Council of Yukon First Nations Family Preservation and Wellness Centre Receives PIBC Gold Award for Excellence in Planning Practice

Penticton, BC — June 04, 2026 — The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) has received the Gold Award for Excellence in Planning Practice – Small Community & Rural Areas from the Planning Institute of British Columbia (PIBC) for the Family Preservation and Wellness Centre (FPWC) in Whitehorse. The award was presented at the 2026 PIBC Annual Conference Gala Dinner & Awards Presentation.

The Family Preservation and Wellness Centre is a first-of-its-kind Yukon First Nations and Indigenous-led shelter in the Yukon, providing culturally-safe emergency housing and wraparound supports for women and children fleeing violence and at risk of homelessness.

 “With CYFN leading this work, the project was shaped by a deep understanding of community need from the beginning,” said Elizabeth FitzZaland, Director, CitySpaces. “It shows how planning can move from evidence and engagement into a built outcome when that clarity is carried through. We were honoured to support CYFN throughout.”

The Centre originated from a comprehensive Needs and Gaps Assessment led by CYFN, supported by CitySpaces Consulting. This work identified severe shortages in supports for Indigenous women and children escaping violence and confirmed the absence of any Yukon First Nation-led shelter in the territory.

From this foundation, the project advanced through land acquisition, funding approvals, design, and construction. Completed in early 2025, the Centre provides 15 units (32 beds) of short-term emergency housing, with dedicated low- and high-barrier areas to accommodate varying needs. The Centre also includes a shared kitchen and communal dining space, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, a cultural room, wet workshop, and other program areas that support healing and community.

The Centre directly responds to Yukon First Nations-identified needs, illustrating the impact of focused Indigenous-led planning that transforms evidence, interest-holder engagement, and strategic vision into real world solutions.

A key component of the project’s impact was its approach to procurement and workforce development.

During construction, CYFN drew on the Yukon First Nations Procurement Strategy, a Yukon Government policy co‑developed with all 14 First Nations. Elements of the strategy were adapted and applied to position the project as a catalyst for diversifying the construction sector and expanding access to employment, training, business participation, and ownership opportunities. A joint Yukon First Nations-led venture, Ketza-Walker, was formed to respond to the Construction Management RFP.

Through this approach, the project generated over $1.08 million in wages for Yukon First Nations workers and directed more than $3.66 million to Yukon First Nations-owned businesses, contributing to both immediate economic participation and longer-term community capacity building.

CitySpaces Consulting supported CYFN as a planning and development partner throughout the project, serving as Owner’s Representative from early feasibility and needs assessment through to delivery.

Kobayashi + Zedda Architects served as the project architect; Connective Support Society provided operational consultation; Ketza-Walker (a joint venture of Ketza Construction Group and Walker Homes) served as construction manager.

About CitySpaces
CitySpaces is a leading provider of development consulting and community planning services in communities throughout Western Canada and the North. Founded in 1985, we are committed to ‘building lasting, livable, and inclusive communities’ with an enduring emphasis on social sustainability.

Read our Family Preservation and Wellness Centre project profile here.