NWAC puts Gatineau office up for sale for $8M

Three years after the Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) opened an elaborate building in Gatineau, Quebec, the building is up for sale. According to a real estate ad the building is for sale for just under $8 million. In the early summer of 2022, APTN News was there for the grand opening. The organization’s then-CEO Lynne Groulx said at the time the new office cost about $9 million but the investment was well worth it. The 45,000 square foot facility has five floors and was adorned with Indigenous artwork from all over the world. There were also cultural spaces, a gift shop and kitchen. The organization said the building would generate own source revenue by hosting public and private meetings and selling artwork. APTN reached out to NWAC and was told no one was available for comment. However, in an emailed statement chief operations officer Bev Dimsdale said the organization is looking to get back to its core mandate of advocacy. She added a resiliency lodge in Chelsea, Quebec is in need of repair and will soon be listed for sale. NWAC has also put out a tender for a community-based organization to manage a resiliency lodge in New Brunswick. The most recent audited financial statements on the NWAC website are for 2023. They show the organization had a budget of $23.9 million with a surplus of just under $115,000. APTN also reached to former CEO Groulx who left the organization abruptly in the spring of 2024. In an emailed statement, she said during her time with NWAC the organization demonstrated strong financial growth and annual surpluses. APTN asked Indigenous Services Canada if it is investigating NWAC’s finances. The department replied the Government of Canada does not get involved in the organization’s internal governance matters and referred all questions back to NWAC. Continue Reading