(AlyssaRudolph/battlefordsNOW)

By Alyssa Rudolph

unveiling

Community of Red Pheasant unveils forever home for disabled boy

Nov 5, 2025 | 6:00 AM

“This project is everything to us,” said Janelle Nicotine Meechance after the official unveiling of her son’s forever home.

Nicotine Meechance’s son, Kooper Adams, is a young boy growing up in Red Pheasant Cree Nation. At 10 weeks old, Kooper got sick with meningitis and then suffered a brain injury soon after, giving him mobility issues.

That led to him needing a wheelchair and remaining dependent on his mother for full-time care.

Nicotine Meechance and her family had been living in a three-bedroom, single-level home with minimal space.

“In our previous home, there were a lot of barriers we faced. We couldn’t go into the bedrooms or the washroom with his wheelchair. His wheelchair was always in the living room or kitchen,” said Nicotine Meechance.

Freedom and Flexibility

How App-Based Work Creates Economic Opportunity

1h ago

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Seniors Scene

Christmas is Coming

Dec 09, 2025

Kooper’s family realized more space would be beneficial to support his needs, so Nicotine Meechance approached Red Pheasant Chief Cody Benson about a better home for Kooper.

Today that wish came true with a new home with a main floor specifically designed for Kooper. The space includes a wheelchair accessible kitchen, bathroom, and pantry. A storage room for all Kooper’s equipment and a therapy room were also adNo woded to the house.

“My other children eventually will move out of the house. So that’s why I wanted to design it specifically for him because it’s going to be his forever home,” said Nicotine Meechance.

(AlyssaRudolph/battlefordsNOW)

Owner of OP Construction in North Battleford, Sean Peterson, said the main goal when building the house was to make it as accommodating as possible.

“There were a lot of extra things that we did just to make the doorways bigger, the closets bigger, making it accessible for all his medical equipment. It has upgrades in so many different areas of this house that people don’t normally do, but it will be a long-term, safe, comfortable home,” he said.

Red Pheasant Cree Nation Chief Cody Benson said seeing the project come to life is a huge accomplishment for the nation. He was especially proud of the community coming together for someone in need. Benson helped lock down government funding to complete the house project.

In addition to that, many local construction companies helped by donating money and offering discounted materials to building contractors. Peterson said he personally helped fundraise about $80,000 for the project.

“I went to all my main suppliers and said, you know, we make money off people every day. Let’s give it back to a good family,” he said.

While Kooper is now settled in his home, there is still some work to be done. The basement needs to be completed, and OP Construction hopes to reframe and drywall the lower level once more funding is provided.

—

alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com