The traditional territory of the Takla Nation is located in North Central British Columbia and totals approximately 27,250 square kilometers. The Nation’s main community is at Takla Landing, situated along the beautiful eastern shore of Takla Lake. Takla Landing is home to approximately 250 people, with many more Nation members trying to move back into community. Takla Nation is committed to a housing and energy plan to accommodate those members as well as improvements for existing residents, and engaged Community Power in 2019 to support those efforts through multiple services.
The Nation initially collaborated with Community Power to develop a Community Energy Action Plan (CEAP) in 2020. The Nation emphasized the need to reduce energy expenditures in Takla Landing, improve the safety of local homes, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, identify renewable opportunities, and establish priorities for future energy and housing initiatives. Community Power captured these objectives and has since undertaken a series of projects to help the Nation achieve its vision.
To further support the Nation’s growth, Community Power conducted both a load forecast and a heating electrification load study to assess Takla Nation’s future electricity needs. The project included plotting and identifying electrical consumption trends, mapping out the electrical load associated with future development plans, assigning likelihoods for project completion, and developing models that reflect a range of future scenarios. Meanwhile, the heating electrification load study aimed to provide the Nation with additional data and analysis that can be used to design an efficient electrification strategy targeting the community’s heating systems. This is especially important given the Nation’s reliance on wood.
Community Power also supported managing the construction of 7 duplex homes in Takla Landing; they were completed in early 2023. The following services were provided for that project, which was completed on time and on budget:
• Pre-construction preparation
• Construction team setup
• Stakeholder management
• Financial and progress tracking systems setup
• Project management
• Construction management
• Executive and funder reporting
• Quality assurance and inspections
A Multi-Year Housing Upgrade Plan (MYHUP) was also developed by Community Power over the course of 2 years. All homes in the community were assessed for component deficiencies, energy saving opportunities, and health and safety hazards. Recommendations for repairs and upgrades included a detailed cost estimate, which provided the Nation with the information needed to secure $1.6M in funding for improvements in 23 community homes. In partnership with the Nation, Wildland Development (Takla’s local construction company), and the established trade partners, Community Power is currently leading the management of that housing improvement project, which is set to be completed in early 2024.
Takla Nation is also in the process of constructing 10 additional homes with funding acquired from CMHC’s Rapid Housing Initiative for the second year in a row. Community Power supported the Nation in securing the funding, and in partnership with Wildland Development, is currently helping to manage construction.
