Red Pheasant Cree Nation is making progress on its plans to develop an urban reserve on the outskirts of North Battleford. A Petro-Canada service station is expected to be completed in August. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Economic development

Red Pheasant Cree Nation urban reserve making progress

Jan 6, 2020 | 4:30 PM

Red Pheasant Cree Nation continues to make progress with its new urban reserve development in North Battleford.

Located on the east side of Territorial Drive near 15 Avenue, the project includes building a Petro-Canada service station, owned and operated by the First Nation.

Underground infrastructure has been installed and plans are underway to create an access road to the property in the spring.

Lands Manager Craig Wuttunee said the service station is expected to be completed this August.

“We want to be part of the growth of North Battleford,” he said. “We have been working with the city and different levels to try and create an integrated plan.”

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The First Nation is currently developing about 20 acres, as a start to its plans. Construction will resume in the spring when the ground thaws.

“We’ll be looking to attract other businesses as well,” Wuttunee said.

In addition to Red Pheasant’s own funding, the First Nation also received support from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for the project, as part of the Community Opportunities Readiness Program (CORP). ISC has contributed $1.8 million over the last two years and Red Pheasant has put in $2.2 million.

“That goes to the infrastructure, to the engineering drawings, to addressing any of those needs,” Wuttunee said. “That also includes the roads and the building.”

The commercial area may accommodate sites such as retail businesses, restaurants or offices. Light industrial developments, such as storage and warehouse facilities, may also be developed.

“We’re still in the planning phases,” Wuttunee said. “We felt it was necessary to get the water and sewer infrastructure in place first, and an anchor business, which is the Petro-Canada. Plans are ongoing as far as whatever else we might be including in the area.”

Red Pheasant established a general concept plan for the entire 350-acre property that has reserve status.

The project is expected to be completed over two years.

The project’s goal is to create commercial developments and perhaps also a residential development which will generate more revenue and jobs and stimulate the economy in the entire region, according to the First Nation’s December community newsletter.

“What we are looking at is to grow with the Battlefords,” Wuttunee said. “We want to be a part of their growth. We are open to investment, open to development corporations if they want to perhaps come in and look at residential developments, then we are open to looking at those possibilities.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW