Today, John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City in British Columbia. on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, announced $777,618 in funding towards energy efficiency upgrades to Salishan Place by the River, a cultural centre in the Township of Langley, which is currently being built in partnership with q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen) First Nation and with the participation of the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Màthxwi (Matsqui) and se'mya'me (Semiahmoo) First Nations.
"Salishan Place by the River will benefit the local community by providing a safe, multifunctional space to gather and practice traditional Indigenous customs, and promote wellness. The commitment to building a sustainable facility is a reflection of the local Indigenous communities' intimate relationship with, and knowledge of, the natural environment. Our government is proud to be a part of this project," said John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale-Langley City, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities.
"We continue to be honoured and excited to be part of this important project of Salishan - we value our relationship with the Township of Langley and our neighbouring family communities of Katzie, Matsqui and Semiahmoo. We look forward to working together, yayestel' and sharing within this space. We are very grateful for all of the funding support for this project to date," said Marilyn Gabriel, Chief of Kwantlen First Nation.
"We are very grateful for the support received from the Federal Government for this new arts, culture, and heritage facility. With numerous green initiatives implemented into its design and construction, we are excited for this amazing indoor and outdoor gathering place to open and welcome visitors from across the region," said Jack Froese, Mayor of the Township of Langley.
The funding announced today will support green upgrades such as geothermal, ground-source heat pumps and conversion to electric heating systems. Environmentally sustainable enhancements to the cultural centre will reduce the building's energy consumption by over 60% and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 128 tonnes annually.
