Makwa Development's leadership and staff were joined by Mike Rencheck to celebrate Mike's retirement and the progress and success that Makwa Development has made in its business with Bruce Power over the last three years. 

The occasion was marked by Bruce Power's Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration, which featured a Pow Wow Dance, Indigenous Artisans' Market, and a powerful presentation on Truth and Reconciliation bestowed by Makwa's own Joselyn Keeshig. 

We would like to thank Mike for his support and leadership over the years. We are looking forward to continuing our journey with Mike in the future. 

Chi-Miigwetch Mike!

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recent visit to the Makwa-Cahill fabrication facility marked a historic moment for Indigenous-led initiatives in the energy sector. As the first nuclear-qualified Indigenous fabrication centre in the region, Makwa-Cahill embodies resilience, collaboration, and economic empowerment.

Premier Ford expressed support for the partnership and its benefits. He highlighted the importance of training and development opportunities for skilled tradespeople in the region’s nuclear industry. The Premier also congratulated Makwa-Cahill on their successes, emphasizing the positive impact of the facility on local families and communities.

Thank you to Premier Ford for taking the time to tour our facility, learn about our business and meet members of our team.

We are excited to announce the formation of Makwa-Dewar Limited Partnership, a new
Indigenous business partnering Makwa Development Corporation and Dewar Industrial
Services Inc. This partnership combines decades of construction experience and expertise
with a local First Nation perspective, creating a powerful combination of knowledge,
experience and values.

Makwa Development is a First Nation-owned business that specializes in a range of services,
including construction, forestry management, and fabrication. With deep roots in the local
community and a commitment to sustainable development, Makwa Development brings a
unique perspective and set of values to the partnership.

Dewar Industrial Services is an accredited supplier of industrial and construction services with
a track record for providing outstanding solutions in a variety of industries. Dewar Industrial
Services adds a wealth of knowledge and experience to the relationship with an emphasis on
safety, quality, efficiency, and value.
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Together, Makwa Development and Dewar Industrial Services will work to achieve our shared
goals of providing high-quality services while supporting the local community. We believe that
our partnership will serve as an example of how Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses
may successfully collaborate to make a difference. We look forward to offering our customers
outstanding performance that represent our shared values and dedication to sustainability
and providing opportunities for local Indigenous Communities.

Owen Sound, Ontario — Makwa-Cahill LP, a fully qualified Indigenous construction and fabrication company working within the energy sector, is pleased to announce that they have been selected by TC Energy to conduct a constructability and fabrication review of the inlet/outlet structures for TC Energy’s pumped storage project in Meaford, Ontario.

Makwa-Cahill is a partnership between the Cahill Group, one of the largest multi-disciplinary construction and fabrication companies in Canada, and the Makwa Development Corporation, owned by Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation members Scott Lee and Shane Chegahno. Makwa-Cahill's offices and fabrication facility are located in Owen Sound within the traditional territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation.

The design collaboration is a demonstration of TC Energy’s commitment to environmental protection and community involvement and will result in minimizing impacts to Georgian Bay’s aquatic life. Makwa-Cahill's early contractor engagement will enable it to draw on its technical expertise and fabrication best practices to support construction and fabrication efforts throughout the project’s life cycle.

“As an independent privately owned business made up of people who live in the area and use Georgian Bay, this work is especially important to us, and we are confident that this collaboration and design process will result in minimizing impacts to Georgian Bay’s aquatic environment,” said Scott Lee, President of Makwa Developments and Director on the Makwa-Cahill Board.

“Drawing from extensive offshore construction and fabrication experience from within Cahill, Makwa-Cahill is uniquely positioned to support the early design and planning of this important clean energy project,” said Mike Benham, Makwa-Cahill President and Board Director. “As part of our long-term community resource and development plans, throughout our engagement we will look to identify opportunities to develop local capacity through transfer of knowledge and training to grow the local capabilities within Makwa-Cahill to support the project.”

“This partnership is representative of our plan to activate local employment and suppliers,” said John Mikkelsen, Project Director, TC Energy. “We are committed to leveraging local expertise and knowledge by working and partnering with those, such as Makwa-Cahill, who possess in-depth knowledge of the region and communities, and we will continue to seek opportunities to do so throughout this project.”

