After listening to Indigenous nations about their concerns and priorities, Cenovus created the Indigenous Housing Initiative, the largest community investment in the company’s history. This initiative addresses the pressing issue of inadequate housing faced by many Indigenous communities in Canada, where overcrowded and unsafe living conditions are prevalent.
Launched in January 2020, the programme has invested more than CAD 40 million to fund the construction of over 160 homes across six First Nations and Métis communities closest to Cenovus’s Foster Creek and Christina Lake oil sands operations. The participating communities are:
- Beaver Lake Cree Nation
- Chard Métis Nation
- Chipewyan Prairie Dene First Nation
- Cold Lake First Nations
- Conklin Métis (Local 193)
- Heart Lake First Nation
The initiative aims to improve housing conditions, reduce housing shortages, and provide homes to families in need. In addition to providing financial support for housing, Cenovus also offers expertise, including negotiating supply rates and lending technical knowledge from their own construction projects.
