North Bay’s Jack Garland Airport will be a beehive of activity this week as the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) drops in for a visit and a European satellite company is expected to make a major announcement.
In a news release, Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Jay Aspin announced CSA officials will meet on Nov. 28 with Canadore College administration and its partners, S3, a Swiss satellite company, as part of a tour of the airport’s aerospace assets before participating in a forum involving local companies.
Aspin was recently named chair of a new parliamentary space caucus geared to pursuing new business opportunities and to map out strategy in this growing sector.
“The commercial space industry is a booming sector,” said Aspin in the Nov. 26 news release. “In Canada, the sector contributes over $3.4 billion to the economy and employs well over 8,000 people in high-paying and very high-skilled jobs. With the strategic partnership of Canadore College and Swiss Space Systems this year, our region became a part of this new economic engine.
“The opportunity for expanding our local space sector in North Bay is important so we need to act on it.”
Earlier this year, S3 and Canadore inked a strategic partnership agreement to test the company’s new technology that launches small satellites into orbit using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems.
The college has attracted $2 million in federal funding for its new Advanced Composites Fabrication Repair and Test Centre, now under construction.
A City of North Bay press release said Robert Feierbach, head of S3’s American subsidiary, is expected to make a “special announcement.”
On the same day, a new business will be officially opening its doors at the airport.
Mayor Al McDonald will join Comsatec president Paul Waqué for the grand opening of the company’s new hangar at the airport’s industrial business park. The Callander energy company has built a hangar to provide leasing space opportunities for aircraft.
The city’s economic development department will be releasing a new marketing video highlighting opportunities at the airport and in the business park.
