NorTerra Welcomes New President & CEO
We are delighted to announce that Mark Gardhouse was appointed as the new President & CEO of NorTerra Inc. in November, 2010.
Mark has a demonstrated record as a corporate leader and business builder with over 25 years experience in direct investing, merchant banking and working directly with operating businesses to maximize corporate value. Since October 2005, he held the position of President of C.A. Bancorp Inc, a TSX listed company, which grew to over $500 million in assets invested and under management. From 1998 to 2005, Mark was Managing Director of Corporate Finance of Roynat Capital Inc.’s (a Scotiabank division) equity buyout group. In this position, he headed a team of professionals located in Toronto, Calgary and Montreal to lead direct investments and acquisitions in operating companies in the Canadian middle-market sector. Mark has direct investing and board experience in a number of industries including distribution, financial services, construction services, heavy industrial products, food manufacturing and wholesaling.
Mark says, “I am delighted to be part of the NorTerra team. The legacy of the businesses the NorTerra employees has built is outstanding. I believe, with the recession behind us, our future looks very promising. "
Canadian North’s President Receives Distinguished Aviation Award
Canadian North’s President is breaking new ground. On November 8, Tracy Medve was inducted as an honorary life member with the Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC). She’s the first woman ever to receive that recognition.
Tracy has been President of Canadian North for three years. Honorary life memberships are awarded to people who have contributed significantly to improvement of the Association and the Canadian aviation transport industry. Individuals are nominated by members of the ATAC and are then presented to the Board for a vote on their contribution to the industry. Tracy has held senior airline management positions since 1985.
“I’m very pleased to receive this honour,” says Tracy. “The aviation industry is a passion of mine, so being inducted as an honourary life member of an important aviation industry association like ATAC holds special importance for me.”
NTCL Supported Quebec Hydro Turbine Discharge Project
September 2010
NTCL supporting the Quebec Hydro Project in Chisasibi. Three turbines originating from Brazil were discharged from a Dutch heavy lift ship onto NT 1526 and then discharged upstream by the MV.Pat Lyall.
- The photographs are courtesy of Griff - C/M on the Pat Lyall.
- A film crew shot a video of the discharge process from a helicopter.
Seriously Good Changes at Canadian North
September 2010
Canadian North has implemented some positive changes in a few different areas.
Expanded Southern Canada Network
On June 10th, Canadian North expanded their southern network, through its partnership with Air Canada, to provide for a more streamlined travel experience and competitive through-fares. Customers can now book to the following cities:
Out of Edmonton :
Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and St. John's.
Out of Ottawa :
Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, St. John's, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver.
Environmental Backhaul Program
September 2010
The unrivaled beauty of the Northern landscape warrants commensurate protection, and NTCL is doing its part to ensure the pristine scenery remains intact.
NTCL is aware that many Northern communities lack the recycling initiatives and infrastructure required to properly dispose of used materials and waste. Therefore, NTCL has continued to offer the environmental backhaul rate for the second consecutive year. NTCL offers a discounted rate to regional backhaul initiatives to enable the removal of unwanted scrap metal, appliances, dangerous materials and recyclable goods. Run through the Hamlets in each community, the goal is to have the communities properly prepare, package and label material for backhaul to the South prior to NTCL arriving each season. The regional backhaul rate is designed to encourage the environmental clean up and to enable communities to decide what items they wish to have removed from their landfill sites.
The project began last year in Cambridge Bay and was successful in safely removing approximately 18 tons of scrap steel. NTCL’s Manager of Business Development, Martin Landry, initiated the push for the communities to seek funding to get themselves trained and organized to start their own environmental backhaul program. “The Hamlets need to make sure everything is packaged according to regulations. The emerging benefit is twofold since it will create employment and provide a means to help protect the environment by removing unwanted waste from the communities,” he said. As the personnel working to remove material from Cambridge Bay did not have the necessary training to package dangerous goods, the 2009 program was limited to scrap steel.
NTCL’s role in the process is to transport the properly packaged and labeled designated backhaul materials from the high water mark in the communities to the dock in Delta, British Columbia.
