Indigenous community to build new housing in Edmonton’s Ice District

An Indigenous community that has just become the new owner of what is currently a two-storey commercial building in Edmonton’s Ice District says it plans to add 35 storeys of residential units to it.

At a news conference on Friday, the chief of the Wiikwemkoong community, located on Ontario’s Manitoulin Island, announced it has completed a commercial real estate acquisition of the Connect Centre in downtown Edmonton. 

The building, developed by Katz Group Real Estate and One Properties, opened in 2022 after two years of construction and was put on the market in September.

Chief Tim Ominika of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory told CBC News the community acquired the centre for $65 million.

“This is going to allow us to reinvest or bring back financial monies from the acquisition back home to the community for any future developments, health-care systems, transportation, housing — not only for on-reserve members, but for off-reserve,” Ominika said.

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack called the Wiikwemkoong community’s investment “spectacular.”

“They could have done that anywhere in this country,” he said. “They chose Edmonton. Why? Because this is a city that really embraces and truly understands what reconciliation is, and that includes economic reconciliation.”

Downtown revitalization

The Connect Centre has stratified air rights, subject to permissive arena and entertainment district zoning. This can allow for new and subsequent floors to be built for both residential and commercial purposes.

The planned housing units will contribute to the vibrancy and safety of Edmonton’s downtown core, Knack said. Increasing foot traffic in the city’s centre has been a goal for the city, prompting it to extend its downtown revitalization levy in June.

Knack noted this latest investment comes after Atco decided to relocate its Edmonton office to a downtown space, bringing 1,200 employees to the city’s core. 

“That is what Edmonton has been working toward, and it's great to see all of this work on revitalization come to fruition,” said Knack.

WATCH | Wiikwemkoong community acquires Ice District building for $65M:

Indigenous community from Ontario acquires Ice District building

January 24|

Duration 1:40

Wiikwemkoong unceded territory of Manitoulin Island, Ont., has acquired a building called the Connect Centre in Edmonton's Ice District plaza. As CBC's Travis McEwan reports, it comes with a plan to build a 35-storey residential tower.

‘Financial self-sustainability’

One of the reasons the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory bought the Connect Centre was to look at an opportunity for financial self-sustainability for its community, said Ominika.

The chief said the building is a “turnkey operation,” allowing the Wiikwemkoong community to generate revenue upfront. The 113,776 square-foot building is 89 per cent occupied by commercial tenants such as Loblaws CityMarket, the Edmonton Oilers Official Team Store and The Canadian Brewhouse, according to an online real estate posting.

This acquisition is the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory’s first outside of Ontario, and Ominika said this project has served as a way to connect to local chiefs. He also said he hopes First Nations groups look for investment opportunities like this one.

“Yes, there's risk, but how else are you going to continue to grow for your communities if you don't look at opportunities outside of your own traditional territories?”