Bringing Indigenous elder care to the Victor Lake community
For generations, the Indigenous community near Grande Cache, Alberta have experienced multiple displacements and limited access to essential services due to historical government policies, resource development pressures and geographic isolation. After hearing about an Elder living alone without running water or reliable heat, The Evergreens Foundation and Victor Lake Co-operative community leaders united with our project management team to create the Kikinow Elders Lodge – a supportive living environment where Indigenous Elders can age with dignity and remain connected to their culture, families and traditions.
Named after the Cree word for ‘our home’, Kikinow Elders Lodge reflects the values and traditions of the community it serves. Arc Studio joined forces with Indigenous architecture firm Number TEN, designed the 17, 211 sq. ft. facility to support storytelling, knowledge sharing and intergenerational connection. It includes a tipi-inspired gathering space, traditional food preparation areas and welcoming community spaces where families can come together.
The lodge’s circular layout overlooks the mountains across the river valley, ensuring every resident remains connected to the trees, mountains and sky that have long shaped local community life. More than a supportive living facility, Kikinow Elders Lodge serves as a community hub where Elders can continue sharing their stories, traditions and cultural knowledge with future generations while also receiving the care and support they need.
The Kikinow Elders Lodge became a catalyst for broader community improvements, bringing upgraded road access for emergency services, expanded water infrastructure and additional utilities into the valley. The project also created local employment opportunities and helped strengthen connections across neighbouring Indigenous communities.
Quick Facts
Kikinow Elders Lodge is a culturally appropriate Indigenous supportive living facility that enables Elders to age in place and stay connected to their families, traditions and community.
Seven years of collaborative planning and project management transformed a community vision into a long-lasting Indigenous Elder care and infrastructure initiative.
Beyond supportive living, the Kikinow Elders Lodge project brought improved road access, expanded water infrastructure and utility upgrades to the Victor Lake community.
Leading collaboration to deliver long-lasting community assets
The Evergreens Foundation engaged our project management team before the Kikinow Elders Lodge entered design and construction. Because the project did not exist as part of an established capital program, our team helped define the program, coordinate funding efforts, and create a roadmap that transformed the community’s vision into a viable project.
Working alongside Indigenous community leaders, government organizations and the client team, we led pre-planning and project management services over seven years. During that time, we helped navigate a complex funding environment, evolving project requirements and the logistical challenges of delivering infrastructure in a remote mountain community.
As the project evolved, so did its impact. What began as a supportive living facility expanded to include improved road access for emergency services, new water infrastructure and utility upgrades that will strengthen the broader Victor Lake community for generations. Throughout planning, design and construction, we maintained momentum, coordinated project activities and helped align decision-making among project collaborators.
We joined The Evergreen Foundation and the local community to celebrate the lodge’s grand opening in June 2026. Today, Kikinow Elders Lodge stands as more than a supportive living facility. It reflects years of collaboration, perseverance and thoughtful planning that transformed a need for Indigenous Elder care into a lasting community asset.
