Assembly of First Nations and the Holmes Group Project Building Homes and
Building Skills: Announcement of Plan and Criteria

OTTAWA, Oct. 18 /CNW/ - Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo and "Canada's Most Trusted Contractor" Mike Holmes of "Holmes on Homes"^® and The Holmes Group are pleased to announce the release of information for their joint pilot project to assist First Nations called Building Homes and Building Skills.

"I am encouraged by the positive response and interest we are receiving from First Nation people and communities to this initiative," National Chief Atleo said. "Many of our people have already stated that they want to participate in this pilot project.  It will highlight the urgent need for better housing in our communities as well as models, best practices and innovative approaches to address these needs. This project is, of course, not the single answer to the housing crisis, but all First Nations will benefit by having access to the tools and outcomes that it will generate, including a Center of Excellence for First Nation housing and the development of a First Nation Community Planning Tool."

Under the criteria developed jointly by the AFN and the Holmes Group, a First Nation in the Ontario region will be selected as the site of a pilot project to design, plan and implement building activities that are based on green and sustainable practices. The choice of the Ontario region for the first project reflects the desire of the Toronto-based Holmes Group to ensure that resources are maximized for use in the community so that everyone involved can "Make it Right".

There will be numerous benefits to all First Nations in Canada. The pilot project will identify the process that a First Nation needs to undertake when planning and designing such a project:

• Project size and infrastructure servicing
• Financial resources and community organizational capacity
• Advanced and integrated communications platform
• Micro generation and clean energy technology investments
• Required skills training and capacity development
• Sustainable practices for existing housing retrofits and new home construction

The pilot project will help to create a series of tools, models, best practices and processes that will be available to all First Nations in their efforts to achieve green and sustainable communities. This work will be incorporated into the establishment of a First Nation Centre of Excellence on green and sustainable community design that will be under the leadership of the AFN. All aspects of the Centre of Excellence will support the development of a First Nation Community Planning Tool that can be used by all First Nations. 

The community planning tool will document the process of planning and design that the pilot First Nation utilizes. It will setout the steps that a community needs to consider when undertaking such a project, including the creation of a regulatory environment that promotes sound policies, appropriate codes and standards, zoning and bylaws for land use, compliance and enforcement procedures, and the means of developing community consensus to move planning and design to sustainable implementation.

There are also potential opportunities to First Nations communities outside of Ontario to participate in the pilot project through on-site training and professional development by involving First Nation individuals in various stages of construction activity. The pilot will also consider the involvement of materials and equipment from First Nation enterprises, such as using value-added wood products in renovation and construction.

The Assembly of First Nations and the Holmes Group view the Pilot Project as the starting point of a partnership that will help to build future projects and activities in other regions of the country and assist all First Nations in achieving their respective visions for green and sustainable community design.

The First Nation chosen as the site of the pilot project will be announced in December of this year.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

For further information:

Alain Garon, Bilingual Communications Officer
Assembly of First Nations
Phone: [phone] (382)
Cell: 613-292-0857 or [email protected]

Liza Drozdov, Director of Communications
The Holmes Group
Phone: [phone] (209) or [email protected]