About Makwa-Cahill LP
Makwa Development Corporation and The Cahill Group have joined forces to create Makwa-Cahill LP, a fully qualified indigenous fabrication company. Focusing on industry fabrication and other strategic work scope opportunities in the energy sector, Makwa-Cahill will work closely with clients in Ontario to create meaningful opportunities for development and employment of qualified trade and professional resources while directly stimulating the local and Provincial economy.

Makwa-Cahill are working together to provide our nuclear and energy clients and partners a socially balanced, local, qualified, cost-effective and technically superior fabrication and maintenance solution made in Ontario.
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Media Contact:
Makwa-Cahill: Mike Benham, Makwa-Cahill President and Board Director, 519-371-3266 ext. 6000
TC Energy: Susan Sperling, Communications Lead, Ontario Pumped Storage Project, 416-953-4474

Makwa-Cahill, an Indigenous-owned venture focused on fabrication for the energy sector, held a grand opening of its facility in Owen Sound, Ont.

Makwa Development Corp., which is owned by Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation residents Scott Lee and Shane Chegano, has joined forces with Cahill Constructors Ltd., one of the largest multi-disciplinary construction and fabrication companies in Canada, to create Makwa-Cahill.

“The new fabrication facility will deliver services to Bruce Power and other industry suppliers, while providing on-the-job training and development opportunities for skilled tradespeople,” said Lee, President of Makwa Developments. “The facility will have a strong focus on training and development to meet the needs of Ontario’s nuclear industry.”
“A shared sense of community is one of the key things that bring us together,” said Fred Cahill, President of the Cahill Group. “Cahill operates across Canada and we are now very proud to ‘come together’ with Makwa to begin a new chapter in Ontario. The Bruce Power and Makwa-Cahill teams are fully aligned in our goal to build a sustainable local business and create meaningful employment opportunities.” 

Hon. Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy, toured the new fabrication facility and offered his support for the partnership and the benefits it will generate.

“Congratulations to Makwa-Cahill on the opening of its new fabrication facility, which will be a great asset for Bruce Power and Ontario’s energy sector,” said Minister Smith. “This partnership will provide long-term benefits to Indigenous families and communities, connecting people to training for skilled trades and great employment opportunities.”

Hon. Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, also congratulated Makwa-Cahill on its grand opening.

“Our government is committed to supporting meaningful economic development for Indigenous communities throughout Ontario,” said Minister Rickford. “Makwa-Cahill’s grand opening in Owen Sound represents the start of significant employment, training, and skill development opportunities for local Indigenous peoples.”

“We are so proud of all of our accomplishments as a community,” said Chief Veronica Smith, Chippewas of the Nawash Unceded First Nation. “This includes celebrating the people and businesses who are making positive contributions, creating jobs, wealth and opportunity for our people. We can all be proud of Makwa-Cahill and know this is an example others in our community will follow.”

“Bruce Power, along with a constellation of support businesses, is the driving economic force in our region and increasingly so in our community,” said Chief Lester Anoquot, Saugeen First Nation. “Partnerships like Makwa-Cahill are helping to bring an Indigenous perspective to the nuclear sector, fostering positive change and economic reconciliation.”

The 26,000 square foot fabrication facility is now fully operational with plans and capacity to employ more than 50 workers per shift. The Owen Sound facility will be the head office for all Makwa-Cahill operations, supporting construction, maintenance and fabrication scopes across Ontario.  

“With the opening of our facility, we look forward to meeting the needs of Ontario’s vibrant nuclear sector, while providing training and meaningful employment advancements for Indigenous communities and local residents,” said Mike Benham, President of Makwa-Cahill.
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The partnership between Makwa-Cahill and Bruce Power aligns with the company’s $3 billion ‘Made in Ontario’ economic recovery strategy, while also supporting wealth creation opportunities within local Indigenous communities.
“The Bruce Power Life-Extension Program is continuing to power an economic recovery in Ontario,” said Mike Rencheck, President and CEO, Bruce Power. “The Makwa-Cahill joint venture will provide community members with excellent jobs and training and gives Bruce Power access to the skill-sets we need to continue supplying the reliable, clean electricity that Ontario and Canada need to affordably reach net zero. I would like to congratulate Makwa-Cahill on the opening of their fabrication facility and look forward to working together.”