Today, Parm Bains, Member of Parliament for Steveston - Richmond East, and Michael Wyse, Chief of Snuneymuxw First Nation (Xumtilum), announced a federal investment of $281,460 to support a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) retrofit for the Snuneymuxw Daycare in Nanaimo.
The project will decommission and dispose of the daycare's existing HVAC system, replacing it with a new, more efficient system. Funding will also support building remediation and alternative arrangements for daycare operations during construction. Once complete, these improvements are expected to reduce the facility's energy consumption by an estimated 24% and greenhouse gas emissions by 0.34 tonnes annually.
The daycare provides child care and social services to families in Snuneymuxw Territory on Vancouver Island using a holistic approach that honours Snuneymuxw culture and Ancestral teachings. The project will improve air quality, reduce energy consumption and operating costs. This will ensure that the facility can continue delivering essential programming to the community.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, building resilient communities, and improving the lives of communities.
