The community of Esket is preparing to open six new Aboriginal supportive recovery beds in a brand new net-zero energy building, the first of its kind built in a Canadian First Nations community.
In December, the community celebrated the completion of Letwilc ren Semec Centre, which translates to “Heal My Spirit.”
Esk’etemc First Nation is running the 6,800-square-foot-centre in partnership with Interior Health and the First Nations Health Authority to enhance mental health and substance use services for Aboriginal residents of the Thompson Cariboo region.
“Partnerships have always been key to our success and will continue to be the cornerstones of our recovery centre,” said Esk’etemc First Nation Chief Charlene Belleau. “We thank the First Nation Health Authority and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada for their contributions and value our partnerships with Interior Health to deliver a culturally appropriate recovery service. We look forward to supporting communities within the Interior region as we strive for safer and healthier families and communities.”
First Nations Health Authority’s chief executive officer Joe Gallagher acknowledged Esk’etemc First Nation as a “leader in First Nations approaches to recovery and healing.”
“We are pleased to support a $1 million capital contribution to enhance available culture-based recovery and stabilization services for First Nations in B.C.,” Gallagher noted in a press release. “We are also encouraged by Interior health’s progressive approach to addiction bed allocation which recognizes and supports First Nations ways of knowing and healing.”
Zirnhelt Timber Frames Ltd. of 150 Mile House was awarded the contract to design and build a net-zero energy facility for Esk’etemc.
“We have built many homes with similar envelope systems, but this will be the first with the extensive mechanical systems that help achieve that level of energy efficiency,” said Sam Zirnhelt.
Building a net-zero structure involves installing solar panels on the south face of the roof, erecting thicker walls, a better roof, installing triple-glazed windows and ensuring the it is extremely air tight, which Zirnhelt explained is the critical component.
“You have to have a 33 per cent better building envelope than what the building code would require. We surpassed the passive house standard which is probably the highest standard currently in North America,” he added. “The other intent was to build something that was affordable.”
It is, Zirnhelt said, the first building in a northern climate and in a First Nations community to qualify under the CHBA Net Zero Home Labelling Program.
The company is presently building another net zero building in Esket which will house a centre for youth and elders.
In advance of erecting the building on site, crews began working at the shop in February 2017, and completed the work at Esket by July.
During a blessing of the centre in September, Belleau said Esket has been at the forefront for the last 40 years dealing with healing and sobriety, but never had a facility like the new centre.
“We’ve taken our people to our meadows and our old offices, but it was always with whatever we had that we made do.”
Read More: Dream of recovery centre comes to fruition for Esk’etemc First Nation
