Opportunity grows out of fire damage

A new community centre that will be built in Slave Lake is expected to benefit residents of the Sawridge First Nation as well as many Aboriginals in surrounding area.

Officials with the Lesser Slave Lake Regional Tri-Council announced in late November that a dozen energy companies would be donating $6.4 million in order to help build a new community centre in Slave Lake.

About one-third of Slave Lake was destroyed by wildfires in May of 2011.

Shortly afterwards the regional tri-council, which represents the Sawridge First Nation, the town of Slave Lake and the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River, was formed.

Winona Twin, a councillor for the Sawridge First Nation, says the tri-council was created in order to handle all recovery-related activities from the fire.

“(The tri-council) is trying to get the community to where things were, if not better than they were before,” Twin said.

With the funds the energy companies have pledged, tri-council officials felt it would be best to build a new community centre. This facility will include a theatre as well as a daycare. And, if necessary, the building will have the potential to be utilized as a regional evacuation centre.

Twin says construction of the facility is expected to begin this spring. She is uncertain as to how long the project will take to complete.

The community centre is expected to cost $12 million, with funds from the energy companies covering just over half.  Other donations as well as funds from a recovery budget will also be used.

Though the fire was a devastating experience, Twin says it was also somewhat of a blessing as relations between officials from the Sawridge First Nation and those from Slave Lake and the MD of Lesser Slave River have been greatly improved since.

“There was no contact before,” Twin said. “To be at the table (for tri-council activities) now as a governing body is huge for us. To be at the table with the town and the MD gives us clout by having government-to-government relationships.”

The proposed community centre will be built on the current site of the Elks Hall in Slave Lake.

Twin said the facility will have an Aboriginal feel to it as the top of the building will be in the shape of a tipi. Also, there will be a circular entrance to the building.

The Sawridge First Nation, which surrounds Slave Lake, has a small population - only about 40 people. Twin believes all residents from the First Nation will benefit from the new community centre.

“There’s going to be a hall we can use but we’re not just thinking of ourselves,” she said, adding both the town and MD have high Aboriginal populations, who will also take advantage of the new facility and its many uses.