File photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Aaron Schulze

Rebuilding Lytton

Funds allotted to rebuild new emergency services centre, Elders lodge in Lytton

Dec 19, 2025 | 4:59 PM

LYTTON, B.C. — Two major projects will use up the remaining funds from the $64 million the federal government allotted to help rebuild public buildings in the Village of Lytton. 

Earlier this week, the federal government announced $23.1 million will go toward a fire and emergency services centre to replace the former Lytton fire hall that was destroyed in the wildfire of June 2021. 

In a separate news release issued Friday (Dec. 19), the government announced $14.9 million will support the construction of a new Elders lodge. It will be built at the site of the former Chief Spintlum Elders Lodge. 

The announcements come nearly 10 months after the federal government announced $25.9 million would go towards the construction of a new community hub. 

In June 2022, nearly one year after a wildfire ripped through the Village of Lytton and destroyed 90 per cent of its structures, former International Development Minister Harjit Sajjan announced $77 million in federal funding would help rebuild the village into a fire-resistant and energy-efficient community. 

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Of that $77 million, $64 million would be used to help rebuild public buildings; $6 million was set aside for residents to bring their homes up to the same standards, while small- and medium-sized businesses would get $7.2 million to help them restart. 

The federal government says the new fire and emergency services centre will provide storage for firefighting apparatus and gear and a mobile trailer to be used in emergencies. It will also feature a training facility, a double height garage with three bays to house fire trucks and rescue vehicles and an Emergency Operations Centre. 

“The Village of Lytton is thankful for the federal government’s commitment to rebuilding infrastructure lost in the 2021 fire,” said Lytton Mayor Denise O’Connor. “The new fire and emergency services building will strengthen the Lytton Fire and Rescue’s ability to train volunteers and respond to fires and motor vehicle incidents in the Lytton area. The facility’s Emergency Operations Centre will allow the Village to effectively coordinate emergency responses and to support community members in the event of large-scale emergencies.” 

The new Elders lodge will feature six assisted living units and seven independent assisted Elder living units, providing culturally appropriate care and wellness. It will support members of Lytton First Nation, Skuppah Indian Band, Siska Indian Band, Nicomen Indian Band and Cook’s Ferry Indian Band. 

“Spintlum Lodge was a staple for the communities as it helped those Elders stay in community,” said Kanaka Bar Indian Band Chief Jordan Spinks. “Kanaka Bar Band will continue to build on our goal as being self-sufficient ensuring that with the Spintlum Lodge build there will be renewable energy and battery storage to help provide our elders with the proper shelter against all that climate change has to offer within our territory.” 

Elsewhere, it was announced that $7.5 million will go towards upgrading the Lytton Wastewater Treatment Plant by replacing damaged and failing infrastructure following the 2021 wildfire. It will feature management and monitoring system, a back-up power supply and treatment upgrades. 

Just over $3 million of the Lytton Wastewater Treatment Plant’s price tag will be provided by the federal government, while the B.C. government will provide nearly $2.5 million and the Village will cover $2 million.