Words by Cara McKenna. Photos by Kama Sood.

A key and long-awaited piece of infrastructure is now in place at Tsawwassen First Nation that will allow the community to move forward on major development plans.

The nation’s $27 million sewage treatment plant is now up and running, after its recent official grand opening.

Tsawwassen youth helped the chief unveil a grand opening commemorative plaque

The new facility took two years to complete. It paves the way for Tsawwassen’s next phase of development – massive industrial, commercial and residential projects, including its mega-mall projects, a large industrial centre and thousands of new homes.

Chief Bryce Williams said in a statement that the infrastructure will help to secure the band’s long-term financial future.

“The completion of the new sewage treatment plant is a proud moment and reflects how far our community has come since signing the treaty in 2007,” he said. “It also paves the way for us to move forward with our development plans for Tsawwassen lands.”

Chief Bryce Williams, with hat, natural resources manager and member of the Legislature Laura Cassidy and
chief administrative officer Tom McCarthy got a tour of the facility

The nation chose to use UV light treatment for the facility, because it sterilizes waste without the use of chemicals. It also means the treated wastewater will be clean enough to be streamed into a nearby marshland.