Flying Dust breaks ground on multi-million-dollar Meadow Lake development

After decades of negotiations over former railway land in Meadow Lake, Flying Dust First Nation has broken ground on the first phase of a multi-million-dollar commercial development expected to include retail space, offices and a future hotel complex.

Leaders from Flying Dust, the City of Meadow Lake and the RM of Meadow Lake gathered Thursday along Railway Avenue for a sod-turning ceremony to mark the start of construction on the first building, a two-storey commercial and office development valued at roughly $6 million to $7 million.

Read more:

• Sask. hospital review begins under former provincial coroner, Saskatoon police chief
• ‘No fear’ from neighbours who saved eight people from Radville house fire
• No funds lost, but info may have been compromised in ‘cyber incident’: Kinsmen Foundation

Kevin Skripitsky, a project manager with Kor Alta Construction, said the first building will total roughly 24,800 square feet across two floors and is expected to be completed before Christmas.

The project is being built on land leaders say was expropriated in the 1930s for railway development before eventually being returned to the First Nation following years of negotiations.

“I know Chiefs that talked about this in the ’70s and the ’80s and ’90s up to today to get this back to the Flying Dust lands,” said Meadow Lake Tribal Council Vice-Chief Richard Derocher.

Flying Dust Chief Tyson Bear said the development reflects a vision carried through multiple generations of leadership.

“One opportunity was economic development, a commercial development opportunity and being able to utilize the land, to potentially bring stores and services to the community of Meadow Lake,” he said.

“Flying Dust is open for business.”

A rendering shows the Flying Dust First Nation’s planned commercial development along Railway Avenue in Meadow Lake. (Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

(Kenneth Cheung/meadowlakeNOW)

Bear said the building will be named after Chief Kopahawakenum, the first chief from the nation to sign treaty in the 1800s, and that additional phases could include another strip mall, a hotel, restaurant and conference centre.

“We’re all one community, we’re all trying to strive to make Meadow Lake and Flying Dust and the whole area a better place to live,” said Merlin Seymour.

Local MLA Jeremy Harrison described the development as “very significant” and said the land claim process took roughly 20 years to resolve.

“This was a very, very difficult process to get here, but it is going to be worth it.”

Bear later added that more sod-turning ceremonies could take place in the coming months as other proposed developments move forward. He also said Flying Dust, the City and the RM are currently discussing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) focused on future collaboration and regional growth.

“Meadow Lake is going to be the next hub of northern Saskatchewan, because the developments happening north of us, and we got to be part of that,” Derocher said.

Read more:

• Sask. hospital review begins under former provincial coroner, Saskatoon police chief
• ‘No fear’ from neighbours who saved eight people from Radville house fire
• No funds lost, but info may have been compromised in ‘cyber incident’: Kinsmen Foundation