The We Wai Kai (WWK) Engineering Materials Testing Laboratory will establish the first Indigenous-owned construction materials testing facility serving northern Vancouver Island and the surrounding coastal region.
The lab will provide geotechnical and construction materials testing services, including soil, aggregate, asphalt and concrete testing, as well as field sampling, certification, and engineering support. By offering locally accessible, timely, and cost-effective testing services, the facility will support public infrastructure, private development, and resource sector projects throughout the region.
Currently, most construction materials testing for northern Vancouver Island projects must be sourced from Nanaimo, the Lower Mainland, or farther south. This reliance on out-of-region services contributes to higher costs, project delays, and lost economic opportunities.
With more than $300 million in annual infrastructure investment occurring across northern Vancouver Island and nearby coastal communities, the new laboratory will address a significant service gap by strengthening regional supply chains and improving access to technical expertise.
As an Indigenous-owned enterprise, the project also advances economic reconciliation by creating new opportunities for Indigenous participation and leadership within the construction and infrastructure sector, while helping retain more project spending within the local region.
The Trust is investing in this project through the Capital and Innovation funding program under the Innovation and Technology priority area.
Wellbeing Impact
The Trust invests in projects using a Wellbeing Impact Framework that looks beyond traditional economic metrics. This approach evaluates how each investment strengthens economic prosperity, cultural vitality, climate resilience, and social empowerment. By focusing on outcomes that matter to people and place, the Trust works to spur new investments that create meaningful, lasting benefits across Vancouver Island and the coast.
The project will also create skilled employment opportunities, support workforce development, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the regional construction sector.
Economic Prosperity
This project strengthens the local economy by enabling:
Social Empowerment
The project supports social empowerment through:
Climate Resiliency
The project contributes to climate resiliency by:
As we work toward inclusive and resilient economic futures, we do so with a deep appreciation for the histories, contributions, and rights of the Kwak̓wala/Bakwam’kala, Nuučaa̓nuɫ, Éy7á7juuthem, Ligwilda'xw, Pəntl'áč, She shashishalhem, Hul’q’umi’num’, diitiidʔaatx̣, SENĆOŦEN, Skwxwú7mesh, Lekwungen, and T’Sou-ke speaking peoples.
