PIKWAKANAGAN, ON (Tuesday, December 10, 2019) – As a result of years of hard work, Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation are pleased to announce that they have received confirmation from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for funding of $2 million for the design of their water treatment plant. The First Nation is currently serviced by individual systems and concern with groundwater quality has necessitated this project.
“The Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation and the Council very much welcome the good news that Indigenous Services Canada has approved funding of $2,000,000.00 for the design phase of our future water treatment plant,” said Kirby Whiteduck, Chief of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan. “We sincerely appreciate the hard work and cooperation of the OFNTSC, and especially that of Rob Olivier and Derek Kamanga who have both passed away. We will continue to work with OFNTSC and ISC towards the goal of providing safe and clean drinking water for Pikwakanagan.”
“We are thrilled to receive this funding and although we are at the very beginning stage, we are moving in the right direction,” said Merv Sarazin, Manager of Public Works for Pikwakanagan. Mr. Sarazin has been working tirelessly with the Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC) for years to reach this important milestone.
“Progressing this project to this point has been many years in the making,” said Tricia Hamilton, Senior Engineer for Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation (OFNTSC). “Merv Sarazin, and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, continue to work tirelessly towards their objective of reaching the point where every person living on reserve will be able to safely and happily drink their tap water. We look forward to working with the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan and ISC towards achieving our end goal.”
The total estimated cost of the overall project is $27,819103, which includes a feasibility study at $240,000, the design phase at $2,033,109 and the final construction phase estimated at $25,545,994.
Rob Olivier, OFNTSC engineer who passed away in February 2019, and Derek Kamanga were key team members on this project and OFNTSC will be continuing to work closely with Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation to make this project a success.
“This is a project which both Rob Olivier and Derek Kamanga were extremely passionate about,” said Ms. Hamilton. “I’m sure that they both would have been extremely gratified with this milestone reached.”