Beaver First Nation celebrates new water treatment plant and housing

BEAVER FIRST NATION, ALTA. – A water treatment plan in Beaver First Nation, Alta. is now complete along with six new housing units.

The water project received $14.2 million in funding from the government of Canada and included construction of the water treatment plant, a raw water intake, treated water reservoir and a distribution main to the Beaver First Nation Boyer River area.

Six new housing units were also built to accommodate large families in response to the First Nation’s rising population. The government of Canada put $1.8 million towards support of the project, which included multi-unit accommodations and a new unit which addresses the needs of a disabled youth.

“Congratulations to Chief Mercredi and Beaver First Nation on the opening of their new water treatment plant and six new housing units. The infrastructure gap between Indigenous communities and the rest of Canada is very real, and our government remains committed to working in partnership with First Nations to support the building up of communities so that residents are guaranteed access to clean water and safe, suitable housing,” federal minister of Indigenous services Marc Miller said.

The new water plant is connected to an existing six-plex housing unit and has connections for future housing units. Beaver First Nation is located in Treaty 8 Territory near High Level, Lata. And approximately 450 people live on the reserve.