1st look at plan for Kapyong Barracks site shows sports facility, convention centre, museum

A redeveloped Kapyong Barracks may include a sports facility, hotel,convention centre,war museum and an Indigenous hospice, a new drawing of the site reveals.

The rendering shows the abandoned military base could also house numerous commercial and residential complexes andgas bars.

The seven Treaty 1 First Nations taking over the site revealed a vision for theurban reserve on Friday at the Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce gala dinner in Winnipeg.

The new ownership group reachedan agreement in principle this Aprilto acquire the propertyfrom Ottawa, after aprotracted legal stalemate over the future of the former military base.

"I believe it's a true blessing," Long Plain First Nation Chief DennisMeechessaid.

Public consultations over the next several months will inform theFirst Nations' plans for their part of the coveted real estate nestled between the affluent Tuxedo and River Heights residential areas, Meeches said.

The rest of the property, owned by Canada Lands Co., a Crown corporation, may focus on medium- and low-density residential development, the rendering suggests.

The neglected property became an eyesore during the decade-long a legal battle betweenthefederal government, which planned to sell the land, and several First Nations, which claimedtreaty rights to the property. The court case was abandoned by the Stephen Harper government in 2015.

The initial renderingshowsa dozen commercial buildings liningthe west end of Kenaston.

Event-hosting facilities

The first phase of development, around the Kenaston and Taylor Avenue intersection, may consist of a sports facility, hotel, convention centre and gas bar, the initial drawing suggests. Other recreational amenities include a running track and two baseball diamonds.

Real estate would also be set aside northeast of the intersectionfor commercialand medium-density residential buildings.

Meechessaid he wants the site to obtain reserve status andsome form of development by Aug. 3, 2021,which is the150thanniversary of Treaty 1, but he stressed little construction wouldbe complete by then.

"The development of Kapyongwill take a very, very long time, probably 10 to 20 years," Meeches said. "We're slowly going to see a staging of businesses, commercial activity there, and housing."

Meeches said he's excited about building an Indigenous war museum at thebarracks to acknowledge the site's former purpose and the role of Indigenous people in Canada's military efforts.

He believes the museum would be the first of its kind.

There's a large demand for a hotel and a convention centre, Meeches said. He hopes they will attractmajor events to theurban reserve.

Demolition of Kapyong Barracks

6 years ago

Duration 2:39

The long-awaited demolition of the former Kapyong Barracks in Winnipeg has begun.

The idea to build an Indigenous hospice wasfirst floated by retired Manitoba senatorSharon Carstairs, a longtime advocate of palliative care, Meeches said.

"Hopefully we'll be able to see that also come to fruition,' he said.

Kapyong was mostly abandoned in 2004, when the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry moved from the military barracksto the Canadian Forces Base in Shilo, Man.