Peggy Revell
Zoey Duncan
Six local First Nations are getting into the helicopter business.
“The idea behind it was basically to capitalize on the different opportunities that present themselves in [this] area,” said Peter Moen, co-ordinator with the Rainy Lake Tribal Development Corp., which has joined Windigo Community Development Corp. and Wasaya Group Inc. to purchase a majority ownership of the Thunder Bay-based V. Kelner Helicopters Inc.
“It’s an idea that we’ve been working on for quite a while, and putting all the right pieces together,” Moen said of the partnership between the development corporations to buy the private helicopter business, which has been in operation for the past two-and-a-half years.
“We’ve got a competent, experienced management, and I believe the right partners to support it through the area,” added Moen.
“Everybody’s committed to the project and supports it 100 percent.”
While financial details weren’t disclosed, the three development groups have purchased 51 percent of the company, with the other 49 percent to remain with V. Kelner Helicopters Inc. and original owner.
The deal means profit-sharing and revenues returning to each of the First Nations involved with the deal, noted Moen, which locally include Couchiching, Naicatchewenin, Nigigoonsiminikaaning, Rainy River, Seine River, and Mitaanjigaming.
Altogether, 20 First Nations in Northwestern Ontario are involved.
“We’re part of the Fort Frances group, which is part of the larger group of four partners,” explained Rainy River First Nations Chief Jim Leonard.
“It’s another revenue stream,” he noted. “It’s not going to be much [but] it all helps out.”
Moen said the demand for the helicopters in Northwestern Ontario stems from a variety of things, adding the fleet currently can be used for a number of purposes.
This includes ministry use, corporate use, transporting drills, surveying, and geotechnical work.
“They have a tremendous lift capacity so that helps with moving drills and different things like that,” noted Moen. “As well, seating in the aircraft allows for several passengers and good viewing for surveying the land.
“There’s quite a number of different opportunities available for them.”
The helicopters are “high-quality, top-of-the-line aircrafts,” Moen added, stressing that safety is a top priority.
Three helicopters currently are in service, with a fourth one to join the fleet later this year.
“We’re looking at expanding it strategically, basically,” said Moen.
“We want to make sure that the core business is there first, and then looking at purchasing subsequent helicopters throughout the next five years or so and see how it progresses,” he reasoned.
“It just diversifies our business a little bit further and allows for potential growth opportunities,” added Moen, referring to how the partnership benefits the RLTDC, which is involved with a number of other business ventures, including Rainy Lake Tribal Contracting, Rainy Lake Logistics, First Peoples Insurance, the Rainy Lake First Nations Pharmacy, and the Landmark Inn in Thunder Bay.
