding for the project was secured, setting the stage for a formal groundbreaking ceremony. With this foundational steps, the project gained momentum, and by June, construction of the building was in full swing. 

Our Director, Shandell, embarked on a visit to three separate shelters in Edmonton, each of which provided valuable insights and inspiration, informing our approach to programming, services, and the overall environment we aim to create.

While construction progressed steadily, the development of programming and services has begun, ensuring the Centre would not only be a physical space but act as a hub for comprehensive wrap around support. 

Simultaneously, our dedicated team is reviewing policies and procedures from other programs to help inform common practices and procedures and also lay the groundwork for a well-structured and culturally responsive service. 

As we celebrate these achievements, it is with mixed emotions that we say farewell to three members of our project team. Anna Zhuo from City Spaces is on maternity leave, and we extend our warmest wishes to her and her partner as they embrace this new chapter of their lives. Additionally, Molly Blower from City Spaces will be leaving at the end of December and, Julia Barnes from Connective will be moving up within her organization requiring her to step back on this project as she takes on other responsibilities. 

Molly, Anna, and Julia’s contributions have been invaluable, and we express our deepest gratitude for their tireless efforts and dedication to seeing this project realized. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors. 

As we enter the New Year, we carry the momentum of our accomplishments with us. Together, we look forward to making further strides in creating a safe and supportive space for our community. 

We wish you all a very merry holiday season and we look forward to the New Year with you all. 

Check out the project website and sign up for the project update list!

www.cyfn.ca/wellnesscentre

For more information please contact:

Shandell McCarthy
Family Preservation Wellness Centre Director
876-393-9200 ext 9277
Shandell.McCarthy@cyfn.net