Wabano Centre set to open this month

Construction on the new $14.2-million Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health in Ottawa was expected to be completed in March with the official opening set for May 9. Wabano Centre is designed by Ottawa architect Douglas Cardinal and his son Bret. The building is clad in a golden, rough-cut stone that contrasts with the polished transparency of blue-green glass flowing across it. The materials evoke cliffs, water and sky. The new three-storey structure wraps around Wabano’s original two-storey building, combining it into one facility, adding 25,000 square feet. The old building, with 15,000 square feet, has been renovated. Wabano will become Canada’s first national centre of excellence for Aboriginal health care. It will house a maternal and child wellness centre, expand programs in chronic disease, women’s health and mental health, and introduce a social enterprise program to develop job skills. The expansion will enable Wabano to double the number of clients from 10,000 to 20,000 a year. The centre will include an educational display on Indian residential schools, funded by the Legacy of Hope Foundation. Construction on the centre began in 2011. The project received $4.6 million in federal and provincial stimulus money. Wabano’s share was $9.6 million; $5.7 million has been raised and fundraising continues for the remaining $3.9 million.