Taza Development Program
Client:
Taza Development Corp. (Canderel / Tsuut'ina Nation)
Location:
Calgary Region
Year:
2018-2026 (Ongoing)
Project Scope
Whissell Contracting Ltd. has served as Prime Contractor and General Contractor across a comprehensive, multi-phase program of earthworks, underground utilities, lift station construction, environmental works, and lot servicing within the Taza development on Tsuut'ina Nation lands, one of North America's largest First Nations-led mixed-use developments. Whissell's involvement spans from early site preparation in 2018 through active construction ongoing into 2026, encompassing nine distinct contracts. Throughout this program, Whissell has consistently collaborated with Tsuut'ina Nation partners including Sarcee Sand & Gravel and Tyson's Trucking, and has adapted to evolving designs, challenging groundwater conditions, and complex multi-stakeholder coordination requirements.
- Earthworks Scope (across all phases):
- Taza Development Earthworks (2024–2025): Clearing and grubbing, topsoil stripping, large-scale cut and fill operations, import of subgrade materials, fine grading, and farming of saturated clay to achieve design subgrade conditions across the development area.
- Taza Park West – Phase 1 Earthworks (2024–2025): Construction of structures, installation of a gabion wall for erosion protection, and backfilling of approximately 4.8 km of canal as part of the Phase 1 West development area.
- Taza Park – Wetland B (2024–2025): Environmental earthworks including wetland construction and associated stormwater management infrastructure within the Taza development footprint.
- Redwood Meadows Berm Stabilization (2018–2019): Supply and installation of riprap for berm protection and silt fencing to stabilize the berm adjacent to the Taza development area.
Taza Park Stage 3A / Phase 6A Underground (2024):
Open-cut installation of 2,030 m of storm pipe (300mm PVC to 1,950mm concrete) at depths of 3–9 m; 1,611 m of watermain; 1,615 m of sanitary sewer; residential and collector lot services; 19,000 m² stormwater retention pond with geosynthetic clay liner; Oil Control Separator (OCS), two Oil-Grit Separators (OGS), and concrete inlet/outlet structures with riprap protection; 360,000 m³ of cut-and-fill earthworks and fine grading; removal of abandoned gas lines, sanitary services, and storm ducts.
Taza Park Stage 3B / 6B Underground (2024–2025):
Sanitary manhole installation (1,200 mm diameter barrel, Type 5A); tie-ins to existing 200 mm sewer stubs; residential and collector lot services for Parcels 10 and 11 (water, sanitary, and storm); flushing, mandrel testing, and video inspection of sanitary mains.
Taza Park West – Underground (2025–2026, Ongoing):
Deep utility installation as Prime Contractor including storm, water, and sanitary mains; Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) scope for trenchless crossings; additional storm infrastructure to service the Phase 1 West development area.
Taza Lift Station – East (2024):
Topsoil stripping, site grading, dewatering, and backfilling; installation of a 3,000 mm Fiberglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) wet well; cast-in-place concrete foundations; supply and installation of pumps, piping, valves, pressure gauges, HVAC, and controls; emergency generator installation; comprehensive electrical works including Motor Control Center (MCC), control panel, and security systems; full commissioning and startup.
Taza Lift Station – West (Construction Manager | 2025–2026, Ongoing):
Preconstruction services, procurement leadership, and construction management for the Taza Park West Sanitary
Lift Station; coordination with TDC and WSP Engineering; long-lead procurement of pumps and controls; site preparation, wet well installation, utility connections, and full commissioning to support tenant occupancy.
Taza Park East – Lot 9 Servicing (2025):
Prime Contractor for storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and watermain installation to service Lot 9 within the Taza East development area.
Challenge & Mitigation
Across the Taza program, Whissell navigated a consistently evolving design environment, multiple contracts commenced at the concept phase, requiring continuous constructability input and real-time budget adjustments as designs were finalized during construction. Challenging groundwater and saturated clay conditions across the site demanded specialized geotechnical approaches including clay farming, engineered dewatering systems, and careful shoring design. Coordinating multiple concurrent scopes, earthworks, underground utilities, lift stations, and environmental works, across an active First Nations development required disciplined multi-stakeholder scheduling and strong community relationships. Whissell mitigated these challenges through proactive pre-construction collaboration with TDC, WSP Engineering, and Urban Systems, and by leveraging established Indigenous partnerships with Sarcee Sand & Gravel and Tyson's Trucking.
Value Add Solution
Whissell's sustained presence across the Taza program has delivered compounding value to Taza Development Corp. and the Tsuut'ina Nation. By maintaining consistent project teams across phases, Whissell carried forward lessons learned from each contract, reducing mobilization time, improving constructability, and enabling faster design resolution on subsequent phases. The clay farming approach developed on the Taza Development Earthworks contract was directly applied to later phases, eliminating the need for costly material import. On the East Lift Station, Whissell's experience managing complex mechanical-electrical-civil scopes under challenging procurement timelines ensured on-time commissioning. Whissell's commitment to Indigenous collaboration, including workforce engagement and subcontractor partnerships with Tsuut'ina Nation businesses, has reinforced a long-term relationship that continues to generate new contract awards within the program.
