Major expansion of Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre will provide more accommodation and cultural spaces for Indigenous communities
The project will increase the Centre’s capacity to provide an enriched service offering to the community and living environments that promote well-being.
On May 1, the Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre launched a $60 million renovation and expansion project that will increase accommodation and provide new spaces for cultural activities for Indigenous clients who live or seek treatment in Val-d’Or.
Details of the project were announced at a ceremony attended by federal and provincial ministers.
The project includes a new five-story pavilion, adjacent to its current building and dedicated in part to lodging.
The three upper floors of the new pavilion will include 48 rooms with bathrooms, for a total of 90 beds, as well as collective spaces reserved specifically for Cree patients, which will allow them to socialize and prepare common meals.
Images from the event
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Caption(L-R) Bertie Wapachee, Andrea Clark, Pierre Dufour, Ian Lafrenière, Daniel St-Amour, Céline Brindamour, Edith Cloutier, Marc Miller, Janet Mark, Sylvie BérubéCreditPhoto: Paul Brindamour -
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Caption(L-R) Bertie Wapachee (CBHSSJB Chairperson), Daniel St-Amour (CBHSSJB Executive-Director), Edith Cloutier (Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre Executive Director), Helene Belanger-Shecapio (Director of Wiichihiituwin (CPS))CreditPhoto: Paul Brindamour -
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CaptionAttendees listen to Bertie WapacheeCreditPhoto: Paul Brindamour -
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CaptionCBHSSJB Chair Bertie WapacheeCreditPhoto: Paul Brindamour
Creating a safe space for our clients
"We are a key player in this infrastructure project we agreed to support. For our clientele who needs to move away from their community to receive health cares, it is fundamental for us to ensure the best conditions during their stay. Our expectations have been met and we acknowledge the efforts of the Native Friendship Centre to offer dedicated lodging and a safety to our clients, as well as a revitalized and welcoming environment that respects indigenous culture and traditions." - CBHSSJB Chairperson Bertie Wapachee
Building partnership and trust
"The current service corridor between the CBHSSJB and the CISSS de l'Abitibi-Témiscamingue facilitates access to care for nearly 9,000 Cree patients and their caregivers each year. More than 80% of them are accommodated in hotels in Val d'Or and the surrounding area due to a lack of accommodation resources. With an average length of stay of four nights for our clienteles, some of whom with a fragile health, our partnership with the Native Friendship Centre will be an added value to our service offer. It also represents a mutual trust between our two organizations." – Daniel St-Amour, Executive-Director
About the Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre
For over thirty years, the Val-d'Or Native Friendship Centre has been one of the providers of accommodation services for patients of the CBHSSJB who travel to Val-d'Or for health care. Both organizations are pleased to announce the continuation of their partnership. The Centre will become a major provider of accommodation for our clients and their caregivers in Val d'Or.
The Val-d’Or Native Friendship Centre expansion project is jointly funded by federal and provincial governments and the Lucie and André Chagnon Foundation.
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Wiichihiituwin delivers quality services to the population of Eeyou Istchee who need health care outside the region.
