It was an exciting day for the Village of Lax Kw’alaams Oct.12 as it celebrated the construction kick off for the 70 unit housing project in Prince Rupert.

Located at 830 11th Avenue East in Prince Rupert, the complex will be built and operated by the Band’s wholly-owned WAAP Housing Society.

This project has been in the works since 2020 and due to COVID-19, it has taken longer to get underway but it is now moving forward.

MLA for North Coast Jennifer Rice, Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond, and Skeena Bulkley Valley MP Taylor Bachrach each gave speeches at the celebration and were there to witness the event. There was traditional cultural dancing drumming and singing and speeches by various different Sm’ooygits.

After speeches and performances were done, the Lax Kw’alaams Mayor Garry Reece spoke with CFNR about the housing project.

Listen to the speech Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond made at the celebration and CFNR’s interview with Lax Kw’alaams Mayor Garry Reece below: