After more than four years of recovery and rebuilding, the Village of Lytton is preparing to mark a significant milestone in its journey forward: the official opening of the newly constructed Public Works Building—the first permanent municipal facility to be rebuilt since the devastating wildfire of 2021.

A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for Friday, August 29 at 11 a.m. at the new facility, located at 30 Main Street. The event will include remarks from Mayor Denise O’Connor, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness Kelly Greene, and other dignitaries. Following the ceremony, the community is invited to a celebration featuring hot dogs and watermelon.

“This is very, very significant,” said Mayor O’Connor. “It really is a symbol of the future—of moving ahead. The ribbon cutting will be a signal that we mean it: we are coming back.”

A Tangible Sign of Recovery

The wildfire that tore through Lytton on June 30, 2021, destroyed more than 90 per cent of the Village’s buildings, including its municipal infrastructure. Since then, the road to recovery has been slow, complicated by cleanup delays, infrastructure challenges, and a lack of local accommodations for workers.

Elected in late 2022, O’Connor stepped into leadership at a time when debris still littered the community. Now, nearly three years later, she says the completion of this project is a testament to the Village’s determination.

“I don’t want to take all the credit,” she said, “but our Council has pushed hard to move things forward. It’s a real show of progress.”

The new modular Public Works Building, constructed by Blue Collar Modular following a competitive bidding process, was made possible through $1 million in provincial funding from the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, along with just over $52,000 from the Village’s own funds.

According to O’Connor, the building is not just a structure, but a vital facility for Lytton’s operations. Since the fire, public works staff have had to work from their vehicles and a leaky trailer, with equipment exposed to the elements.

“Now, they’ll have a proper place to work and store equipment,” she said. “It’s a positive step forward—not just for staff morale, but for our ability to keep up with all the work still needed in the Village.”

Broader Rebuilding Efforts Underway

While the Public Works Building is the first to be completed, it’s just one of several municipal projects moving ahead:

• Architectural designs for a new Village Office are 50% complete, with construction to follow.

• Community engagement is underway for a new Community Hub, supported by federal GICB funding.

• An RFP is expected soon for the design and construction of a new community pool.

• The Village has also applied for funding for a permanent Fire Hall.

• Meanwhile, critical water and sewer infrastructure upgrades are in progress, with contractors working “literally seven days a week,” according to O’Connor.

“It’s just great to see the activity in the Village,” she said. “It really feels like things are rolling along now.”

Minister Kelly Greene echoed the significance of the milestone: “Today marks a significant milestone in the Village of Lytton’s recovery from the devastating wildfire in 2021,” Greene said in a statement. “The new Public Works Building provides a permanent and secure space for the municipality to better support the community with essential public services. The Province remains committed to supporting people and communities throughout B.C. who are impacted by emergencies.”

Looking Ahead—and Welcoming the Community

As part of this weekend’s Lytton River Festival, the Village will host an open house at the new Public Works Building on Saturday, allowing community members who can’t attend the Friday ribbon cutting a chance to see the facility.

The Village will also begin public engagement on its Official Community Plan update, with staff available during the festival to answer questions and gather input.

“There’s still work to do,” said O’Connor. “We’re still facing challenges—like the extreme heat this summer and the lack of local accommodations for contractors—but we are moving forward. The Public Works Building is proof of that.”

The Village of Lytton, located at the confluence of the Fraser and Thompson Rivers, is one of the longest continuously inhabited areas in North America and sits within the traditional unceded territory of the Nlaka’pamux Nation. Before the fire, it served as a municipal hub for around 200 residents, and supported a broader regional population of approximately 2,500.

Now, with its first municipal building standing once again, the message from Lytton is clear: the rebuild is real—and it’s happening.