Legacy in the Landscape: A Guide to Indigenous-Led Masterplan Communities

Oceanfront Squamish introduces a new chapter to the Squamish peninsula, envisioned as a complete waterfront community shaped by the region’s natural setting and local character. Spanning 100 acres, the masterplan blends homes, workspaces, parkland, and public waterfront access, creating a neighbourhood where daily life stays connected to both the ocean and the surrounding mountains. The community’s first release includes 96 condo and townhouse homes positioned at the edge of Downtown Squamish, complemented by an 11-acre park that anchors the shoreline and reflects the area’s history and evolving identity. Developed by Matthews with design by AKA Architect & Design, Oceanfront Squamish is in preconstruction, with more details and home offerings to come as the community continues to take shape.

kʷasən Village is a landmark, 40-acre master-planned community in the heart of Burnaby, envisioned through a powerful partnership between the Musqueam and Tsleil-Waututh Nations and Aquilini Development. As the first Indigenous-owned and -led development of its kind in the city, kʷasən Village represents a bold reimagining of urban living—where cultural heritage, sustainable design, and everyday livability intersect. Located at 3405 Willingdon Avenue, this ambitious project is designed as a true “15-minute neighbourhood,” with an integrated mix of residential towers, mid-rise buildings, townhomes, retail corridors, public parks, educational spaces, and culturally inspired gathering places.

The first release, known as nəcaʔ, features a 20-storey concrete tower offering a diverse selection of homes—from studios to spacious 3-bedroom plus den layouts, including ground-oriented townhomes. In total, the community will deliver over 5,000 homes across multiple phases, including affordable housing options and rental offerings. Residents will enjoy over 9,000 sq ft of curated private amenities in Tower One, in addition to access to Cedar House, a 10,000 sq ft clubhouse with wellness lounges, co-working areas, and communal spaces for events and cultural connection. Native landscaping, storytelling parks, daylighted creeks, and artistic “cultural portals” are woven throughout the masterplan to honour the land and the identity of the Nations behind it.

Strategically located near major destinations such as BCIT, Metrotown, and Brentwood, and adjacent to a major transit exchange, kʷasən Village offers unparalleled connectivity while maintaining a distinctly community-focused, residential feel. Designed by Arcadis with a deep respect for place and narrative, the architecture and urban design reflect Indigenous knowledge, natural systems, and long-term stewardship.

Between Queen Elizabeth Park and VanDusen Botanical Gardens, The New Village is reimagining what it means to live in Vancouver’s West Side. Spanning 21 acres, this vibrant new community blends boutique retail, a local grocer, a daycare centre, and preserved green spaces into a walkable neighbourhood designed for connection and everyday ease.

A proud partnership between the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations and Aquilini Development, The New Village is rooted in legacy placemaking and a shared vision for sustainable growth. Steps from parks, schools, and SkyTrain stations, it offers a rare opportunity to grow your family in one of Vancouver’s most sought-after settings.

Boardwalk is a thoughtfully planned oceanside community in Tsawwassen, designed to bring families closer to nature while offering the comfort of modern West Coast living. Aquilini Development shaped this master plan around connection between neighbours, between home and landscape, and between daily living and the outdoors. With parks, trails, a scenic boardwalk, and a clubhouse inspired by the region’s beach resorts, the community offers a relaxed coastal setting just moments from the Salish Sea. Its wide range of single-family homes and townhomes gives residents flexibility to grow within the neighborhood, all while enjoying quick access to Tsawwassen Mills, local schools, and major transportation routes.

Where Vancouver’s ridgeline meets the Pacific, the ʔəy̓alməxʷ / Iy̓álmexw / Jericho Lands are quietly shaping one of the most significant urban transformations in Canada, led not by trend or transaction, but by tradition.

Spanning 90 acres in West Point Grey, this land holds deep cultural and spiritual meaning for the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and sə̓lílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Once a place of gathering, generosity, and shared ceremony, the site is now being reimagined through a landmark partnership between the MST Development Corporation and the Canada Lands Company.

Here, planning is not imposed, it is inherited. In collaboration with elders, cultural liaisons, and urban designers from Urban Strategies Inc., the masterplan honours traditional knowledge systems while anticipating the needs of a contemporary city. Historic water systems will be restored. Ecological corridors will lead the design. Future homes, amenities, and gathering places will be shaped with the land, not against it.

Anchored by meaningful public spaces such as Weave Walk, a ceremonial path of arrival, and Energy Oval, inspired by the architectural spirit of the longhouse, this emerging community is designed to be walkable, transit-oriented, and grounded in Indigenous values.

With over 13,000 new homes planned, including a mix of market and affordable housing, Jericho Lands presents a new paradigm: a city-building model where environmental stewardship, cultural continuity, and urban resilience are not competing priorities, but shared commitments.

This is not just a redevelopment. It is a return to place. A story of reconnection—told not in monuments, but in the daily rhythm of life lived in harmony with land, water, and community.