Innovative Housing Solutions for Sts’ailes Nation

The Sts’ailes Nation, located along the Harrison River between Deroche and Agassiz in British Columbia, is a proud and growing Indigenous community with over 1,000 registered members. Facing a critical housing shortage, Nation leadership partnered with Renewal Development and Nickel Bros to explore sustainable, climate-responsible alternatives to new construction.

Together, the team identified four nearly-new homes in Coquitlam, BC - built in 2016 and originally slated for demolition due to redevelopment - as ideal candidates for relocation and reuse. Through a multi-phase operation beginning in spring 2024, the homes were carefully lifted, transported more than 150 kilometres by road and river, and placed on new foundations in the Sts’ailes community.

Before transport, Renewal salvaged high-quality materials from each home’s lower level, ready to be reused at their destination location. Once delivered, the homes were further modernized with help from local contractors and community members. Each home also features a custom, handcrafted wooden plaque to commemorate their relocation journey and honour the partnerships that made the project possible.

The four homes were move-in ready for Sts’ailes Nation members by May 2025, providing affordable, low-carbon, and long-lasting rental housing. For some families, the homes represent stability and opportunity after years of housing insecurity. As Sts’ailes Nation member Bonita Williams shared, “It’s the pricing of housing that nobody can afford. Our basement suite [in Mission] was three times the amount of this house for us. This is amazing for us. It gives us the confidence to get up and, you know, build other things for our family, instead of worrying about just rent.”

By repurposing rather than demolishing, this project preserved over 6,000 SQFT of embodied carbon, prevented an estimated 100+ tonnes of construction waste from entering landfills, and avoided hundreds of tonnes of embodied CO₂ emissions associated with demolition and rebuilding. This initiative highlights circular economy principles, reimagining waste as opportunity, and pairing environmental responsibility with social impact.

“This project is a powerful example of what’s possible when we rethink waste and work in true partnership with Indigenous communities. These homes were nearly new - slated for demolition, but still full of life. Now, they’ve been given purpose in a community that needs them, and that’s exactly what Renewal exists to do. We’re proud to have played a role in supporting the Sts’ailes Nation’s vision for sustainable, community-driven housing.”

—Glyn Lewis, Founder & CEO, Renewal Development

For the families beginning new chapters in these relocated homes, the impact has been deeply personal. Randi-lee Charlie, Sts’ailes Nation member in one of the relocated Renewal homes, shared, “I thought it was very important for me to bring my children home and really show them the family connections that I never had growing up.”

Another community member, William Paul, reflected on what it meant to return to Sts’ailes Nation: “I grew up here, this is my community. I think it’s great for our children to grow up here as well. Safety is a big concern for my children, and here, I don’t have to worry about their safety. It’s just great to be back home.”

This project is a living demonstration of how respectful partnerships and innovative thinking can address urgent housing needs while honouring the land, community, and future generations.

Renewal Development thanks the Sts’ailes Nation for their partnership and leadership. Special acknowledgement goes to everyone who contributed to bringing these homes to life, including Nickel Bros, West Fraser Development, IKEA Canada, Landshark’s Amos Grime, and the many local contractors and community members whose craftsmanship and care made the project possible.

At Renewal Development, every project is part of a bigger movement. Explore our Renewal Homes to see available rescued homes, learn about Renewal Removal for responsible demolition and salvage services, or visit our Advocacy section to discover how we're shifting the conversation around waste, housing, and sustainability in the built environment.