The former Air-Dale Flying Service site at 235 River Road will be transformed into a 30-unit transitional housing project geared toward Indigenous men starting this spring.
A total of $750,000 in federal funding announced on Tuesday will put into motion the pre-development planning phase for development of the healing centre in the city's east end, which is expected to cost a total of $14.8 million.
Ontario Aboriginal Housing Support Services Corp. (OAHSSC) purchased the waterfront property in February of 2024 for $1,088,948 from its former owner Robert Dale.
"We'll be the developer and long-term property manager and the [Indigenous] Friendship Centre will be the operator," said Justin Marchand, CEO of OAHSSC.
The project aims to tackle the housing crisis experienced within the urban Indigenous community and by offering that funding through the OAHSSC, it will ensure that Indigenous communities have a direct say in the type of housing and building design.
"It's going to be an absolutely gorgeous building inside and outside, with spaces to allow those different cultural and healing activities to take place in a traditional sense," he added.
Marchand noted the property is already zoned for the project and neighbours in the immediate area have been notified.
"There haven't been any major concerns at all. The neighbours, from our discussions with them, they've been really supportive and are looking forward to a nice beautiful building on that site," Marchand said.
Cathy Syrette, executive director of the Indigenous Friendship Centre, said the transitional housing project is much needed for Indigenous men in the community.
"When our men get to the 30-bed healing centre, our male staff are going to be going in on a daily basis or an evening basis and they will be rotating those services for our men. With Indigenous people, the centre of healing is our culture," said Syrette.
Most services are geared toward women and children, said Syrette, but this project will be intended for men in the community.
Syrette said the waterfront property will allow for some culturally-appropriate activities for the men residing there, including canoe building and kayaking. Plans include an outdoor healing space consisting of a lodge, as well as a food and medicine garden to grow tobacco, sage and sweet grass.
"We have so many visions for the future for our men at that place," Syrette said.
Programming is still being developed, but Syrette said there won't be a specific amount of time dedicated to how long men will stay in the housing.
"We don't put a cap on that because everybody's healing is a different path, right? Some are okay with healing in a year or two, some take longer and some are shorter," she said.
MP Terry Sheehan made the $750,000 funding announcement on Tuesday at the Indigenous Friendship Centre.
It was part of an overall $14.8 million in federal funding announced for OAHSSC to support a total of 593 housing units across Ontario.