Environment & Development

As each department has three (3) tiers of programs and services, in the Community Development Department, all tiers are delivered with the purpose of doing no harm to the environment. The tiers include:

1. Environmental Preservation

2. Tourism Beautification

3. Partner & Business Development

Department Management

Construction Manager – Glenn Legge

For More Information

Email Glenn at glenn.flatbay@gmail.com or leave a message at 709-647-1370.

Construction Crew 

For More Information about Hiring & Progress

Email Glenn at glenn.flatbay@gmail.com or leave a message at 709-647-1370. 

Structure Design & Decor

Visionary, Liz LaSaga-MacNeil

Along with the staff and band council, Liz LaSaga-MacNeil plans community infrastructure, amenities, and services as part of her role as C.E.O./Consultant.  

Volunteer Profile

Having natural artistic abilities and a short background in real estate and design, Liz volunteers her time to draw up floor plans, develop artistic concepts, and source trendy decor. 

For More Information about Community Vision 

Email Liz LaSaga at flatbayband@gmail.com OR leave a message at 709-647-1370.

ANNUAL REPORT

Tourism & Beautification

August 2022 to July 2023

-Glenn Legge, Community Development Construction Manager 

& Liz LaSaga, Chief Executive Officer

Infrastructure Completed – During this period we completed the following tourism infrastructure initiatives:

• Warehouse
• House at 15 Legges Rd
• Assistance with set up of 2023 powwow and venues.
• Phase 2 of Calm Waters Park
  • Dining shelter
  • Washrooms
  • Walkways
  • Signage
  • Gardens
  • Covered picnic tables.
  • Smoking booth
  • Upgrade of playground and swings
  • Extension and entrance of medicine trail 
  • Outdoor games

 

Donated Materials – During this period we donated building materials that were left over, over stock or not going to be used in future builds to: 

• Residents building new homes.
• Residents doing major renovations.
• Residents in need of making their home more heat efficient. 

Infrastructure Started – During this period we started the following tourism infrastructure initiatives:

• Mary Webbs Gathering Place
• No’kmaw Village Guest House
• Senior house at 8 Legges Rd
• Senior house at 111 Main Rd. Flat Bay West 
• Duplex repairs, eavestrough and fence repairs 

 

Plans for Mary Webbs Gathering Place – 2023 to 2025

Mary Webbs Floor Plan

Mary Webbs Exterior

Plans for No’kmaw Guest House – 2023 to 2025

Nokmaw Village Guest House – Shelter

(Main floor of former Band office)

Nokmaw Village Guest House – Transition House

(Basement of former Band Office)

 

Calm Waters Park – 2021 to 2023

Plans for Calm Waters Park – 2024 to 2029

 

Year-round Glamping Teepees 

with outdoor, kitchen, shower-room, hot-tub, fire pit, etc.

on each platform overlooking pond

Main floor of teepee

Loft of teepee

Cabins on ATV trail overlooking pond 

Studio Cabin

Two Bedroom Cabin

Family Cabin – Main floor

Family Cabin – Loft

Tourist Service Building

Living in Harmony with the Land Approach

To live in harmony with the land, we must go back to our Mi’Kmaw roots and adopt some of the daily living methods that became lost in our assimilation to mainstream colonial society. The philosophies of Indigenous people since ancient times relinquished the need and desire to covet, pollute, and/or destroy. With an understanding that all life matters, and that life is sacred, nature offers us utilities and resources for survival. By caring for nature, and only taking what we need, in a respectful fashion, then we will always have an abundance of what is needed. Whether it is utilizing nature for residential services, upgrading, or beautifying the community or industry, all of our initiatives must be in harmony with the land.

Community Services 

Annual Water Fees – Flat Bay East

• Cost $250/yr. 
• To discuss fees, email Phyllis Long at phyllis.long@hotmail.com. 
• For inquiries about water operations email Francis Bennett at chico.999@live.ca

Annual Water Fees – Flat Bay West 

• Cost $260/yr. 
• To discuss fees, email Sharon LaSaga at  sharonlasaga@hotmail.com
• For information about water operations, email Stewart MacNeil at drstewartmacneil@gmail.com

Western Regional Waste Management Dump Usage Fees– Flat Bay East 

• Cost $80 /yr.
• To discuss fees, email Phyllis Long at phyllis.long@hotmail.com

Western Regional Waste Management Dump Usage Fees– Flat Bay West 

• Cost $80 /yr.
• To discuss fees, email Sharon LaSaga at  sharonlasaga@hotmail.com

Weekly Household Waste Collection Services

• Cost $52 every 4 months (due January; April, July, and October of each year)
• To discuss fees in Flat Bay West, email Sharon LaSaga at  sharonlasaga@hotmail.com
• To discuss fees in Flat Bay East, Phyllis Long at phyllis.long@hotmail.com. 
• For inquiries about waste collection schedules and sorting, call Derrick Cormier at 709-721-3921

Fire Protection

The Flat Bay Band Inc. helped establish the Flat Bay/St. Theresa’s (FBST) Fire Department in 2015. While the department operates completely independently, from time to time, we aid with growth such as training, donations, infrastructure and supports from the Fisheries and Marine Institute | Memorial University of Newfoundland.

