T’Sou-ke Territory, Sooke, BC – T’Sou-ke elders, council, staff, and community members, along with dignitaries and project supporters gathered on Monday, September 15, 2025, to celebrate the official grand opening of the T’Sou-ke SKÁ¸PEȽ I¸SOT ÁLEṈ (T’Sou-ke Community Complex and Health Centre), a 12,352 square-foot, $14-million building designed by Urban Arts Architecture, bringing to life a community vision decades in the making.
The T’Sou-ke Community Complex & Health Centre (CCHC), or the T’Sou-ke SKÁ¸PEȽ I¸SOT ÁLEṈ in SENĆOŦEN language, is a transformative facility developed through the Nation’s 25-Year Comprehensive Community Plan which was shaped by the voices of community members and guided by the wisdom of the late Jim Cooper, whose vision for the CHCC becomes a legacy. The building supports health, governance, culture, and community connection.
“This building represents the collective vision and determination of our people,” says Chief Lawrence Underwood. “It is a place for our community to gather, celebrate our culture, and receive the care and services we need. This important milestone honours our past and supports a strong future for generations to come.”
The CCHC serves as a cornerstone for community life with a spacious hall for large gatherings and community events, a fully equipped kitchen for providing meals and training opportunities, and several meeting and community rooms to conduct business and host community activities. The building is home to the Nation’s administration, children and families, health, and lands and environment departments. A key highlight of the CCHC features brand new doctors’ offices and laboratory and medical equipment required to provide holistic health services to T’Sou-ke community members. It provides a well-equipped space to deliver programs to address the physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs of the community. Outside, a bioswale connects the building to land and is used as a form of stormwater management to reduce water velocity, prevent erosion, and absorb pollutants from the water.
“The CCHC is more than a building, it’s a space that leadership and staff, past and present, imagined and designed for our community,” says Administrator Michelle Thut. “Our leadership and staff worked hard to bring it to life. With the majority of our departments under one roof, we can now serve our members in a way that’s more connected, holistic, and reflective of who we are as T’Sou-ke people.”
The development of the Community Complex and Health Centre was made possible by project funding from several bodies including the First Nation Health Authority (FNHA), the First Nations Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF), the First Peoples’ Heritage Language & Culture Council (FPHLCC), Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation (ICIP-CCR), and the Natural Infrastructure Fund (NIF). T’Sou-ke Nation also received support from donors including Prestige Oceanfront Resort and Woodward & Company LLP.
“The First Nations Health Authority is honoured to walk alongside T’Sou-ke First Nation in celebrating the opening of this beautiful Community Complex and Health Centre,” says Brennan MacDonald, Vice President of Regional Operations, Vancouver Island Region, First Nations Health Authority. “Guided by community, it brings health, culture, governance, and connection under one roof. We are proud to partner in this journey, and we know this space will continue to inspire wellness and pride for generations to come.”
The grand opening event was marked by cultural ceremony and art unveilings, followed by guided building tours and a shared meal. Included in the art unveilings was a beautiful butterfly-themed tile mosaic by T’Sou-ke artist Shelley Davies, created with the help of more than 20 T’Sou-ke youth. The artwork reflects their many cultural teachings and the bright potential of future generations. Also included in the unveilings was the Welcome Figure named ‘W̱NENÍEṈES’, meaning ‘smiling’ in SENĆOŦEN. The Welcome Figure project was initiated by the late Linda Bristol as part of the T’Sou-ke Arts Group and was funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. Two T’Sou-ke youth artists, Jordan Hill and Natassia Davies, participated in the carving of the figure under the mentorship of Master Carver Carey Newman and Assistant Carver Tejas Collison. Also unveiled was a dedication bench for the late Jim Cooper, whose strength and spirit shaped the path forward.
“The new T’Sou-ke Community Complex and Health Centre will make a lasting positive impact for the T’Sou-ke Community,” said the Honourable Stephanie McLean, Secretary of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke. “Our government is proud to support T’Sou-ke First Nation and First Nations across the country in community-driven projects that support culture, health and well-being.”
The Community Complex and Health Centre stands as a powerful testament to the T’Sou-ke Nation’s strength, resilience, and vision. It will serve not only as a place for governance and health, but also as a vibrant heart of culture, learning, and connection for generations to come.
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Media Contact:
Natassia Davies
Communications Coordinator, T’Sou-ke Nation
communications@tsoukenation.com
250-642-3957 ext. 224
