Local partners gathered Friday morning to officially break ground at the corner of Ford Road and Drinkwater Road at the location for the new North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP facility.
Construction on the integrated facility, which will bring Forensic Identification Services, South Island Traffic, Indigenous Policing, and Municipal and Provincial officers together under one roof, is expected to begin early next year. The target for the completion of construction is the fall of 2022.
Many of the materials to be used in the construction are innovative, such as mass timber. The facility will be built with specific energy consumption targets.
“I am so pleased to be here today celebrating this milestone, as getting to this point has been years in the making,” stated North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring. “A project of this scope involves numerous partners, whom I’m excited to celebrate with today, and I want to thank everyone involved for their dedication and commitment in getting this project off the ground.”
“This is an exciting day for myself and my colleagues,” said Inspector Chris Bear, detachment commander for the North Cowichan-Duncan RCMP. “We have long outgrown our current space, and with the many advancements in law enforcement over the last 40 years, this new building will meet the needs of a contemporary policing model, accommodating the enhanced operations and necessary policing technologies to provide enhanced public safety.”
The total estimated budget for the project is $49.03 million, with the Municipality funding 40 per cent of the total cost and the RCMP the remaining 60 per cent.
A feasibility study is currently being conducted, with the help of funding from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Council has not yet made a decision on potential future uses for the old RCMP building and land, but will be taking matters into consideration at future meetings.