New Indigenous partnerships driving infrastructure projects across Canada

A new wave of economic reconciliation and collaborative development is taking shape across Canada through key partnerships aimed at delivering critical engineering, construction, and infrastructure projects. From regional initiatives on the West Coast to nationwide strategic alliances, Indigenous communities and leading industry firms are building joint structures rooted in mutual respect, shared prosperity, and long-term capacity building.

In British Columbia, the Songhees Nation and Esquimalt Nation have joined forces with Pomerleau to announce the formation of the Group of 3 Ventures Limited Partnership (G3V).

G3V is a majority Indigenous-owned business positioned to play a leading role in major infrastructure projects within Greater Victoria and beyond. The venture draws its name and spirit from ɫxʷélə, a Lekwungen word meaning “a group of three people.” This concept reflects the structure of G3V: three distinct entities united by a shared purpose and working together under First Nation leadership.

“At Pomerleau, we believe the strongest projects are built on the strongest partnerships. G3V is a reflection of that belief: a venture rooted in First Nation, mutual respect, and a shared vision for the communities we serve. We are honoured to work alongside Songhees and Esquimalt communities as we build something meaningful and lasting together in Lekwungen territory,” said Daniel Lessard, senior vice president, Civil and Infrastructure, West, for Pomerleau.

G3V will combine the deep community knowledge, local relationships, and community-rooted leadership of the Nations with Pomerleau’s national-scale civil and technical expertise. The partnership is set to focus on:

• Defence Infrastructure: Near-term opportunities in the defence infrastructure sector, which remains a key federal priority.
• Environmental Remediation: Delivering the environmental remediation scope to support the Department of National Defence in the delivery of the A Jetty Project in Esquimalt, B.C., in collaboration with Defence Construction Canada.
• Lekwungen Territory Projects: Pursuing broader civil and infrastructure developments across the regional territory.

“This partnership reflects economic reconciliation in action, grounded in Lekwungen leadership and built to deliver real, lasting impact. By bringing together local First Nation leadership and industry expertise, G3V creates meaningful economic opportunities, strengthens regional capacity, and supports the delivery of infrastructure that benefits the South Island region as a whole,” said Rob Dick, corporate executive officer of Songhees Development Corporation.

“Through G3V, we have established a partnership that ensures Esquimalt Nation and Songhees Nation have a meaningful role in infrastructure projects taking place in Lekwungen territory. This partnership creates durable economic opportunities for Esquimalt Nation while enabling the delivery of projects with the expertise, experience, and capability required for complex infrastructure development,” added Chief Jerome Thomas, Esquimalt Nation.

AtkinsRéalis and Scout Engineering Align for Shared Prosperity

Moving from regional defense construction to nationwide engineering services, AtkinsRéalis and Scout Engineering & Consulting Ltd. have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

AtkinsRéalis and Scout, a 100 per cent Indigenous-owned firm operating across Canada, are establishing a framework to jointly pursue diverse engineering, infrastructure, and social project opportunities. This collaboration is designed to move past project-by-project engagement and build an enduring, long-term strategic partnership.

“Canada’s future infrastructure must be delivered through partnerships that create lasting value. We have partnered with Indigenous Nations and communities for decades in Canada. Building on this experience, our partnership with Scout reflects a shared commitment to doing so in ways that build trust, strengthen capacity, and create opportunities that go beyond a single project. By combining our strengths, we can support projects that are delivered with technical excellence, create meaningful economic value and are rooted in long-term relationships,” said Stéphanie Vaillancourt, president, Canada, AtkinsRéalis.

The collaboration merges Scout’s community-grounded technical expertise and Indigenous knowledge with AtkinsRéalis’ end-to-end capabilities in engineering, design, and project delivery. Key areas of the collaboration include:

• Collaborative Disciplines: Pursuing opportunities in engineering, project management, environmental services, infrastructure, and Indigenous advisory services.
• Strategic Verticals: Supporting major projects across community infrastructure, energy, transportation, defence, and industrial sectors throughout Canada.
• ReconciliACTION Plan: Driving AtkinsRéalis’ Indigenous Relations strategy in Canada through proactive, structured collaborations.
• Capacity Building: Fostering professional development, knowledge sharing, and meaningful employment for Indigenous communities to support true self-determination.

“We are moving towards a broader ecosystem of Indigenous prosperity and self-determination through this partnership. The forests that flourish aren’t built by the tallest trees. They are built through interconnection and healthy relationships. Every tree and animal remains distinct, but beneath the surface they are connected—sharing resources, supporting growth, and making the entire ecosystem more resilient. We are working with our community and those who share our approach to build Indigenous Canada, and that affects everyone. When Indigenous Nations, communities, businesses, governments, and industry prosper, all Canadians benefit,” added Steven Vaivada, president and founder of Scout Engineering and Consulting.

Featured image: (L to R) Steven Vaivada, president and founder of Scout Engineering & Consulting; and Stéphanie Vaillancourt, president, Canada, AtkinsRéalis. (AtkinsRéalis)