Tsawwassen First Nation Launches Three Major Developments in Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre

TSAWWASSEN, BC, Oct. 29, 2014 /CNW/ - Tsawwassen First Nation (TFN) and TFN Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) announced agreements for three major projects on the initial 70 acres of their serviced industrial lands known as Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre. The three developments include a large warehouse facility, a container examination centre, and a cardlock truck fueling facility.

"We are pleased to announce these three key projects in our Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre," said TFN Chief Bryce Williams. "Agreements with the partners for these individual developments have resulted in strategic facilities which will benefit all stakeholders, local commerce, international trade, and our Member community. We would like to extend our thanks to the federal and provincial governments. Their infrastructure funding in 2009 helped us service the first phase of these lands. As you can see, that investment is paying off."

The 2009 Treaty provided TFN with a land base, financial assets, and new authority, but it was up to the community to manage these. TEDC was established to develop TFN land assets in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.

The largest project in the Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Park is GWL Realty Advisors Inc. on behalf of Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Realty to develop 57 acres with up to 1.2 million sq. ft. of warehouse facilities. The target opening date is mid-2016.

Port Metro Vancouver, along with the Government of Canada, are investing in a new Marine Container Examination Facility to be located on 11.4 acres of the TFN Industrial Lands near the Deltaport Container Terminal. Canada Border Services Agency expects to begin inspections at the new facility in late 2016.

The third project is Chevron's commercial truck fueling station strategically located on a one acre site. The facility will service trucks en route to the Roberts Bank port terminals. The target opening date is late 2014 or early 2015.

Chris Hartman, CEO of TEDC stated "These first three developments in our 330-acre Tsawwassen Gateway Logistics Centre are key to delivering on our mandate to create developments and partnerships that will generate revenues, and provide skills, training and employment opportunities for our Members."

TFN is quickly becoming an economic driver in the Greater Vancouver region, and an Economic Impact Study estimates that TFN's current commercial and industrial projects alone will generate more than $348 million in construction employment income and $235 million in permanent annual employment income.

SOURCE: TFN Economic Development Corporation

Tanya Corbet, Tsawwassen First Nation, 604.948.5205, [email protected]; Andrea Jacobs, Manager, Community Outreach, TEDC, 604.948.5219, [email protected]