• Annual Fire Service Fees = $100 per household per year 

• To inquire or report a fire call Derrick Bennett at 709-214-6904

Community Transportation Service

In 2019, we established a new community transportation service that provides residents with trips to the town centre of Stephenville/Corner Brook for shopping, events, and appointments.

• Fees may vary depending on the nature of the trip but for the majority of time, trips are of no cost to passengers.
• To book a trip, call Shane at 709-647-1370 or email: flatbayreception@gmail.com

Protection

We are always open to new projects and initiatives that help us to conserve and to live in harmony with the land. Over the years, many such programs and services have and continue to be delivered. We also continually share educational posts and sessions on conservation, animal and pest control, and other preservation topics. We also provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and related supplies to community residents / band members, on an as needed basis. 

• PPE supplies are free to residents.
• To inquire of product availability, call Shane at 709-647-1370 or email: flatbayreception@gmail.com

Community Clean-up

We also partner with Intervale Associates on various clean-up projects. One of our most common partnerships established is, the annual Community Clean-Up. Every May month, we provide for residents with the opportunity to clean-up their properties. We collect trash and large items placed at roadsides and dispose of these items properly, based on Western Regional Waste Management regulations. During the spring and throughout the summer, we also hire youth groups to clean designated sites. This is mainly through summer job grants, and partnership with Conservation Corps NL and Interval Associates. In 2021, the Weekly Community Waste Collection Service, introduced more incentives such as: all residents on our service roster will receive a compost bin or tumbler along with information sessions on composting. 

• Annual Community Clean-Up – Free to residents who are part of the weekly waste collection services.
• For inquiries about Community Clean Up schedules and sorting, call Derrick Cormier at 709-721-3921

Community Spirit Initiatives

We often partner with other groups in the community to deliver community events that keep our spirits alive.

2019 Christmas Parade https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/parade/FMfcgxwBVWSgdrGKXqXBMljwFDPxsGjs?projector=1

Clean and Affordable Energy Solutions

We are currently working on various ways to bring clean energy to our community in order to combat historic energy sources that generate carbon dioxide and emissions that pummel the atmosphere, trap heat, and negatively impact both the environment and human health. Furthermore, the continually rising cost of power service in our province is causing a lot of financial hardship for the majority of our population. 

• More Information to be announced in near future.

Environmental and Clean Up Initiatives between Flat Bay Band Inc. and Intervale Associates Inc.

Intervale’s mission is to conserve biodiversity, raise awareness of species at risk, and promote the integrity of rural livelihoods. Eric Bennett of Flat Bay coordinates the Newfoundland Marten Stewardship Project and also initiates and oversees our community initiatives in the Intervale Associates partnership. 

• More Information to be announced in near future.

Intervale Partnership

Community Environment Rep– Eric Bennett

ANNUAL REPORT

Community Development

Environmental Preservation 

August 2022 to July 2023

-Eric Bennett, Environmental Preservation Rep

• Community Notices – During this time period we put out over 30 environment related messages to increase awareness. Such message topics include;

• • Rodent Infestation
  • Waste & Recycle 
  • Updates from Western Waste Management 
  • Offers to public to take deadfall for firewood
  • Road and brush cutting updates
  • Wildlife and pet control 
  • Flooding and Hurricane Fiona reports
  • Water & Waste fee updates 
  • Waste Collection updates
  • Community Clean Up week updates
  • Fire department updates

• Other Services –Beyond out regular community services as presented earlier we have delivered the following: 

• •  We ensure that any wood cutting in the community goes as fire wood for residents and powwow.
  • Cutting of dead fall and blow down along the sides of the main roads.

• Delivered by Intervale Partnership:

• • Fly tying workshop x 2 
  • Beach Clean up (Flat Bay East / Pius Miles shore)
  • Bait Box liner disposal program
  • Educational Salmon presentation x 2
  • Community Event with local Fish Harvesters
  • Educational Booth at 2023 Powwow 9Topics; Salmon, Pine Marten & Piping Plover) 

Pit Run Quarry – Glenn Legge in his role of Community deployment has acquired the site across from Station Road so that we can access our own pit run materials. 

