Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / The B.C. government announced last week it will fund the construction of 34 new homes on Seabird Island, a self-governing First Nations band about three kilometres northeast of Agassiz. Construction is expected to begin in March 2024. The 34 homes feature a mix of one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

New homes coming to Seabird Island

Province to fund 34 new homes on Seabird Island

Jun 13, 2023 | 10:36 AM

SEABIRD ISLAND — The provincial government is partnering with the Seabird Island Band northeast of Agassiz to build 34 new affordable homes on reserve for band members, including families, elders and people living with disabilities.

“These homes will help more Band members live affordably and close to their family, community and culture,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, in a statement released on Friday, June 9.

The project will include two buildings with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes. One building will have 12 accessible homes for elders and people living with disabilities, and the other will be a three-storey building with 16 apartments and six townhomes for families, single parents and people with low incomes.

“We are very pleased to see this project approved for funding,” said Chief James Harris of Seabird Island Band. “This project will make an impact on overcrowding issues in our current homes and will provide accessible living spaces for our elders and others with accessibility needs. It will also offer low-income housing close to our community core and our health, education and community services. Housing is a long-standing issue for First Nations across Canada, and Seabird is no exception. Seabird works hard to help people build their own homes, but that is not an option for many of our low-income families. We are thankful for the continued partnership with BC Housing.”

The development will be built at the intersection of Pipeho:m Road and Steqoye Road, and will be within walking distance of the band’s office and the community’s health-care, education and cultural centres. These include the Seabird Health Centre, the Early Childhood Development Centre and the soon-to-be developed Seabird Community and Cultural Centre.

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The B.C. government is providing $20.6 million to the project. Construction is expected to begin in March 2024.

Seabird Island is located approximately three kilometres northeast of Agassiz. It is a self-sufficient First Nations community that has jurisdiction over its own K-12 education, provides health care both to its own members and those of the neighbouring First Nations, and promotes a healthier, self-governing and unified way of living.

* The Halq’émeylēm name for the Seabird Island reserve is Sq’éwqel, which translates to “turn in the river.”

* The English designation of Seabird Island is derived from the June 1858 grounding of the transport paddle-wheeler Sea Bird on an island bar in the Fraser River across from Sq’éwqel.