Social procurement is a critical mechanism for accelerating First Nations economic redevelopment and community equity. The Kʷasən-Naikoon Joint Venture (JV)—a majority Indigenous-owned partnership—is driving this transformation in Vancouver with the Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House (CCNH) Redevelopment. This project stands as a powerful case study for how a values-driven approach successfully balances construction excellence with profound social impact.
The new Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood House, currently under construction and scheduled for occupancy in early 2027, is more than just a building—it is a community asset designed for longevity and sustainability. This new community centre is designed to maximize neighbourhood well-being, enabling expanded services including a full-time childcare facility, enhanced food security and cultural programs. Designed by DA Architects, the 18,030 sq ft, three-storey facility features a hybrid mass timber design, fully committing to the City of Vancouver’s Low Emissions Green Building Policy (Pathway B).
Kʷasən-Naikoon JV: Indigenous Leadership and Economic Redevelopment – The Power of Partnership
Years in the making, the Kʷasən-Naikoon JV was formed to maximize social procurement outcomes and foster cultural understanding. Kʷasən Enterprises, founded by Curtis Thomas and Dennis Thomas-Whonoak, members and councillors of the səliləwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation, guides the partnership with a mission rooted in cultural and historic knowledge. Their leadership ensures that every stage of the project actively works to empower, employ, and train Indigenous members, advocating Economic Redevelopment and self-determination for local Indigenous communities.
Navigating Challenges & Opportunities in Social Procurement
To ensure measurable outcomes, the Kʷasən-Naikoon JV implemented a framework to optimise its social procurement while addressing common challenges in the construction sector.
- Advancing UNDRIP: Prioritizing economic sovereignty and redress, aligning the project directly with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
- Weighted Bid Evaluation: All major trade packages were subject to a transparent, weighted evaluation matrix. In addition to pricing (50%), Social Procurement Criteria also incorporated the requirement for commitments to IBPOC* ownership, leadership, and workforce, accounting for 25% of the total evaluation score.
- Capacity Building: Committing to commercially best efforts to create skilled labour positions and ensuring equitable access for Indigenous-owned and other equity-seeking subcontractors.
Measurable Social Procurement Impact: Contract Awards and Workforce Development
The rigorous, values-driven procurement process has yielded tangible early results, demonstrating immediate progress toward our goals of Economic Redevelopment:
- Equitable Contract Awards: Through the weighted matrix, 36% of the total contract value was awarded to Indigenous-owned and equity-seeking subcontractors.
- Workforce Development Commitments: Partners secured through the process have collectively committed to hosting 9 IBPOC-owned skilled subtrades from the Greater Vancouver area during the construction phase, prioritizing IBPOC candidates.
- Mandatory Orientation: 100% of awarded trade partners successfully completed a comprehensive on-site cultural orientation session, ensuring alignment with UNDRIP principles across the supply chain.
By moving beyond standard compliance and implementing this structured, values-driven framework, the Kʷasən-Naikoon JV is proving that leadership in construction means delivering a high-quality, high-performance building and a lasting, measurable, positive impact on First Nations economic redevelopment and the broader community: advancing the standard for social procurement in the Canadian construction industry.
To learn more about partnering with the Kʷasən-Naikoon JV, contact us today at moreinfo@naikoon.ca.
*IBPOC = Indigenous, Black, and People of Colour