We are committed to developing infrastructure by either new build, repurposing, retrofitting, and/or renovations. We have also assisted other communities and groups with infrastructure and renovations. such as the St. George’s Legion renovations and building a greenhouse and storage shed in Burgeo.

Completed Infrastructure 

Community Rest Stops 

Throughout the community you will find various waste and recycle bins, rest/stop areas, beaches, and gazebos.

Band Warehouse and Carpentry Shop

The band’s warehouse is nearing completion. This building features eight (8) large storage units, a large carpentry shop and a covered drive-through with a service window that will be used for powwow registration, food pick-ups, and other events throughout the year.

Community Housing

We have built rent-to-own homes, for eligible clients under our Reaching Home program. 

These include the following units:

• 1-bedroom Duplex at 3 Young’s Lane
• 3-bedroom home at 5 Young’s Lane
• 4-bedroom home at 15 Legge’s Rd

Future Developments

Phase 3 – 2024 to 2027 of Calm Waters Park

• Continue with medicine scouting signage on the medicine trail
• Build ten (10) furnished year-round teepees at sites. Expand water and electrical/solar power to sites. Install outdoor kitchen, showers, and hot tubs
• Develop communal tenting site and amenities in middle of the ten (10) teepee sites 
• Build twelve (12) luxury cabins of Mi’Kmaw art and design, (four (4) studios, four (4) two (2) bedroom and two (2) family units), off the ATV tail and overlooking the water on the left side of the pond.
• Expand the wharf.
• Build walking decks and steps around the left of the pond, to create a full walk around of the pond.
• Establish a large entertainment stage on multipurpose field back of shower rooms. 
• Build an administration office with a warehouse for ATV and small watercraft rentals.
• Establish an RV Park on the right side of the pond on the site of the former ball field. 

Deep Energy Retrofits

Due to the climbing utility costs in the province, we are trying to establish a deep energy retrofit plan using domestic green energy for all residents of Flat Bay. More information will follow in the near future. 

Community Housing

Depending on funding availability, we plan to build more built rent-to -own homes and complexes for eligible clients in the coming 1-4 years. 

For More Information

Email Liz LaSaga at flatbayband@gmail.com 

There are two ways to earn additional funds for the band/community outside of grant and proposal writing that provide us with funds to deliver services and projects. 

1. Community Investment Partners  

2. Social Enterprises

Community Investment Partners 

The Flat Bay Band Inc. works with major industries who establish large companies locally. Our mantra of living in harmony with the land or to do no harm extends to a policy to never support any generation of economics that harms the land or our people. We research all new industrial companies’ activities and listen to their plans for as long it takes to identify whether or not the company and their given developments suit our mantra. We try to be as objective as we can, and we support development. However, we always analyze economic gains with environmental and other impacts. Most major industry-based companies will typically offer community incentives in the form of funds or infrastructure to the band on behalf of their territories that the given company’s activities will use or impose upon. 

The partnerships that we are currently exploring include: 

World Energy / Gh2

We are in discussions with World Energy/GH2 to establish a partnerships and/or community contribution for development in and near the Flat Bay community. World Energy GH2 is an affiliate of World Energy which delivers solutions to those leading the push toward net-zero carbon transport. World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik is a consortium of Canadian partners investigating the feasibility of the construction and operation of cost-effective green hydrogen/ammonia from wind power in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Project Nujio’qonik will be Canada’s first commercial green hydrogen/ammonia producer created from 3+Gigawatts of wind energy in one of the world’s best wind resource regions. Currently, World Energy GH2 is engaging with all Bay St. Georges Chiefs/bands. 

Triple Point

Our chief and council has been in discussion with Ms. Julie Lemieux, CEO of Triple Point,  who has over 25 years of experience in strategic business management, governance and stakeholder engagement.   She explained the New assessment and 3D model validate larger than expected salt dome – confirming potential Pointto store more than 35 million cubic meters, or the equivalent of 180,000 tonnes of hydrogen – would make Fishell’s Dome the largest salt storage facility on North America’s east coast. Fischell’s Dome offers the potential to store more than 35 million cubic meters of hydrogen, or the equivalent of 180,000 tonnes of hydrogen. This makes the Fischell asset much larger than expected and the largest known dome on the east coast of North America.

