Levi’s Journey to Oweekeno, BC to rebuild a critical bridge
Levi is one of Hyland’s team leads in our batch plan. When it comes to concrete, Levi is the guy to go to! In November 2024 Matcon Environmental needed help with a bridge deck ready mix concrete pour in Oweekeno, a remote First Nations village nestled along the north bank of the Wannock River, BC. To build the Oweekeno bridge construction it was a job requiring precision, skill, and timing in an area with unpredictable winter coastal weather .
Winter storm interrupts plan
Levi was scheduled to fly in on November 20, but nature had its own plans. A fierce storm swept through the region, grounding all flights. The delay forced a pivot in the schedule, pushing his departure to November 21. Determined to get the job done, Levi drove to Port Hardy that morning, where the crew finally boarded their flight to Oweekeno.
Stepping onto the land, Levi was met with a place unlike any other. Oweekeno, home to the Wuikinuxv Nation, is a village of just 30 people, isolated but rich in history and resilience. There was no batch plant on site, meaning every bit of concrete had to be mixed in the ready mix trucks — a daunting task, especially given the tight timeframe. With only an 18-hour window free from rain, the work had to begin immediately. Pouring concrete in cold weather needs special consideration. The pour was 10m³ of premixed bags of aggregate and cement with the water and chemicals added on site.
Oweekeno is a First Nations village of the Wuikinuxv, that is located on the north bank of the Wannock River just upstream from its mouth into Rivers Inlet
The crew had already placed two mixer trucks in the village, rented out to Pacific Marine and Muchalat and Cameron Contracting. Levi himself had been here before, back in August, batching for the Muchalat and Cameron teams. It was that previous experience that put Levi on Matcon’s radar—when they realized they needed an expert in remote batching, they knew exactly who to call.
With no time to waste, Levi and the crew got to work. The pour consisted of 10 cubic meters of premixed bags of aggregate and cement, with water and chemicals added on-site. Using Hyland’s mixer truck, they executed four separate batches, each containing three bags. For five continuous hours, the team poured, their focus unwavering as they worked against the looming threat of the next storm.
Just in time completion for Oweekeno bridge construction, before the next storm
By the evening of November 22, the job was done. Just in time, too—the storm was closing in again. As the crew boarded their flight back to Port Hardy, Levi took a final look at the bridge. It was more than just a structure; it was a testament to teamwork, resilience, and the power of community. The people of Oweekeno now had a vital link to their land, and Levi had played a part in making it happen.
As the plane lifted off, he knew this wouldn’t be his last journey to the village. Some jobs stay with you, and some places call you back. For Levi, Oweekeno was both.
The Wuikinuxv Nation, also known as the Oweekeno Nation, is a First Nations government whose traditional territory is the shores of Rivers Inlet and Owikeno Lake in the Central Coast region of the Canadian province of British Columbia, in the area south of Bella Bella and north of Queen Charlotte Strait.
