The Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation and the Spelqweqs Development Corp have big plans for the old Norbord OSB Plant.
Closed in 2020 during the pandemic and sold to West Fraser, the Norbord/Ainsworth site has been vacant for the last few years. In mid-December last year West Fraser sold the property to Spelqweqs for an undisclosed price under its assessed value. The Spelqweqs Development Corp is a company empowered by Tsq̓éscen̓ to pursue business opportunities throughout their territory in areas including ranching, agriculture, forestry, real estate, tourism, pipelines and construction. In addition to acquiring the Norbord property Spelqweqs also manages Tenyie Logging Ltd and Cpelmétkwe Ranch (Bridge Creek Ranch) which borders the Norbord property.
“West Fraser has been terrific to deal with and very accommodating. We always knew where we wanted to get to and we were very fortunate everything closed as we had hoped,” Doug Webster, Spelqweqs’ CEO, said. “Now the hard work starts.”
With this purchase the company and through them the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation now own what Webster describes as a “wonderful package” of property. The purchase includes just under 200 acres of land and four major structures on the site. These buildings are the old OSB plant that’s around 200,000 square feet, a mechanic shop, a large storage building and the former Ainsworth OSB district office, fully equipped with offices, conference rooms and a kitchen.
Tsq̓éscen̓ Kukpi7 Helen Henderson said that she and council are excited to take ownership of Norbord. Henderson noted that they are always working diligently to increase the economic opportunities for her people.
“We are cognizant of the significant step this is towards reconciliation. Acquiring our lands back have always been a priority for us as we move toward self-government,” Henderson said. “Part of our reconciliation journey includes investing in opportunities that will provide positive direction and outcomes for the future of Tsq̓éscenemc including employment opportunities.”
Rather than re-open the OSB plant Webster said their plans for the site are to redevelop it into a business park. Work is already underway with the demolition of excess structures taking place over the next six weeks.
READ MORE: Norbord to permanently close 100 Mile Plant
“We envision that site as being a business park, of sorts, with a focus on food security and sovereignty while growing manufacturing. We’re looking for tenants, we’re not going to chop it up and sell it. We’re going to hold onto it for a long time,” Webster said. “We see it as a really strong opportunity to provide jobs for both band members as well as 100 Mile area residents.”
Webster said they plan to divide up the plant building so that numerous entities can move in and utilize the space. While some of these businesses will be owned by the Tsq̓éscen̓ First Nation, there will be spaces non-First Nations businesses can lease.
Arlene Gojevic, Webster’s executive assistant, said they plan to include a “food hub” of some kind in the old plant building. During the 2021 flooding and landslides that cut off 100 Mile House from the Lower Mainland, she noted that shopping for food, especially fresh food, became a challenge. That’s why Gojevic said they want to build a mushroom farm and vertical garden to increase the South Cariboo’s food sustainability.
“We’re looking at mushroom farming, not just the Cremini or White Button mushrooms, but also the Oyster and Lion’s Mane mushrooms, something that can generate a sustainable income,” Gojevic remarked, adding there’s even an emerging mushroom leather industry they could tap into.
Once the mushroom farm is up and running they’ll add in the vertical farming apparatus. Gojevic said that the two systems will be symbiotic with the mushrooms producing the carbon dioxide the crops need while they produce the oxygen mushrooms need.
“We’re not sure what the crops will be (we’re leaning towards) berries or something that is more lucrative and you don’t get in the wintertime unless it comes from California,” Gojevic said. “We’re trying to lower our carbon footprint and grow stuff here year round.”
If they’re able to find someone experienced in mycology, find some workers and buy some readily available pieces of equipment they could get the mushroom farm running by this fall, Gojevic asserted. The vertical farm is a more expensive endeavor and likely wouldn’t be implemented until at least 2025.
Gojevic said the office building would make an amazing R&D facility or a potential satellite campus for the University of B.C. or the College of New Caledonia. While neither institution has committed, talks are still ongoing with them.
“I’d like to see something where we could keep more of the young people here, as opposed to them going to Kamloops, Prince George or the Coast for their education,” Gojevic explained. “I find that when the youngsters leave and experience the big city, they don’t come back.”
Looking to the future, Webster said there is a chance they may build new structures on the excess land, though such projects are years out. He plans to work closely with the District of 100 Mile House on rezoning the property to a mixture of commercial and light industrial.
READ MORE: 100 Mile House ready for reconciliaction
“I think it will be a decade-long build-out, for sure,” Webster said. “There are services we need to worry about out there for any potential development and tenants, but we’re working on all that now.”
Over the next year, Webster and Spelqweqs plan to hold some community engagement meetings with the town to see what ideas are out there. He encourages anyone with ideas or business proposals to reach out to him via 250-948-9993 or doug.webster@spelqweqs.ca. Webster said their goal is to not only benefit the area in the short term but also to ensure the prosperity of the generations to come.
“We’re not here to make a quick buck and get out. This is all long-term thinking and the visions we have reflect that,” Webster said. “We know the responsibility we have with this acquisition and we take that to heart. We’re going to be wonderful corporate partners for the community, we want everything to grow here and bring some jobs to the community. We want people coming back, not going away.”