Seabird Island Indian Band
2895 Chowat Road,
Agassiz, British Columbia V0M 1A0
TEL: 604-796-2177 | FAX: 604-796-3729
Housing
Innovative Housing Project
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Partnering with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), the Seabird Island Indian Band has developed an innovative sustainable community demonstration project in British Columbia. The Seabird Island First Nation Sustainable Community Demonstration Project is the first of its kind to be located on-reserve in Canada.
Completed in 2004, this unique multi-family development combines some of the latest concepts in housing construction and design, including renewable energy sources (wind, solar and geo-thermal heating), CMHC's Healthy HousingTM and FlexHousingTM concepts, rainscreen technology, and sustainable community planning. The project also honours and reflects Aboriginal social values and design. All seven units were funded under the guidelines of CMHC's On-Reserve Housing Program, which is designed to provide quality, affordable rental housing on-reserve. They were built by Seabird Island's own construction crew.
Expected to last for 100 years, the homes will offer residents and the Seabird Island community a lifetime of reduced maintenance and significant savings in heating and operating costs. The high performance building envelope, combined with renewable energy systems, is expected to reduce energy use by 75% when compared to a typical home. The three wind generators (of which one is receiving its world premiere at the site) provide about 15% of the total energy required for the homes.