Matawa Training and Wellness Centre Retrofit

Sector(s)

Green Infrastructure, Indigenous Infrastructure

Location(s)

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Participation

$15 million
(Financial Close)

Partner(s)

Royal Bank of Canada, Matawa First Nations Management

Sector(s)

Green Infrastructure, Indigenous Infrastructure

Location(s)

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Participation

$15 million
(Financial Close)

Partner(s)

Royal Bank of Canada, Matawa First Nations Management

Energy-efficient retrofit of First Nations community hub in Thunder Bay

Centre will deliver services to 10,000+ community members.

Education centre at Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Playground at Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Mural at Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Room being constructed at Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Hallway in Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Boardroom in Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Classroom at Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Waiting room at Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

Government of Canada

This partnership with Matawa First Nations Management (Matawa) reflects the power of collaboration in supporting the needs of the Matawa First Nations community. Together, we are modernizing the Training and Wellness Centre to ensure that accessible, high-quality health care and social services are available to everyone. As the Canada Infrastructure Bank’s first retrofit project in an Indigenous community, this initiative highlights the importance of working together to advance the health, well-being, and resilience of First Nations communities across Canada.

The Hon. Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario and Member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North on behalf of the Hon. Sean Fraser, Former Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

RBC Origins

RBC is pleased to work with the CIB and Matawa Training and Wellness Centre to finance the revitalization of an important community hub that enables the education and wellbeing of generations of Indigenous community members. Supporting the resilience, environmentally sustainable development and advancement of Indigenous communities in this way is important in order for Canada to achieve a successful transition to net zero.

Chinyere Eni, Head

Matawa First Nations Management Board of Directors

We are grateful that, after purchasing this unused property in Thunder Bay 4 short years ago, we now have the finish line within sight. Having reached financial close on loan financing with the Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Royal Bank of Canada, we are looking forward to the spring 2025 completion of the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre. It will be place where Indigenous people and communities can heal and grow within a wrap-around and culturally-sensitive approach.

Rosemary Moonias, President

Fast facts

Facility to support training, education, health, social services, and community programming

Centre will employ up to 300 local people by 2026

Advancing private capital with RBC’s participation in the project

The CIB is investing $15 million towards the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre energy retrofit project in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

The vibrant community hub addresses a critical infrastructure gap for the nine First Nation member communities and their families, who will benefit from education, health, social services and related programming.

The Centre is expected to provide more than 20,000 social, health, and holistic care appointments each year, significantly improving current standards.

Benefits of CIB Involvement

This project is financed through the Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative (ICII), whereby the CIB is investing in infrastructure projects providing a direct benefit to Indigenous communities.

The CIB’s loan closed a gap in the project financing structure, and represents the CIB’s first investment in a First Nations retrofit project. Energy efficient upgrades are expected to help the facility reduce energy consumption by approximately 70 per cent.

Learn more

CIB News Release
Matawa First Nations - Opens in a new tab
RBC - Opens in a new tab

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