by Lauren Mills AFNWA Communications Associate

Looking back over the past twelve months, the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA) continues to grow in exciting ways. Our team has expanded to 22 staff members, approximately one-quarter of whom are Indigenous. In order to accommodate the ongoing additions to our cadre of dedicated staff, in October 2021 a second office at 6 Louise Street in Truro was opened. Our 13 Treaty Trail, Millbrook location will continue to function as AFNWA’s headquarters until the planned construction of a custom purpose building that will be located in the Millbrook Power Centre with all departments together under one roof in 2024.

On the project development front, finalization of both Asset Management Plans (AMPs) and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Master Plan have been major achievements. Dillon Consulting has completed 17 community AMPs while the SCADA Master Plan was developed by Eramosa Engineering, all under the coordination of the AFNWA Engineering department. In partnership with the First Nation Infrastructure Institute (FNII), AFNWA is also developing a cost recovery pilot project with the Paqtnkek First Nation which examines infrastructure development in association with economic growth.

Our hard work continues to gain recognition. The Atlantic Canada Water and Wastewater Association presented AFNWA with its 2021 Project of the Year (Small Project Category) award for our SCADA Master Plan. In December, upon invitation from the Gov ...