Notice of intent to make a determination

Kingfisher Lake First Nation K4-10 School – Public Comments Invited

June 06, 2021 – Indigenous Services Canada must determine whether the proposed Kingfisher Lake First Nation K4-10 School, located in Kingfisher Lake First Nation / Reserve No.1 is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. To help inform this determination, Indigenous Services Canada is inviting comments from the public respecting that determination.

Written comments must be submitted by [deadline for receipt of comments July 06, 2021 to:

Aaron Pervais

Environmental Officer

Indigenous Services Canada

aaron.pervais2@canada.ca

The Proposed Project

Kingfisher Lake First Nation is located on the southwest shore of Kingfisher Lake, approximately 350 km northeast of Sioux Lookout, Ontario (Appendix A, Figure 1). The community is accessible by air and winter road and has a total registered population of 629 with 561 members living on-reserve (INAC, 2019). The community school (Mary Ann Aganash School) was built in 1971 and is reported to be in "poor condition with a limited remaining lifespan", to have health and safety issues, and to be currently over-capacity (Architecture 49, 2019). The project includes the development of a 4.8 ha greenfield site for a new school, located on the north side of Church Road (also known as "Airport Road") approximately 300 m west of the main community townsite. The project includes the construction of a new K4-10 school building (2,446 m2), gravel parking lot (25 stall) and bus loop drop off, outdoor play area and play structure, volleyball court, heated warehouse, and baseball diamond/soccer field (Appendix A, Figure 2). The project includes site development (clearing, grubbing, grading, and landscaping) along with site servicing including power, telecommunications, water, and wastewater services. Directly across Church Road from the new school site, will be the site for the development of 6 teacherage buildings (875 m2 total) in a new greenfield area (Appendix A, Figure 2) including duplexes and bungalows, gravel parking areas, and access road. The teacherage units will be serviced by the same infrastructure as the school building.

References:

Architecture 49. 2019. Kingfisher Lake First Nation School Pre-Design Study. Final Report. Winnipeg, MB.

INAC (Indigenous and Northern Relations Canada). 2019. First Nation Profiles: Kingfisher. Available online at:https://fnp-ppn.aadnc aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/FNRegPopulation.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=212&lang=eng.