Suswin Village held its grand opening today and the city may never be the same. Located on the corner of Cassells and 5th Avenue West, the striking building has thirty single apartments throughout the upper levels, a kitchen, living room, and dining area on the main floor.
All for helping to get people off the streets and into a home.
There are offices for staff, and all types of amenities such as laundry, computers, and with the Indigenous Friendship Centre right across the street on Cassells, plenty of resources and programs designed to help residents get back on their feet and off the street.
Currently, there are ten residents, with more to come, as the intakes are occurring in waves. Residents apply to live there, and once accepted, are given the keys to their own one-bedroom apartment, complete with private bathroom, a well-stocked closet, and a desk area by the window. Each apartment also has its own climate control, so residents can adjust the cool and heat to their preference, all thanks to the geothermal system that services the building.
See: Suswin housing project underway
“When we opened the doors to the first resident, it was such a massive relief that the long wait was finally over, realizing we’d overcome the many challenges we’d faced during construction,” said Kathy Fortin of the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.
Indeed, projects like this are often long in the making, and many staff and volunteers at the Centre worked diligently to make the dream a reality. The Centre’s Board of Directors were invaluable to the process, she emphasized, and without funding from the Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative, the project might still be on paper.
But all worked out, and today, all involved, and some special guests gathered upon Suswin Village’s outdoor space, a beautiful grassy yard, fully gated, with over 20 lean birch trees planted in rows throughout the space. A large firepit surrounded by squat concrete benches will be well-used, and a small garden was already offering some lettuce, onions, and peppers. The cherry tomatoes were still green but growing strong.
“On behalf of the Innovative Indigenous Homes Initiative (IHII) Steering committee, it is my honour to congratulate the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre on the achievement of Suswin Village,” said
Dawn Madahbee Leach, Member of the IHII Steering Committee, and General Manager of the Waubetek Business Development Corporation.
The building “will provide a safe, accessible, and dignified housing solution for our North Bay Indigenous homeless,” she said, “and we offer our best wishes for the ongoing success of the initiative.”
“Thanks to all involved who made this dream a reality.”
See: Indigenous Friendship Centre on schedule to open Suswin Village
The Government of Canada is providing approximately $2,611,506.09 through the CANDO/Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative. The Government of Ontario is providing $100 000 and other funding sources such as ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada), Ontario Aboriginal Housing through the FMIR and ISHIP, have collectively contributed $2, 611,506.10, which includes $268,700.00 in top-up funding, granted on June 5, 2023.
Ray Wanuch, Executive Director of Cando, noted the new building is “critically important” to the region’s vulnerable, noting it is “a tremendous project.”
“Cando is pleased to be a partner in this initiative recognizing the urgent need for safe and healthy housing for Indigenous people as well as the critical role new housing development can have on community economic development.”
Live’s are already changing thanks to Suswin Village. One of the first residents, Willy D., gave a speech at today’s opening. “I was on the street for eight years, and homeless for seven,” he said. “Now I can call this my nest.”
Suswin means nest in Ojibway, and Willy mentioned the space and programming have helped a lot, and he told the crowd he recently began a new job.
Richard Assinawai offered an opening prayer today, and he also returned to close the speeches portion of the event. He gifted Becky Mathies, the Suswin Village Case Manager, an eagle’s feather, which could be used by residents and staff during talking circles.
He also expressed his belief that all who may be lost across Turtle Island will be found in time. “One day, the Thunderbird will find them and bring them home. I truly believe in that.”
Thanks to the hard work and vision of so many, this home is now a little closer.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
