Aerospace in Manitoba's north gains altitude
Manufacturing plant at Opaskwayak Cree Nation near The Pas moves a step toward reality
Aerospace manufacturing and Manitoba's north may not come quickly to mind as a fit, but that dream is coming closer to landing for leaders at the Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN).
More than $220,000 in seed money was announced Friday to take that dream to the next level, allowing for the creation of a strategic, business and marketing plan.
The goal is a sheet metal manufacturing plant located on or near OCN at The Pas. The parts would then be shipped to Winnipeg for use by aerospace giants such as Boeing and Magellan Aerospace.
The Churchill and Region Economic Development Fund, Indigenous Services Canada and OCN have all contributed to writing the Phase II business plan.
More than 18 months ago, OCN's Onekanew (Chief) Christian Sinclair caught wind of interest from Manitoba's aerospace industry — there was need for a manufacturing facility and interest in a special partnership with an Indigenous community.
Sinclair, who has turned OCN into a significant economic force in Manitoba's north, got support from industry group Manitoba Aerospace, and leapt at the chance.
"With Opaskwayak going in a new direction we definitely wanted to be part of something exciting and new and we grabbed the bull by the horns and here we are today just over 18 months later," Sinclair told a crowd of aerospace execs, political dignitaries and media at Neeginan College of Applied Technology.
If the business plan is successful, it would launch construction of a facility costing at least $22 million, could employ as many as 200 people from the region by the end of its first decade, and would be wholly owned by OCN.
Sinclair touts OCN's transportation links by air, rail and road, a motivated workforce and his First Nation's new entrepreneurial drive as reasons why the plan will work.
The OCN leader believes the aerospace and the north can and will be a good fit.
"It engages the Indigenous community, the First Nations community, [and] brings a high level of innovation and technology to northern Manitoba, and the fact being, apply this to any human anywhere in the world and it can be done," Sinclair said with his characteristic optimism.
Westenskow says she is "heck-bent" to be part of the effort after working for Boeing in Winnipeg in the past.
Boeing and other aerospace companies such as Magellan, she says, will get parts manufactured in a supply chain in Manitoba and allow the companies to support economic growth for Indigenous people.
"Stop bringing people out of their communities, away from their people, away from their parents and family. Put the work there and let's grow those communities and make them self-sufficient and champions for themselves," Westenskow said.
Sinclair says the second-phase business plan will be fast-tracked for completion by May this year.