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THE DRIFT 2019: Windigo Partnership and Expedition Helicopters form new business partnership

ADVERTISING FEATURE: Windigo Partnership (Sioux Lookout) and Expedition Helicopters Inc. (Cochrane/Thunder Bay) have entered into a formal business partnership creating Biidabun Logistics Inc.
windigo
Windigo Partnership and Expedition Helicopters Inc. have entered a partnership creating Biidabun Logistics Inc.

Windigo Partnership (Sioux Lookout) and Expedition Helicopters Inc. (Cochrane/Thunder Bay) have entered into a formal business partnership creating Biidabun Logistics Inc.

With the establishment of Biidabun Logistics, both Windigo and Expedition will be working together to bid on and secure contracts from those companies that have commercial requirements for field services, and projects occurring in the Windigo First Nations traditional territories. Both entities have a specialized capacity and expertise with respect to the development of the First Nation business and projects within the Territory.

About Biidabun Logistics Inc.

Biidabun Logistics Inc. is focused on business development opportunities in catering, housekeeping and janitorial, camp logistics, communications, petroleum products and delivery, winter roads construction/maintenance, and helicopter and ground transportation services.

Biidabun Logistics Inc. is a majority-owned First Nation company that is partnered with Expedition.

With the creation of this new company, both Windigo and Expedition have committed to prioritizing, when possible, employment and training for local First Nation residents. There is also a commitment to procure the use of local First Nation services and resources within the First Nation territories.

Both Windigo and Expedition believe that with the formation of this new company, along with its guiding principles, that Biidabun Logistics will truly have a positive impact on capacity building in the North.

“This is a very important milestone for our organization as this partnership increases our access to First Nation business opportunities and brings mutual benefits for the partners and communities,” said Todd Calaiezzi, president at Expedition Helicopters.

About Windigo Partnership

Biidabun Logistics Inc. is majority owned by the Windigo Partnership and Expedition. The Windigo Partnership (also referred to as the Windigo Community Development Corporation or WCDC) is owned by the five following Windigo First Nation partners:

  • Bearskin Lake First Nation

  • Cat Lake First Nation

  • North Caribou Lake First Nation

  • Sachigo Lake First Nation

  • Slate Falls First Nation

Incorporated in the mid-1990s to provide services to Musselwhite Mine, the WCDC oversees a number of businesses today:

Windigo Catering which provides catering and housekeeping service to Musselwhite Mine (1998-present) and is the impetus and support for continued business development

Boreal Solutions, a wholesale provider of janitorial equipment, supplies and chemical (2013-present) with a main warehouse in Thunder Bay, and satellite warehouses in Sault Ste. Marie and Sioux Lookout

Windigo Property which owns and leases both commercial and residential buildings in Sioux Lookout (2006-present)

Windigo Contracts started as a partnership with Expedition Helicopters Inc. in 2014; this company seeks various catering and janitorial contracts in Northern Ontario, including remote camp services (2014-present).

Windigo on Wheels (WOW) Food Truck (2013-present), currently located in Sioux Lookout.

Windigo Investments holds investment in Northern First Nations Health Care Services, and oversees mutually beneficial agreements with White Cedar Pharmacy of Thunder Bay and, most recently, Lowery’s of Thunder Bay (2014-present)

Windigo Projects is a construction company owned by Windigo Community Development Corporation and Windigo’s construction industry partner – LTL Contracting Ltd of Thunder Bay (2015-present).

Hub YXL Restaurant & Convenience Store – the most recent addition to the Windigo group of companies; Windigo was awarded the leased space at the newly-renovated airport in Sioux Lookout (2018)

In 2018, the WCDC group of companies employed more than 120 people from across Northern Ontario and maintained a 75% First Nation employment rate, which is the pride of Windigo First Nations.

Through competitive process, the Windigo companies have been successful securing various food and janitorial services contracts in Northwestern Ontario, in various industry sectors (health care, education, mining, municipal governments, and Ontario government).

Windigo Catering is also proud to be recipient of the prestigious Skookum Jim Award at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada Annual Conference in 2013.  This Aboriginal achievement award recognizes Windigo Catering for its excellence in serving the mining industry.

About Expedition Helicopters Inc.

Since inception in 1999, Expedition Helicopters Inc. has grown to include two additional divisions: Expedition Camp Service and Logistics, a commercial camp and catering company, along with Expedition Freight Solutions, a commercial transportation freight forwarder. In many cases all three divisions are known today as the Expedition Group of Companies.

With a specialized base of +/-140 employees, the Expedition Group operates across Ontario and Canada from its main base located in Cochrane, Ontario and satellite offices in Thunder Bay, Moosonee, Hearst (Ontario) and Lac du Bonnet (Manitoba).

Expedition operates a diversified fleet of 15 helicopters, a significant fleet of transports, and maintains one of the largest mobile workforce housing inventories in Ontario. With this infrastructure and capability, the Expedition Group is able to provide its clients with unmatched service and project support.

Expedition attributes its 20 years of success and growth to its skilled management team and staff. It also prides its self on maintaining a wide array of long term loyal customers. As a growing company, we strive to be flexible and diverse, allowing us to meet our customers’ demand for safe and reliable helicopter services, accommodations, logistics planning and expediting services across the North.

Today, Expedition is more than a helicopter company. It has become a helicopter, camp and transportation service provider to clients and government agencies across Canada that require complete project support in remote locations, while respecting the environment and traditional lands.

With guiding principles aligned, the Windigo First Nations, Expedition Helicopters Inc., their owners and management look forward to a long and prosperous relationship, providing the necessary services to resource development industry in the North.

 

For further information

Graham Campbell, 1-705-272-5755 - grahamc@expeditioncampservice.com

Raymond Beardy, 1-807-737-1585 - rbeardy@windigo.on.ca

This advertising feature has been paid for and provided by Biidabun Logistics Inc.