The Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area is moving into the next phase of development.

This comes following the selection of Finn Way General Contractor Inc, $37 million to construct the new Administration and Visitor Centre in Nipigon, which when complete will become Parks Canada’s primary operations and visitor reception area for the protected area.

Established a little over eight years ago, the LSNMCA covers approximately 10,000 km² along 140km of coastline between Silver Islet and Terrace Bay.

The area is home to over 70 species of fish, as well as rare arctic-alpine plants. It also includes 70 known archaeological sites which vary from pictographs to grave sites and shipwrecks.

Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Patty Hajdu calls this milestone an important next step in the project.

“This federal investment will create a permanent space to welcome visitors to our region which will also serve as the first Parks Canada building to be built to Passive House Plus certification. This project is an exciting blend of conservation, economic development through tourism, and sustainable design.”

The building will be a net-zero carbon project, and has been designed to be constructed using superior thermal storage, sustainable material selection and on-site energy generation.

This will both allow the facility to meet its own energy needs at the same time as reducing long term energy costs, as well it will be able to divert surplus energy to charge electric vehicles.

Provisions within the contract include initiatives to promote employment opportunities as well as the use of suppliers and contractors within local Indigenous communities.

Construction is expected to be completed and the facility open to the public in 2026.