Indigenous Peoples Experience Wins ULI Americas Award

nFusion is proud of our partners at Fort Edmonton Park and the City of Edmonton for winning the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Americas Award for Excellence for the Indigenous Peoples Experience.

About ULI

ULI began the Awards for Excellence program in 1979 to recognize truly superior development efforts in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Today the real estate and

land use industry widely recognizes the ULI Global Awards for Excellence as one of its most prestigious awards programs.

About the Indigenous Peoples Experience

The Indigenous Peoples Experience was developed through integration with Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation (MOU) Partners, the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, and the Métis Nation of Alberta, alongside Elders and community members. The City of Edmonton remains committed to building long-term relationships with Indigenous Peoples, and through this project recognizes the power of embracing equitable engagement and integration throughout all stages of project development. These are areas that made this project stand out from other shortlisted nominees.

“We are delighted the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park has received the prestigious Urban Land Institute Americas Awards for Excellence,” said Darren Dalgleish, President and CEO of Fort Edmonton Management Company. “To be recognized for this incredible project alongside our MOU partners, the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations and the Métis Nation of Alberta Region Four is a testament to the work of many amazing collaborators. They include the City of Edmonton, Stantec, Clark Builders, Nassal-nFusion, Hidden Story Productions, and all of the Elders, knowledge keepers, storytellers, artisans, volunteers, and staff who brought this incredible experience to life.”

“This experience is the first of its kind in Canada and arguably the most relevant,” said Dalgleish. The Indigenous Peoples Experience explores the rich cultures of local First Nations and Métis Peoples while encouraging guests to seek out truths lived by Indigenous Peoples before and after European contact. This opportunity to showcase Indigenous culture and history comes at a critical time in Canada’s efforts to reconcile with Indigenous Peoples.

The Development Process

Stantec was appointed the portfolio project manager, representing the project owner to manage the design and construction of the Fort Edmonton Park expansion project portfolio. Stantec also performed work as the local Architect of Record under Nassal-nFusion, who was the Prime Consultant for the Indigenous Peoples Experience.

“Receiving a ULI Award for Excellence is a great honor for this project team and Stantec as a whole,” said Heidi McGurk, major projects lead, Stantec. “This recognition reinforces our team’s passion to create a space that educates and celebrates the experiences and culture of Indigenous Peoples. Awards like this bring more awareness to the never-ending importance of learning from Elders to keep truth and reconciliation top of mind, and we are so proud to have played a role in this project.

“The Indigenous Peoples Experience demonstrates the power of equitable development and importance of creating projects to authentically empower people to speak about their own culture,” said Martin Zurauskas, Managing Director of nFusion. “As Prime Consultant, the Nassal-nFusion team was focused on developing and designing a platform to share this knowledge and culture in an engaging and accessible way, and we are thrilled to be recognized by Urban Land Institute.”

Come See Us @ the ULI Spring Meeting!

Attending the ULI Spring Meeting 2023 in Toronto?  Be sure to attend the Indigenous Peoples Experience session to hear Darren Dalgleish and Renee Williams from Fort Edmonton Management Company and Courtney Kleinman from nFusion discuss the development process.