Capital Expansion Update
SEPTEMBER 2025 – We are counting down the days anticipating the completion of the Ka Ni Kanichihk Sākihiwēwin Lodge’s building expansion at 455 McDermot Ave. – we are excited to share – less than 40 days to go.
As the latest picture above shows, the building has taken its final shape, as we are completing the final touches. The landscaping phase is in current progress as we welcome in a new outdoor gathering space complete with a unique shade structure, a bench planter, a fire pit, a walking path and much needed greenery. We look forward to this wonderful space to sit, relax and enjoy the outdoors.
Most exciting is the expansion of the Medicine Lodge Daycare, going from 16 childcare spots to 48, an addition of 32 new day care spaces. This means more women can access education and training and more children can experience childhood learning that is embedded in Indigenous ways of being and doing. It was such a joy to see the young daycare children faces as they pounded their small drums along to adults singing and drumming during a pipe ceremony. A truly unique childhood learning experience.
Also new, Huddle Ka Ni Kanichihk will be based out of this location; an Indigenous-led youth resources hub to support our community youth where they are at. Working from a barrier-free, trauma-informed and harm reduction lens, Huddle Ka Ni Kanichihk is an inclusive space for youth aged 12-29 offering free, culturally-safe health and wellness services in a youth-friendly environment. They can hardly wait to move into their new location and welcome youth in.
Sākihiwēwin Lodge has been many years in the making. Almost from the time Ka Ni Kanichihk moved into its current location at 455 McDermot, we ran out of space. Programming organically grew based on community needs and we knew we needed a larger space. This expansion takes us from 8,700 sf to 22,000 sf, a 40% increase in programming space. Ka Ni Kanichihk growth is community growth. With the upcoming addition of an all season sweat lodge located next to the expansion site, community will have access to more cultural learning and ceremony in one location increasing healing and growth within community.
Thank you to the many, many community donors, individuals, corporations, foundations and all three levels of government that have made this expansion possible. Walking together as we grow and learn we envision a shared future of prosperity for all.