Hazco, which is an environmental remediation specialist and partner with NTCL on the environmental backhaul program, will be providing the required training for up to 20 staff or community members in the Kitikmeot (Cambridge, Gjoa Haven, Taloyoak & Kugluktuk) to properly package and label the items for backhaul. Once the material has been packaged according to regulations, it will be disposed of at Hazco’s waste management facility in Delta, British Columbia.
Several communities have expressed interest in sending their freight Southbound with NTCL. Accordingly, NTCL is currently assisting the communities to seek funding to start their own environmental backhaul programs. The Government of Nunavut is assisting several communities in the Kitikmeot by contributing funds for the program to remove unwanted waste from the area.
There is a great deal of excitement within the communities regarding the program and the positive benefits it generates for both the people and the land. The environmental backhaul program provides another example of the ways in which NTCL serves its customers and continually works to improve Northern infrastructure.
By Nathaniel Marshall
Introducing - The Northern Flyer
September 2010
Canadian North has launched its own in-flight magazine called Northern Flyer. The publication includes content from a wide spectrum of company employees and other northerners, providing timely and relevant information about community events that they support, activities at the airline, as well as interesting and informative community information. In addition to this targeted content, and in response to customer feedback, articles will appear in four languages – English, Inuktitut, Inuinnaqtun and Inuvialuktun.
From Macaroni to Mosques
September 2010
NTCL has written another page in their long and illustrious history. The Inuvik Muslim community mosque arrived in Hay River September 10, 2010 at 6am.
It is now ready to be shipped via NTCL barge to Inuvik. The picture shows the mosque being loaded onto the NT1015 barge and will be shipped north by the MV Vic Ingraham. NTCL has transported everything from explosives to livestock to historical artifacts on their barges over the years. What a way to mark their 25 year anniversary of Inuvialuit and Inuit ownership but to show not only how the Company has evolved to serve the North, but also their transition to serve the evolving Northern Communities.
NTCL’s VP of Marketing and Business Development, John Marshall says, “Over the years NTCL has always proudly proclaimed that, ‘we ship anything from shoes to skidoos’ in the communities we serve. We can now proudly say, ‘NTCL ships anything from macaroni to mosques.”
PIVUT Fares 2010/2011
June 2010
“PIVUT means ours. Canadian North is ours.” Jordin Tootoo
Since 2005, Canadian North has been providing the PIVUT fare to the beneficiaries of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement and the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. With our shareholders, Nunasi Corporation and the Inuvialuit Development Corporation, we are very pleased to once again offer this discounted fare to our beneficiaries.
Effective June 1, 2010, all beneficiaries may take advantage of two PIVUT fares at discounts of more than 60% off, anywhere Canadian North flies!
This means that more than 30,000 Nunavut Inuit and Inuvialuit will have access to our special program that seriously celebrates our ownership.
For more information go to www.canadiannorth.com or call 1-877-967-4888 to request your travel dates.
Jordin Tootoo, official spokesperson for Nunasi Corporation and NorTerra Group of Companies.
BBE Achieves COR Standard
March, 2010
BBE took its next step in occupational health and safety, earning its Certificate of Recognition (COR).
Through the Northern Construction Safety Association, BBE undertook the training required to achieve this national standard, and scored 95 percent in the process.
“Clearly, there was a substantial investment in time and effort to achieve the COR standard,” said Gary Reid, President of BBE. “That effort from our staff is very much appreciated, not only because we share a commitment to the principles behind COR compliance, but also because our clients can be assured the work we do on their behalf is done safely. COR is very important to our clients, so it’s very important to us.”
The move to become COR registered is not BBE’s first initiative to bring a systems management approach to its safety-related training.
In 2009, BBE introduced an online training system for employees, an important step considering the geographic diversity of its operations.
Having an online training system helps BBE deliver on its promise of keeping employees abreast of the latest in safety training principles and procedures while keeping costs manageable, ultimately a benefit for BBE clients.
The next step was joining ISNetworld, a global resource for connecting corporations with safe, reliable vendors from capital-intensive industries. This network allows BBE to share its safety record with more than 300 companies.
