CIB and RBC Commit $20 million Towards the Environmentally Sustainable Revitalization of the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre

December 16, 2024

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), and Matawa First Nations Management (Matawa) have reached financial close on the Matawa Training and Wellness Centre energy retrofit project. The CIB is lending $15 million through its Indigenous Community Infrastructure Initiative (ICII), in addition to RBC’s $5 million financing to support the project located in Thunder Bay, Ontario.  

The collective financing supports the environmentally sustainable revitalization of the new community hub whose staff will deliver essential education, health, social services, and community programming to more than 10,000 Matawa First Nations community members and families. 

The facility addresses a critical infrastructure gap for the nine First Nations member communities by centring Kiikenomaga Kikenjigewen Employment and Training Services, Matawa Health Co-operative and Awashishewiigiihiwaywiin  ̶  Matawa’s social services department  ̶  into one location. 

The Centre is expected to provide more than 20,000 social, health, and holistic care appointments each year, significantly improving current standard and access to these critical services. 

Energy efficient upgrades that are planned as part of this retrofit project include electrical systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment. The redeveloped building is expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately 70 per cent, according to a RETScreen Clean Energy Management assessment completed for this project.  

This project is financed through the ICII, whereby the CIB is investing in infrastructure projects providing a direct benefit to Indigenous communities. 

The Matawa-member communities who will benefit from the revitalized centre include: Aroland First Nation, Constance Lake First Nation, Eabametoong First Nation, Ginoogaming First Nation, Long Lake #58 First Nation, Marten Falls First Nation, Neskantaga First Nation, Nibinamik First Nation and Webequie First Nation.The Matawa Training and Wellness Centreis anticipated to open by the spring of 2025. 

Quick Facts

• CIB and RBC are jointly financing the energy-efficient retrofit of Thunder Bay’s Matawa Training and Wellness Centre, which delivers training, education, health, social services to nine First Nations communities. 
• Energy efficient upgrades expected to help facility reduce energy consumption by approximately 70 per cent. 
• The Centre will employ up to 300 local people by 2026.

Source