More affordable homes are underway in Cranbrook thanks to ʔAqantⱠanam Housing Society.

Society members gathered at 520 Hurry Avenue the morning of March 3 along with City of Cranbrook officials, and representatives with BC Housing, Columbia Basin Trust, Meiklejohn Architects of Kelowna, New Dawn Developments and ʔaq̓am Community elders for a groundbreaking ceremony and tobacco blessing.

The project is phase two of development for the site and includes 20 additional units of affordable housing to go along with the already existing 39 units provided in the adjacent Chief Agnes McCoy Centre built a few years ago.

The project is funded by BC Housing and Columbia Basin Trust. The design is by Meiklejohn Architects and is being built by local contractor New Dawn Developments.

ʔAqantⱠanam Housing Society is a nonprofit society dedicated to building and managing safe and affordable rental housing for both indigenous and non-indigenous people.

Since the beginning in 1992, The Housing Society’s primary purpose has been to support those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Currently, the society owns and operates properties containing 77 units of affordable housing with 38 additional units in development.

The ʔAqantⱠanam Housing Society would like to acknowledge the support and commitment to the project from BC Housing, the Columbia Basin Trust, Lu’ma Development Management, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association, Meiklejohn Architects, New Dawn Developments, the Ktunaxa Nation, the ʔaq̓am Community, and the City of Cranbrook.

Lead image: Tuesday’s groundbreaking ceremony in Cranbrook. From left: Kathryn (Kay) Shottanana, President, Board of Directors, Aqanttanam Housing Society; Elders Advisor Cecilia Teneese Executive Director, Aqanttanam Housing Society; Jayme Shottanana, Board Member, Aqanttanam Housing Society; Allan Askew, Development Manager, Lu’ma Development Management. Ian Cobb/e-KNOW photos

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