COMMUNITY MIYUPIMAATISIIUN CENTRE WASKAGANISH
Mandated by the Cree Council, the Miyupimaatisiiun Community Center (CMC) in Waskaganish is a strategic project that brings together, in one location, clinical and community services that meet the health and social service needs of the Cree community in James Bay. Now complete and fully operational, the building embodies a strong desire to create an accessible, humane healthcare environment deeply rooted in local cultural values.
CLIENT :
Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay
LOCATION :
Waskaganish, QC
YEAR :
AREA:
2025
3,670 m2
on 2 floors
DISCIPLINE :
DESIGN D'INTÉRIEUR, ARCHITECTURE
PHOTO/3D :
Caroline Joly
The project is based on close dialogue with the community, which is essential to understanding the practices, customs, and symbols specific to the Cree Nation. While health standards remain universal, their application here has been thoughtfully designed to ensure a safe, respectful environment that is adapted to cultural realities. This collaboration has resulted in a space that goes beyond its primary function to become a place of gathering, transmission, and well-being.
The architecture is inspired in particular by the Shaputuan, a traditional meeting place, with an entrance marked by a double-height space facing east, echoing the ciiwetinsuu tradition. Natural light plays a central role in the user experience, supported by an architectural composition that promotes openness, clarity of space, and a welcoming feeling. The use of wood and sustainable materials, adapted to the northern climate, as well as columns reminiscent of tree trunks, reinforce the building's integration into its surroundings.
With a surface area of 3,670 m² spread over two floors, the Waskaganish CMC embodies contemporary architecture at the service of a collective vision, where innovation, functionality, and cultural roots come together to support the health, dignity, and vitality of the community.
Consortium Régis Côté & ATSH;