Ms Lemieux reports that Fischell’s Dome has space for several caverns, each capable of storing over 8,000 tonnes of green hydrogen, offering massive storage that  would store all the energy from projects currently proposed by Newfoundland and Labrador’s wind energy industry.   In full operations Triple point will be able to employ approximately 100 of our community members. Triple Point Resources Ltd. is a Canadian based company focused on developing clean energy storage solutions for the growing hydrogen economy. The Company aims to provide safe, efficient, and cost-effective storage solutions for renewable energy sources. Triple Point is committed to working with local communities and stakeholders to promote sustainable development practices that benefit everyone. Triple Point is part of the transition to a sustainable energy future.

Marine Biomass

What is BIOMASS – For MBI, biomass refers to material that comes from the natural world or from a process that humans use to transform that material. We are particularly interested in biomass coming from the ocean or marine processes, like fish species, aquatic plants, or materials that connect the ocean with the land. We are interested in both primary biomass materials (for example, an entire fish) and material that is left over after processing (fish skin, shrimp shells, etc.). As we investigate the potential for innovation using these marine biomass sources, we will carefully consider not only their economic value, but also their cultural, spiritual, and social value in evaluating potential opportunities.

Mi’kmaw Partners
Benoit’s Cove Band (Chief Terri Greene)
Benoit First Nation (Chief Jasen Benwah)
Corner Brook Ward – Qalipu First Nation (Sherry Dean)
Flat Bay Band (Chief Joanne Miles)
St. George’s Band (Chief Rhonda Sheppard)
Three Rivers Band (Chief Peggy White)

University Partners
Australian National University (Australia)
Cape Breton University (Canada)
Dalhousie University (Canada)
Grenfell Campus, Memorial University (Canada)
Mount Saint Vincent University (Canada)
RIKEN (Japan)
University of Bari Aldo Moro (Italy)
University of Limerick (Ireland)
University of Waterloo (Canada)
Western University (Canada)

This is a unique interdisciplinary project that brings together Mi’kmaw and non-Indigenous communities, academic partners, enterprises, and stakeholders, and employs a collaborative research approach that integrates natural sciences with social sciences and “Western” or scientific knowledge systems with equal validation and inclusion of Mi’kmaw knowledge systems. Through Two-Eyed Seeing, a Mi’kmaw conceptual framework for research coined by Elder Albert Marshall, this research aims to recognize and validate Mi’kmaw knowledge systems alongside Western scientific investigation. We recognize that cultural sustainability and healthy populations are integral to resilient rural regions and that eco innovation is key to the economic resilience of these communities.

Budget
The total budget for the project is $15,891,023 over six years. The MBI project draws upon research supported by the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF) and contributions from collaborators.

For information on the project please see the web site.
https://mbiproject.ca/

Chief Rhonda Sheppard and Chief Joanne Miles

attending the first meeting in Norris point on Dec 4th 2021

For More Information

Email Chief Joanne Miles at jrjkmiles@gmail.com OR Liz LaSaga-MacNeil at flatbayband@gmail.com

Social Enterprises 

Social enterprises are common in non-profit and Indigenous organizations. A social business focuses on making profits, not for individual gain but to increase the community amenities or the band’s capacity in delivering programs and services to its members and community residents. Over the years, Flat Bay Band Inc. has researched many social business initiatives and were firm to not involve the band with any business that is harmful to the environment or society, such as selling of alcohol, gambling, harvesting of non-renewable resources, etc. The social enterprise that we are currently developing is: 

Calm Waters Mi’Kmaw Experience Park 

Once completed, this park will bring in revenues from both tourists and visitors. Revenues will be used to maintain the park and create local employment. Profits that might be generated will go into future community development initiatives.

For More Information

Email Liz LaSaga-MacNeil at flatbayband@gmail.com

ANNUAL REPORT

Community Development

Community Partners & 

Social Enterprises

August 2022 to July 2023

-Chief Joanne Miles & Liz LaSaga

• Community Partners (Investors) – During this period we worked with following Community Industries on MOUs and/or Community Vibrancy Funds 

• • • World Energy – MOU to be developed in near future. Because this is a controversial project, the Flat Bay Band Inc. Hosted a community consultation and survey on March 29th, 2023.  Out of 75 residents who attended. 
      • 57 said they support the project.
      • 28 said they were undecided. 
      • None were against. 
    • Atlas Salt – MOU to be developed in near future after more information and community consultation. 
    • Foresque – Did not get the Crown lands they applied for. Project cancelled
    • MUN BioMass – MOU to be developed in near future after more information and community consultation.

First meeting of Chiefs of all Impacted band

• Social Enterprise – During this period we also completed Phase 2 of Calm Waters Park which will be a way to earn future revenues to support the following causes:

• • Keep the pond updated and repaired as needed. 
  • Make room for other small local businesses. 
  • Provide side income for small services in the community to help tourist and visitors to participate in community & cultural activities.