Ontario Construction News staff writer
Songhees Development Corporation, Esquimalt Nation and construction company Pomerleau have formed a new majority Indigenous-owned partnership to pursue infrastructure projects in Greater Victoria, with an initial focus on defence work.
The new company, Group of 3 Ventures Limited Partnership (G3V), combines the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations’ knowledge of the local community and territory with Pomerleau’s experience delivering major civil and infrastructure projects across Canada.
G3V’s first opportunity is the environmental remediation portion of the Department of National Defence’s A Jetty Project in Esquimalt, B.C., which is being delivered in collaboration with Defence Construction Canada.
The partners say the company will also pursue other infrastructure projects throughout Lekwungen Territory, with defence infrastructure expected to be an early area of growth.
Under the partnership, Songhees Development Corporation and Esquimalt Nation will provide local leadership, relationships and community knowledge, while Pomerleau will contribute construction management expertise and technical resources.
“At Pomerleau, we believe the strongest projects are built on the strongest partnerships. G3V is a reflection of that belief: a venture rooted in First Nation leadership, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the communities we serve,” said Daniel Lessard, senior vice-president, Civil and Infrastructure, West, at Pomerleau. “We are honoured to work alongside Songhees and Esquimalt communities as we build something meaningful and lasting together in Lekwungen territory.”
The partnership takes its name from the Lekwungen word for “a group of three people,” reflecting the three founding partners.
“Through G3V, we have established a partnership that ensures Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation have a meaningful role in infrastructure projects taking place in Lekwungen territory,” said Chief Jerome Thomas of Esquimalt Nation. “This partnership creates durable economic opportunities for Esquimalt Nation while enabling the delivery of projects with the expertise, experience, and capability required for complex infrastructure development.”
Partners say G3V is intended to create long-term economic opportunities for the two Nations while delivering infrastructure projects in Lekwungen Territory.
