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 Development salvaged high-quality materials from each home’s lower level - appliances, cabinets, windows - to support the rebuild on-site. Once delivered, the homes were fully modernized and finished through the collaborative efforts of local contractors and community members.

Completed in May 2025, the homes are now ready for Nation members to move in - providing much-needed rental housing that is affordable, low-carbon, and built to last.

By repurposing rather than demolishing, the project preserved the embodied carbon of over 6,000 SQFT of modern construction, preventing an estimated 100+ tonnes of construction waste from entering landfills and avoiding hundreds of tonnes of CO₂ emissions associated with demolition and rebuilding. This initiative exemplifies 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

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.

Thank you to our project partners: the Sts’ailes Nation, West Fraser Development, and to IKEA Canada.

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.