Starting Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 7 A.M., there will be a Bamfield Main Road closure between kilometres 36 to 49. A detour will be put in place for all traffic and will be for approximately three weeks.
Orange coloured signs will be posted to help navigate traffic through the detour.
Important:
The speed when driving on the Bamfield Main Road should not exceed 60 km per hour, and drivers are recommended to slow down in bad weather conditions and required to slow down when construction equipment, flaggers, and crews are on the road. The RCMP will be monitoring for safe driving throughout the project and detour.
The Bamfield Main is very dusty during the hot weather conditions. Please drive with your headlights on and drive with extreme caution. The Bamfield Main has lots of wash board, please be prepared for your travels.
On Thursday, July 6, 2023, Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor John Jack, Councillors Brad Johnson, Edward R. Johnson, Stella Peters, Ḥaw̓iiḥ Councillor Theresa Nookemus, Child and Family Wellness Director, Shannon Zimmerman, and Executive Director, Karen Haugen met with Honourable Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and Josie Osbourne, MLA of Mid Island-Pacific Rim at the construction site of the Oomiiqsu (Aboriginal Mother Centre).
IWCO, a Nanaimo-based Construction Company, is building Oomiiqsu, and was available to answer questions about the project.
Oomiiqsu will provide culturally safe, wrap-around support to Huu-ay-aht, as well as other Nuu-chah-nulth women and children. Oomiiqsu will house the Child and Family Wellness Office, Oomiiqsu Office, 4 Transitional Housing Units, and housing for up to 48 women and children.
Oomiiqsu provides an alternative to the removal of children from the care of their mothers and ensures the safety of women and children (ages 0-12). Oomiiqsu will also house the Oomiiqsu Child Care Centre with 8 spaces for children, 36 months and under, and 16 spaces for children ages 30 months and over.
The Oomiiqsu project is well underway. To date, gridlines have been set, and the bulk excavation of the building has been completed. Upcoming work will include forming footings, installation of the site fence and signage.
This project is a partnership between Huu-ay-aht First Nations, BC Housing, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation and Ministry of Child and Family Development.
Highway 4 closures due to the Cameron Bluffs forest fire have impacted construction timelines.
The anticipated occupancy date has been moved from August 2024 to December 2024.
Currently, IWCO is hiring for Carpenters, Apprentices, and Labourers for the Oomiiqsu site.
