Manitoba Health Minister Sharon Blady announced Monday that construction has begun on the planned redevelopment of the Powerview-Pine Falls Health Centre complex. The $10-million undertaking, led by Parkwest Projects, will include the construction of a 17,000-square-foot primary healthcare and traditional healing centre building, which will be attached to the existing complex.

The traditional healing centre will allow space for traditional healers and elders, and will be designed to reflect First Nation and Métis culture and heritage. It will include space where traditional First Nations approaches to palliative care can be offered; space for traditional ceremonies and smudging, including an outdoor location for a sweat lodge and a sacred fire; kitchen facilities where families can prepare traditional foods and medicines; and educational space for healing traditions and teachings.

The new facility will also offer a nurse practitioner, a First Nation and Métis outreach liaison and a medical lab assistant, and will house extra space for maintenance, food service and housekeeping.

“This redeveloped health facility, which sits on the traditional territory of Sagkeeng First Nation, will bring better, more culturally-appropriate healthcare services to families in Powerview-Pine Falls as well as surrounding First Nations and Métis communities,” said Blady in a press release. “I am humbled by the many partners who have come together to help drive the changes being made to this important, innovative new facility.”