At JEN COL, we demonstrate what it means to truly partner with Indigenous leaders in building community hubs like recreation centres, schools, municipal facilities, office buildings and other quality structures.

We understand that partnering with Indigenous communities means engaging in a collaborative process that respects and incorporates the values, traditions and needs of your communities. It involves more than just consultation; it’s about establishing a relationship based on mutual respect, open communication and shared decision-making. Such a partnership recognizes the sovereignty and rights of Indigenous peoples, ensuring you have a significant role in planning and executing projects that affect your lands and your lives. It also means providing economic opportunities, such as employment and training, to community members, and ensuring that the projects align with the community’s long-term vision for development and sustainability.

This approach leads to more successful and meaningful outcomes for both JEN COL and your community, fostering a sense of ownership and pride in the completed projects… have a look.

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Committed to Delivering Multi-Generational Benefits

What does it mean to JEN COL to be a true partner with our Indigenous clients?

At the heart of JEN COL‘s ethos is a profound commitment to fostering enduring, multi-generational benefits for Indigenous communities. We recognize that our work is not just about erecting structures, but about laying the foundations for a future where these communities can thrive. Our approach is collaborative, ensuring Indigenous voices are not only heard but are integral to the planning and execution of projects.

It means we are committed to:

  • Patiently training and apprenticing a new generation of builders and tradespeople to be part of a productive workforce, long after our project is completed;
  • Investing in long-term careers, while collaborating win-win with Indigenous-owned businesses;
  • Providing local employment and education initiatives, aiming to empower individuals with skills that will serve them for a lifetime; and
  • Seeking to utilize Nation-owned equipment whenever appropriate to construct effectively and resourcefully—together.

Our promise is to build not just with bricks and mortar, but with a vision for prosperity and respect that spans generations.

Managing Logistics and Constraints

Building for First Nations clients can often mean working in remote communities with limited access, seasonal challenges and other unique constraints. At JEN COL, we embrace these challenges and seek to overcome them while staying on schedule and on budget through strong partnerships, expert planning, and very nimble project management.

We are happy to share examples of how we’ve achieved noteworthy successes through a multitude of challenges—and how we will bring the same elevated level of commitment and creative thinking to your project.

Sustainable Construction for First Nations Communities

Indigenous communities are inextricably connected to the land, and project stakeholders are often deeply concerned about minimizing environmental impacts.

When your project’s requirements include sustainable building requirements such as LEED or Green Globes, JEN COL has the expertise you need. Our experienced teams and project-proven sustainable construction partners bring fresh ideas for techniques like rainwater and heat capture and recycling, while employing detailed scheduling, cost control strategies and management processes to deliver dependability, transparency—and the quality JEN COL stands for in every finished product.

Furthermore, we are dedicated to preserving and respecting the cultural heritage and environmental sanctity of the lands we work on. By integrating sustainable practices and materials, we strive to minimize our ecological footprint and ensure that the natural resources remain unspoiled for future generations.

Honouring Your Culture and Traditions

We recognize the importance of having meaningful dialogue to ensure your culture and traditions are honoured alongside our efforts toward community employment and career development.

Photo of man in business attireOur Indigenous Partner Brent Boisvert is a senior member of the JEN COL Project Team for all our Indigenous assignments. A Treaty 8 Grassroots member of the Bigstone Cree Nation, Brent provides awareness and mentorship to our team on Indigenous cultural protocols while advancing our understanding of meaningful reconciliation efforts.

Honouring your culture and traditions are cornerstones of our commitment to nurturing meaningful relationships built on trust, respect and honesty.

Promise, Delivered.

Through each and every interaction with JEN COL you can expect:

  • A respectful partnership that acknowledges and incorporates your unique perspectives and values
  • Transparency and open communication, fostering an environment of mutual trust and collaboration
  • Adherence to the principles of the Canadian Construction Association’s Indigenous Engagement Guide, which emphasizes the importance of building reciprocal relationships and engaging in community development for long-term success

JEN COL is committed to meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, ensuring your voices are heard and considered in every phase of the construction process. Our projects are approached with a deep respect for the land and cultural heritage, integrating sustainable practices and acknowledging traditional territories and environmental stewardship. Our goal is to ensure that our Indigenous partners feel valued, respected and an integral part of the construction projects that impact their communities.

Tell us about your project

Related Builds

Onchaminahos Elementary School Exterior.

Onchaminahos Elementary School

Saddle Lake, Alberta

 - in Educational

Fort McMurray 468 Community Building.

Fort McMurray 468 Community Building

Fort McMurray, Alberta

 - in Indigenous

Chateh Community School interior

History of success with Indigenous partners.

A True Indigenous Construction Partner

 - in Indigenous

The Planning and
Pricing experts

You won’t likely encounter anyone in your construction journey who is more experienced and adept than JEN COL at bringing your needs and expectations together through the lens of what you can reasonably afford. The earlier you talk to us, the better we are able to help you fully achieve your vision—on your budget.

See our What It Costs page to fully understand what we mean.

We also build in BC: BC First Nations Commercial Contruction