Economic Development in Waywayseecappo Begins with Steel Design

Vibrant and strong communities are built by the hands, hearts and minds of those living within it. Often paired with that is the vision of wise community leaders looking for the future interests of their people. It’s a long process requiring the investment of human, material and spiritual efforts focused on common goals to create opportunities. The belief in enriching the lives of an entire people is central to what turns a group of people living close to each other into a shared community.

Located 30 kilometers east of Russell, Manitoba, Waywayseecappo First Nation Reserve is a community of slightly more than 3,100 people close to Stony Lake, surrounded by pristine landscapes and beautiful waterways. The land is dotted with homes, a community school, daycare, food mart, health centre and the poplar community arena complex that’s home to MJHL hockey team, the Wolverines. Aside from the sound of slapshots and referee whistles, the echoes of welding and hammering indicate something new for the area. Progress coming to the area in the shape of a new community building project is loud and clear.

The new building consists of two portions that are designed to accommodate Indigenous groups needing large indoor gathering space. The first single-storey section is a 17,000-square-foot conference area that will accommodate 300 people, featuring amenities such as a kitchen, canteen and video lottery terminal (VLT) lounge. Beside it is a first-floor space to be used by Manitoba Indigenous Police. A second-storey portion of 8,600 square feet will be occupied by child/family services. Chief Clearsky believes the building could also host a medical clinic or housing units in the future.

The building’s exterior, designed and manufactured by U-Build Steel Buildings, will be “covered in a floral beading and quilt work pattern to pay tribute to Anishinaabe culture, with the main entrance aligning with the Ojibwe tradition by facing east.”

The community centre construction project is a shared collaboration of technical partners. As the main builder, Double Black Construction is working closely with ADVA Marketing and Consulting Inc., a family business operated by Anne and Bill Robb, along with their sons, Devon and Shane Robb that specializes in fuel dispensing systems and commercial construction management. Among the local Waywayseecappo businesses they developed is The Waywayseecappo Gas Bar that opened in July 2020 and a 14,000-square-foot state-of-the-art grocery store (Wayway Food Mart) completed in 2022.

U-Build Steel Buildings manufactured the steel structural components while by Samson Engineering provided the engineering. Read more about how Double Black Construction collaborates with architects and engineers. 

Double Black Construction’s team of skilled tradespeople has extensive experience working with a variety of building manufacturers as an authorized builder and general contractor. The Waywayseecappo community centre is the second significant building project in Manitoba for the company and their team in the last two years. Their previous work was completing two large soundstages for Winnipeg’s Big Sky Studios.

Check out the project profile and construction gallery:

• Big Sky Studios profile.
• Big Sky Studios gallery.
• "Lights, Camera, Action" article.

Construction is well underway since the sod-turning ceremony in May. The concrete foundation has already been finished and steel framing is approaching completion. The project is expected to be open to the public by late 2024.

For more information about Double Black Construction and the work we’ve done, please visit our project portfolio. Contact John Lohan and his team at Double Black Construction online or speak with us at (833) 322-2722 or reach Double Black Construction online and we’ll provide you with a free consultation, quote and preliminary drawings.

The family business is operated by Anne and Bill Robb, along with their sons, Devon and Shane Robb and specializes in fuel dispensing systems, which could be as simple as a tank and dispenser, or as elaborate as a turn-key operation from the ground up, including c-stores, canopies, signs, paving and landscaping. ADVA Marketing and Consulting turns your vision into reality. Visit them at: advamarketing.ca.

John Lohan has over 15 years of experience designing, engineering and installing over 500 metal buildings for architects and clients across North America and the globe. He’s managed all aspects of steel building construction, including material logistics and managing local and foreign construction teams. John also has special expertise in concrete foundation and excavation. He can be contacted at Double Black Construction at (833) 322-2722, by email at john@DoubleBlackConstruction.com or on LinkedIn.