Northwestel and Chu Níikwän LP celebrate grand opening of new Yukon tech headquarters
Whitehorse, Yukon, April 16, 2024 – Today, Northwestel and Chu Níikwän opened the doors of Yukon’s new corporate headquarters. Community leaders attended this event including representatives from Chu Níikwän LP, Kwanlin Dün First Nation Chief Sean Uyenets'echᶖa Smith and Council members, Government of Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai, Mayor Laura Cabott, and Northwestel President Curtis Shaw.
The grand opening ceremony began with a traditional prayer to honour the space, the partnership, and the land that now houses Northwestel’s hybrid tech workforce. Northwestel pays homage to the
traditional meaning of Chu Níikwän, "Shining Waters," by naming their new meeting and collaboration spaces after beloved Yukon waterways.
Situated along the Yukon River on Quartz Road in Whitehorse, Yukon, on Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) settlement land, the new headquarters spans 41,250 ft². It boasts cutting-edge design, incorporating the latest in energy-efficient technology and features collaborative workspaces tailored to accommodate Northwestel's hybrid workforce.
"We are incredibly proud to unveil our new Yukon tech headquarters and honoured to have been able to do this in partnership with Chu Níikwän. Our tech workforce will call this space home for decades to come, bringing shared benefits right back to the Indigenous communities we exist to serve." Curtis Shaw, President of Northwestel.
"As the CEO of Chu Níikwän LP, I am immensely proud of the steps we are taking towards economic reconciliation. Our commitment goes beyond business; it's about fostering understanding, empathy, and cooperation. By working hand in hand with Indigenous communities, we not only strengthen our company but also contribute to the fabric of our society." Rick O'Brien, CEO of Chu Niikwan LP.
The new headquarters is a commitment to progress, partnership, and sustainability for the coming decades. It is an important step in growing its Indigenous partnerships across the North and taking real action towards economic reconciliation.
The cake was provided by Klondike Cakes and photo credit goes to Kailen Gingell.
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About Chu Níikwän LP
Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) created Chu Níikwän LP in 2015 to implement specific provisions of KDFN’s Chapter 22 Final Agreement on its behalf. Chu Níikwän LP works to grow the equity and resources of KDFN for the future benefit of all citizens and beneficiaries. Visit our website at cnlp.ca.
About Northwestel
Northwestel is the largest telecommunications provider in Canada's north, serving 96 communities across Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, British Columbia, and Alberta. In 2020, Northwestel launched a 3-year Every Community plan to significantly improve broadband services for northern residents, governments and businesses using the latest fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technologies. Northwestel is one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for Young People. The company is a subsidiary of Bell and provides service on the traditional territories of Indigenous peoples across Canada's North. Find out more at www.nwtel.ca.
For media inquiries:
Northwestel Media Relations
(867) 455-4209
media@nwtel.ca
Chu Níikwän LP Media Contact
jesse@cnlp.ca
