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Innovative business energizes Klahoose
School District 47 and first nation operating construction camp
Partners in a groundbreaking joint venture that will provide employment and training opportunities announced their agreement during a night devoted to wellness.
By Laura Walz -- Peak Editor
Representatives from School District 47, Klahoose First Nation, Plutonic Power Corporation and Kiewit and Sons Construction signed an agreement for the business venture during Live Well: A Night Celebrating Wellness, on Friday, January 11 at Brooks Secondary School.
Klahoose and the school district are creating a business to operate a 200-person camp, providing food and lodging for workers on Plutonic's run-of-river hydroelectric projects in the Toba Inlet.
"I think that in itself has never been done," said Jay Yule, superintendent of schools. "It's a very ambitious project. It takes incredible time and energy and it involves millions of dollars. It could be very profitable, for both the school district and the Klahoose people."
Kiewit is the general contractor for Plutonic's 196-megawatt, $660 million Toba-Montrose run-of-river project. Plutonic has also moved ahead on the Upper Toba Valley project, comprised of three smaller run-of-river facilities.
The camp will be used for education and training for the Klahoose and will involve students as well, Yule said. "We'll run a training kitchen, take the business profit and invest it back into education, training and job opportunities," he said. "We believe the money made from this venture will provide opportunities for Klahoose and our school district well into the future."
The money from the venture will go into an education legacy fund, which will be accessed through criteria set by Klahoose in partnership with the school district, Yule added.
Chief Ken Brown said Klahoose will never be the same, because of the partnership it has with Plutonic. "They have raised the bar in terms of accommodation and consultation," he said. "They have provided us with long-term streams of revenue that are going to have a lasting impact on our nation for generations to come."
He was most proud of the agreement with Powell River's school district, Brown added. "It's not profit driven, but it is economic development in terms of the training and making this work," he said.
Donald McInnes, vice-chairman and CEO of Plutonic, said his company was grateful for the opportunity to operate in the community. "We felt the project couldn't be successful unless it was good for the whole of the community, whether it was for the first nations or the community of Powell River," he said. "The signing of this agreement. . . is just an example of the outcome of people sharing the vision we've had of trying to do things that are good not just for our shareholders, but the whole of the community."
Paul Wearmouth, who represented Kiewit, said his company was proud to be involved in Plutonic's project, the largest independent power project in the province. "It is being developed by a great team," he said. "Part of our business ethic is that we do work with the community, and we look to working with first nations as a positive way to do work, and it gets us work. We're fully behind this thing, and we want to make it a success, and look forward to doing more of these ventures with Sliammon and other local partners."
Shirley Bond, BC's education minister, sent greetings and commendations on the agreement. "This kind of experience is tremendously valuable and beneficial when transitioning from the classroom to employment," she wrote in a message, which Yule read out. "It takes vision, commitment and a willingness to work together to create community."
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| Citizen input foundational | Young woman's life left lasting impressions |
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