The Shuswap (Secwépemc) Healing Centre, first proposed in 2019, finally dug into Sicamous with the official ground breaking ceremony on March 11.
On Monday morning, District of Sicamous and Splatsin té Secwépemc marked the start of construction at the centre’s 200 Main Street location. The facility, designed to be a health and wellness hub for the community and region, is a joint project with funding support from both the provincial and federal governments.
“Today’s milestone demonstrates the importance of collaboration in bringing transformative projects to life,” federal Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Sean Fraser said in a media release. “As a result of the partnership between Sicamous and Splatsin té Secwépemc, the Shuswap Healing Centre will be an indispensable resource to the region and local Indigenous communities, providing essential health and wellness services to residents.”
The facility will include space for allied health and wellness practitioners to offer services, an area for indigenous healing led by Splatsin, a multi-functional community space and over half an acre of greenspace that will be maintained for public use.
To help fund the $10 million centre, Sicamous received $7.95 million from the provincial and federal governments, with the $2,045,284 remainder coming from the district’s capital reserves.
“We’re very excited to be starting construction, and are grateful to Splatsin té Secwépemc for their partnership and to our funding partners, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia,” Mayor Colleen Anderson said in the release. “Health care access is part of the foundation that makes a community strong.”
Provincial Municipal Affairs Minister Anne Kang added the centre “will improve access to quality health care close to home, and ensure Sicamous’ continued development and vibrancy.”
The district assures there will be ongoing public communication as the project progresses, an encourages people to sign up for the newsletter through its website at www.sicamous.ca under the Shuswap Healing Centre tab.
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