Published on March 23, 2026

Site Walkthrough and Progress

This morning, I met with Kent Clark from Sproat Lake Contracting for a walkthrough of the Longhouse site to review progress.

Work is underway on what will become a welcoming entrance to the site. A gathering circle is being built at the front, wrapping around the entrance and creating a space for people to come together. From there, a bridge will lead into the main area, supported by massive logs, with a trail system running below and around the Longhouse. A steep dip in the trail will be raised to create a safer, more gradual incline.

The trail will also lead to an overlook facing the main part of the village, with views of the front beach and Elvis Mountain. Plans include picnic tables, wooden fencing, and thoughtful landscaping to make the space both functional and inviting.

Building Progress

Construction on the Longhouse itself continues to move forward. Foundation work has now reached slab level.

Crews are completing important groundwork, including insulation, underground services, and backfilling. These steps are necessary before the building structure begins to go up.

Behind the scenes, the main structural wood components are being prepared off-site. Early wall and roof panel assembly has begun on site, with additional prefabricated sections arriving in the coming weeks.

Quality and Safety

There have been some necessary setbacks along the way. The initial concrete footings did not meet required strength standards and were removed and redone to ensure the building is safe and built to last. The issue was identified early through careful oversight from Sproat Lake Contracting on site and was corrected at no cost to Ahousaht.

The Longhouse is being constructed as an earthquake-resistant structure, and care is being taken at every step to meet those standards.

Site Preparation and Vision

Site preparation includes clearing alders while keeping cedar and fir where possible. Blasting has taken place in Ahousahts rock quarry behind the lodge, video of one of the blasts will be in the slideshow below. These blasts can be felt throughout the village when they occur, all safety precautions were taken - community notices, road closures and drone footage before and during blasts. Gravel created was used on-site.

The long-term vision is to create a space that reflects both tradition and natural beauty, one that serves the community now and for future generations.

More updates will be shared as the project progresses.