First Nations participate in housing design workshop

Joint news release with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

The Yukon Housing Corporation and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation hosted a workshop to gather ideas about how to design multi-unit residential buildings in First Nations communities across Yukon. The workshop was held from May 15-17 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre in Whitehorse.

Housing experts, including First Nations architects, facilitated conversations and shared ideas about how to design housing that is culturally appropriate and suited to the unique circumstances of the North. The Yukon Housing Corporation invited First Nations from across the territory to send members from their communities to contribute to the workshop and share information about their community’s housing needs, issues and priorities.

Information shared at this pre-design workshop will be used to build consensus on what the best possible sustainable, multi-unit residential building for First Nations communities should be.

Workshops like this one are an important step in recognizing priorities for First Nations governments and development corporations so that building technology can address real concerns that affect Yukoners. We want to ensure all voices are heard as we continue to build healthy, sustainable, inclusive Yukon communities.

Minister responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation Pauline Frost

Our government is committed to working with First Nations communities across the Yukon to develop and implement common sense solutions to housing. Through careful feedback from communities and governments, we’re building a path to a collaborative, culturally appropriate and sustainable housing model.

Member of Parliament for Yukon Larry Bagnell

Quick facts 
  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation contributed $77,000 to the Yukon Housing Corporation to host the workshop.

  • Representatives from all Yukon First Nations participated in the workshop.

  • Yukon Housing Corporation works with First Nations to help identify and find solutions for housing challenges, including providing financial resources, supporting capacity building and assisting in capital planning.

  • The Government of Canada recently unveiled its National Housing Strategy – a 10-year, $40 billion plan that will create 100,000 new housing units and lift 530,000 families out of housing need.

Media contact 

Susan Moorhead Mooney
Hon. Larry Bagnell P.C., M.P.
867-668-6565
larry.bagnell.C1@parl.gc.ca

Sunny Patch
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7478
sunny.patch@gov.yk.ca

Tim Sellars
Yukon Housing Corporation
867-332-5955
tim.sellars@gov.yk.ca

Gabriel Teo
Canada Mortgage and  Housing Corporation
604-737-4137
gteo@cmhc-schl.gc.ca

News release #: 
18-117