In November 2021, catastrophic flooding damaged homes throughout Halalt First Nation. As the Chemainus River flooded the valley, many homes were left beyond repair, disrupting not only where people lived, but the sense of stability and belonging those homes provided.
A total of 36 homes needed to be rebuilt, but the project called for more than a conventional builder. It required a partner able to approach the work with care.
“We wanted to help the community feel grounded again,” says Matt Thorpe, Co-Owner of Citizen. “The homes were lifted and rebuilt to withstand future flooding, with a 200-year design standard built in. They were also retrofitted with energy upgrades to make them more comfortable, healthier and more resilient to a changing climate.”
Based in Vancouver Island, design-build firm Citizen views construction as a way to create lasting change. In Halalt, that meant not only delivering high-quality rebuilds, but taking care to ensure each home reflected the needs of the family living there.
Rather than arriving with a one-size-fits-all plan, Citizen took a collaborative approach, working with each family to understand what mattered most in the design of their home.
“Our design team starts by getting to know the people we’re building for,” says Matt. “We ask what they love about their current home, what they would change, and what matters most to them in a new one. From there, we can build somethingthat feels right for them.”
But the impact of the project didn’t stop there. Citizen also saw a chance to respond to a wider challenge in the construction industry.
“We’re seeing a critical shortage of carpenters,” says Matt. “We started asking what it would look like to hire apprentices through this project and support them through school so they could become Red Seal-certified carpenters in B.C.”
Working with Halalt Chief and Council, Vancouver Island University and Construction Foundation BC, Citizen created an innovative apprenticeship model that brings classroom learning directly into the build. Apprentices spend part of the day in class and the rest on site, so training and employment happen side by side.
The model is also unique because of the close collaboration between Halalt and Citizen. By keeping construction in-house rather than subcontracting each phase, Citizen has more room to hire and train people who might otherwise be left out of the industry.
With Vancity’s support, Citizen has completed 19 of the 36 homes needed so far, while also training local apprentices — many of whom are helping build homes for their own families and neighbours affected by the flooding.
“Since 2011, Vancity has been more than just our bank,” said Matt. “They’ve been the foundation that allowed Citizen to grow from a two-person team into a company that supports 43 local families and has an annual revenue of over $10 million.”
Citizen also used a Vancity Planet-Wise™ loan to finance an electric fleet that helps its teams travel to and from project sites, including remote communities.
“It’s inspiring to support people who are making a real difference,” says Mark Fulmer, Commercial Banking Account Manager at Vancity.“Citizen has built a team that truly believes in this work, and this apprenticeship model puts the company in a strong position to scale.”
Today, 52% of Citizen’s employees are Indigenous, and Citizen hopes to continue this work in future projects on First Nations lands.
“Not every community is facing the kind of flooding Halalt experienced, but many still need housing that better supports the health and well-being of the people living there,” says Matt. “We’re looking to work with other communities to find a good way forward together.”
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