New affordable housing project in the works in Timmins

Plans for new affordable housing in Timmins The couple who came to Timmins and established the area’s first Sikh Temple are now planning to create affordable housing in the city.

Plans are underway in Timmins to create more affordable housing. A couple who came to retire in Timmins a couple of years ago have since been adding to the city's landscape.

First, they realized a need to establish a Sikh temple – a Gurdwara. The couple then said they felt the need to ensure newcomers to the city have a place to eat if they're hungry.

Now, Kanwaljit Kaur Bains and her husband are embarking on a new project. They own 80 acres of land on Highway 101 East in South Porcupine. They have already met with city officials and are also working with domestic and foreign investors.

“This is our way of giving back to the community again with this baby project that is right in the infant stage," said Bains.

The vision includes a number of pre-fabricated one to two-bedroom homes and four high-rise apartment buildings. Part of the plan also includes a donation of five acres of land to the city to create a park.

The Bains told CTV News there is much work ahead of them and they plan to collaborate with all community groups and organizations including Indigenous peoples.

"We are going to be looking at a lot of the support from all the tiers of government, that’s our municipal government, federal, provincial and all the agencies that here within the City of Timmins and within the Province of Ontario, especially northern Ontario to hop on board with us,” said Bains.

The couple said they hope to have the housing open for occupancy in 2026.