Business · Companies · 28 mins ago
Enoch Cree Nation recovery centre completed, but payment lawsuits remain
A new addiction recovery centre on Enoch Cree Nation is complete and is expected to begin treating patients in December.
The facility, near Edmonton, cost $35 million in provincial funding and was built by Melewka Homes Ltd.
Subcontractors say Melewka has not paid them in full for work on the centre and other recovery projects.
Across lawsuits involving projects for Enoch Cree Nation, Tsuut’ina Nation and the Métis Nation of Alberta, subcontractors are seeking at least $7.4 million.
Melewka has filed counterclaims alleging poor workmanship and other problems, and none of the claims has been tested in court.
The disputes have added to scrutiny of Alberta’s handling of the recovery-centre contracts, amid questions about how contractors were chosen.
The centres are intended to expand addiction treatment as Alberta faces an opioid crisis, and the Enoch facility is expected to open next month.
Construction of the maskêkosihk recovery community on Enoch Cree Nation was completed in October, and it expects to open to patients in December.
The provincially funded facility cost $35-million and was built by Melewka Homes Ltd., selected by the First Nation.
Four subcontractors allege in court records that Melewka has not fully paid them for work on the Enoch facility.
Melewka has sued subcontractors in many of the cases, alleging poor workmanship and other problems; none of the allegations has been tested in court.
Across lawsuits involving recovery-centre projects in Enoch, Tsuut’ina and the Métis Nation of Alberta, subcontractors are seeking at least $7.4-million.
- Who
- The maskêkosihk recovery community on Enoch Cree Nation and its builder, Melewka Homes Ltd., are at the centre of the story. Subcontractors allege they have not been fully paid.
- What
- The recovery centre is complete, but lawsuits and counterclaims over unpaid bills remain.
- When
- Construction was announced complete in late October 2026. The centre expects to open in December.
- Where
- Enoch Cree Nation, Alberta, near Edmonton.
- Why
- Subcontractors say they have not been paid in full for their work; Melewka alleges shoddy craftsmanship and other problems in many cases.
Subcontractors
Melewka Homes Ltd.
Payment for work
Subcontractors
Subcontractors allege Melewka has not fully paid them for work on the recovery centres.
Melewka Homes Ltd.
Melewka has sued subcontractors in many cases, alleging shoddy craftsmanship and other problems.
Diablo Fire Protection Ltd. sued Melewka over alleged unpaid work on recovery facilities for Enoch and Tsuut’ina.
Alberta announced that construction of the Enoch recovery community was complete.
Melewka filed a counterclaim against Diablo, alleging it had breached agreements regarding Enoch.
The Enoch recovery community expects to open its doors to patients.
- Facility
- maskêkosihk recovery community
- Location
- Enoch Cree Nation, Alberta, near Edmonton
- Construction completed
- October 2026
- Expected opening
- December 2026
- Project cost
- $35-million
- Claims across projects
- Subcontractors are seeking at least $7.4-million in lawsuits involving Enoch, Tsuut’ina and Métis Nation projects.
What people are saying
Every new recovery community means more people can access the support they need to reclaim their lives from addiction.
It sucks,
On a government project, this never should have happened,
There clearly was no one watching what was happening.