“These three initiatives are taking BBE from the manual to the automated process. We have the certification, we have the procedures and we have the tool to market our safety initiatives,” said Dennis Gould, Director of Operations with BBE.
Its part of BBE’s ongoing efforts to maintain a safe workplace — one that benefits its employees and clients alike.
Chris Johnston, Executive Director of the NWT Construction Safety Association (second from right), presents Gary Reid, President of BBE, with a Certificate of Recognition, the highest safety standard in the country. Along with Gary are Ryan Heslep, Health, Safety and Logistics (left), and Rodney Noseworthy, Operations Manager, Yellowknife (right).
No Project Too Big
March, 2010
Late in 2009, one of our dealers came to Weldco-Beales (Edmonton) with a requirement for two very large excavator buckets destined for use in Alberta’s oil sands. The dealer called for a bucket with a capacity of 15.3 yrds, height of close to 10 ft., base edge width of 115 inches, and weight of approximately 32,000lbs. True heavyweights, these buckets would become the largest excavator buckets ever manufactured by Weldco-Beales.
Once the size parameters were confirmed, design work began. The use of 3D solid modelling supported the exact positioning of virtual components so clearances and fitments could be corrected before any plate was processed. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was performed to check component sizes and ensure stresses were within limits.
With design of the bucket completed, the production processes began. Fitting and assembly commenced once all steel components were burned and forme. For the final welding stage, a fixture was designed and fabricated for use with our weld positioner. When placed in the stands, 360 degree rotation provided optimal positioning and ease of access to all areas of the bucket. Once welding was completed and GET fitted, the finished bucket was painted and prepared for shipping.
This project was full of challenges for all involved. The ultimate success of the collaborative approach used shows there really is no job too big for Weldco-Beales!
Fitting of components (left) Bucket is placed on weld positioner (center) Finished product for transport (right)
NTCL Cargo Service for Western Arctic Communities
March, 2010
For the second consecutive year, Northern Transportation Company Limited is offering its new freight service to Western Arctic Communities, which is in addition to their traditional tug and barge service from Hay River. Freight will be loaded from Delta, B.C., near Vancouver, shipped north along the West Coast of Canada and around Point Barrow, Alaska and then east into the Canadian Arctic serving the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and then the Kitikmeot.
NTCL will use a large, ocean capable tug and a 12,000 ton barge for this service.
NTCL is working with Braden-Burry Expediting, a NorTerra company with offices in Inuvik, Yellowknife, Edmonton, Calgary, Winnipeg and Ottawa. BBE will manage the Richmond loading terminal. BBE has more than three decades of experience moving cargo from all over the world to the North and is ready to handle northbound cargo from Delta, BC terminal for NTCL.
To book freight, get quotes, or ask questions contact the Customer Services Desk on 1 866 935 6825 or e-mail customerservicedesk@ntcl.com. Lines are open 8.00am to 5.00pm MST.
Cut-off dates are viewable at www.ntcl.com.
High Capacity Industrial Spray Booth
March, 2010
During the design phase of Weldco Heavy Industries, one of the mandates was to ensure compliance with associated environmental legislation and regulations. As a demonstration of our diligence, Weldco Heavy Industries constructed one of the largest self contained, heated, cross-draft paint booths. Constructed by Clark Builders and supplied by Booth Brothers out of Calgary, this paint booth is the largest of its kind in the region.
At 3,500 sq. ft., the booth has proved to be a valuable asset in the Fort McMurray market. The custom built size readily handles the oversized equipment that services the oil sands, from heavy hauler truck bodies to 60 yard dipper buckets.
Equipment weighing up to 120,000 pounds is brought into the paint booth on a dedicated trailer that is pulled by a modified Volvo A30 truck. The booth is 70ft. long, 26 ft. high and 48 ft. wide. Pre and post heat is computer controlled allowing precise temperatures to be set, ranging between 40oF and 150oF. Although most jobs call for enamel paint, special coatings can also be applied upon customer request.
As the typical final stage of completion for the many projects that come through the Weldco Heavy Industries shop, the dedicated spray booth offers customers a professionally finished product.
