Kanaka Bar Indian Band and several post-secondary and industry partners are leading the way forward in the design of resilience housing solutions in the context of climate change impacts. This community-led and driven pilot project is focused on assisting with the rebuild of fire-ravaged Lytton, BC, by exploring innovative housing options for evacuees who lost their homes in the June 30^th, 2021 wildfire that destroyed the village of Lytton.

Patrick Michell, Chief of the Kanaka Bar Indian Band, announced this new partnership with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) earlier in January. “We are delighted to bring together leaders in applied research and innovation to tackle the urgent need to build back our region” says Michell, going on to describe how the project will combine “the power of our community with the latest building practices to ensure new housing and its supporting systems, as well as older buildings in the region are made sustainable and climate-resilient.”

The pilot project will include the design and build of four to eight homes to test and validate material properties, climate resiliency, energy performance and affordability. The goal is to develop a suite of viable options for the region, and other communities, throughout medium and long-term rebuilding activities. The project is expected to reveal sustainable new build and retrofitting solutions not only for Kanaka Bar’s members, Lytton residents and the surrounding region, but also all Canadians looking to make their homes resilient to ever-increasing extreme weather events.

Mark Butler, Interim VP Corporate Development, Applied Research and International at SAIT, describes the Kanaka Bar Resilient Housing Solutions project, as “a truly collaborative effort” that “will impact all Canadians, especially for our hardest hit neighbours in B.C., through public sharing of the processes and innovations used in the project.”

Join the representatives from Kanaka Bar, Foresight, and SAIT as they describe this innovative project and discuss the potential for such climate resilient solutions.

February 1^st, 2022 – 8am – 9 am PT

Register Here