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Membertou First Nation celebrates construction of mass timber office building

Today, Membertou First Nation and Indigenous Services Canada announced the construction of a new gas bar and a mass timber office building at the Seventh Exchange retail district in Nova Scotia.

Chief Terrance Paul was joined for the announcement by Jaime Battiste, Member of Parliament for Sydney–Victoria, and Mike Kelloway, Member of Parliament for Cape Breton–Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services Canada.

“We’re incredibly proud to announce a funding partnership with our federal partners for the development of Seventh Exchange, Membertou’s new retail district. Thanks to this support, totaling $1.8 million, we will bring new opportunities to our people, and provide new services for the greater Cape Breton community,” said Chief Paul.

The construction of the retail commercial space includes a restaurant, convenience store, gas bar, and car wash. This construction will provide easier access to services along with continuing the economic growth of the community.

In addition to this, a new 91,875 square foot office space is being constructed out of mass timber as opposed to traditional concrete and steel. Mass timber is an umbrella category of materials made by binding layers of wood together to create larger, stronger elements like panels and beams. Proponents say it’s faster and easier to work with than concrete and steel, and less carbon intensive. The new five-storey building will provide affordable, greener office space for local organizations and businesses in the area.

Working in partnership with Membertou First Nation, over $1.8 million in funding was invested in these two projects through Indigenous Services Canada’s Community Opportunity Readiness Program, which provides project-based funding for a range of activities to support communities’ pursuit of economic opportunities.