Building bridges of hope one house at a time

March 14, 2025

Offenders across the Prairie Region are honing their construction skills by building homes. These projects are providing hope and opportunity for the communities they serve.

The CORCAN Construction program has created housing for local Indigenous communities in the three Prairie provinces. These projects are supported by the Indigenous Offender Employment Initiative, a federal program introduced in 2018. Its mandate is to support the successful community reintegration of Indigenous offenders by increasing their opportunities for employment skills training and assignments. Per home built, six to ten offenders receive approximately 1,000 combined hours of on-the-job training.

Alberta

Over the years, folks at CORCAN Construction in Alberta have developed relationships with several Indigenous communities, such as Nekaneet First Nation, Samson Cree Nation, and Big River First Nation. Inspired by these connections, CORCAN Construction has been building various ready-to-move homes, which are tailored to client’s needs, for these communities.

With CORCAN Construction, offenders, many with no previous construction experience, can learn and hone their skills as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and painters while also giving back. The work instills pride for participating offenders when they see the direct positive impact their work has on the communities.

The collaboration between CORCAN Construction in Alberta and participating Indigenous communities goes beyond the contracts signed to create these homes. By providing the opportunity to test their skills and training, program participants are better prepared to find work following their release. CORCAN’s community partners often offer jobs to released offenders.

CORCAN program participants are also able to obtain apprenticeship hours in carpentry. They can take their recorded hours, along with a letter from their instructor to the apprenticeship board to get approved. The Northern Alberta Institute of Technology offers curriculum certification for offenders in pre-employment carpentry, wood frame construction, and blueprint reading.

In Alberta, Drumheller Institution, Pê Sâkâstew Centre, and Bowden Institution are building homes at each institution for Nekanett Cree Nation. At Pê Sâkâstew Centre, they are building two double unit homes that have two bedrooms and one bathroom per unit. Drumheller Institution is building a one bedroom home and Bowden is completing a three bedroom, one bathroom home.

Saskatchewan

Community relationships are strengthened through CORCAN Construction projects. Trust is essential where participating offenders from the Okimaw Ohci Healing Lodge, Saskatchewan Penitentiary, and Willow Cree Healing Lodge can develop their construction skills by providing housing and renovations for local Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan.

As CORCAN Construction has grown, many communities have reached out to inquire about the housing project. The process begins with an invitation to community members to tour the construction facilities, followed by several meetings to develop housing plans. Building a strong relationship with the participating communities and understanding their needs is key to a successful project.

Willow Cree Healing Lodge and Okimaw Ochi Healing Ledge, which has a CORCAN Construction program for women, are each currently building a two bedroom, one bathroom double unit for Nekanett Cree Nation. “It takes a lot of face time and trust building to gain these partnerships,” says Mark Armitage, construction supervisor in Saskatchewan.

At Saskatchewan Penitentiary, they are completing renovations in the minimum security living units which develops their general construction skills. Offenders are able to learn how to fix and maintain homes in addition to also learning to build a home from the ground up.

“CORCAN’s work with the offenders in building houses has provided not only excellent training, but it also instills pride in what the offenders are accomplishing.” says Lee-Anne Skene, Deputy Warden at Saskatchewan Penitentiary. “Not only do we see the benefits at the site level, but rather it is a gift that keeps on giving. Once these homes are built, they are sent off to provide affordable housing in many Indigenous communities. We, at Saskatchewan Penitentiary, are thrilled with this program, and look forward to seeing more lives changed because of it.”

Manitoba

As the housing projects continue across the Prairie region, CORCAN staff and participants alike are excited to see the lasting and positive impacts of their efforts.

“I enjoy being involved in the build process from start to finish for a quality home that will withstand the northern climate,” says Dann Batenchuk, a CORCAN shop instructor.

These housing projects are another step towards establishing long lasting relationships with Indigenous communities with more to come. With overwhelming success, the construction programs are excited to continue expanding and partnering with their neighbouring communities. Program participants learn valuable employment skills while giving back to the communities they call home.

You can learn more about the CORCAN Offender Employment and Employability program at www.CORCAN.gc.ca.