Preserving capacity, General Tom Lawson, Chief of the Defence Staff, Keys to Canadian SAR
Issue link: http://vanguardcanada.uberflip.com/i/1481811
We remain committed to Call to Ac- tion #92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (2015), which calls on the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN- DRIP) as a reconciliation framework. We work steadfastly to apply the UNDRIP principles, norms, and standards to corpo- rate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. We believe in our responsibility to en- sure Indigenous peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education op- portunities. Indigenous communities are an untapped reserve of talent, expertise and knowledge, which will lead to long- term sustainable benefits from economic development projects. We're registered with the CCAB as an Aboriginal Procure- ment Champion to support Indigenous- owned businesses in securing contracts. In 2019, as an extension of ATCO's working relationship with Siksika First Nation in Alberta, our Disaster & Emer- gency Management division launched its Partnering 4 Resilience (P4R) program. P4R takes a community-based approach to advancing resilience at the local level by matching traditional and cultural knowl- edge with technical expertise. ATCO sup- ports First Nation ownership of Emergen- cy Management practices and believes it's critical to the safety and security of Indig- enous peoples. ATCO Frontec's joint venture with Pan Arctic Inuit Logistics Corporation (PAIL) was formed in 1994 and was one of the first of its kind participating in Ca- nadian Government contracts. In 2000, Canada expressed a desire for operations on the North Warning System (NWS) to flow benefits to Inuit beneficiaries more transparently, and our Inuit partners had greater interest in the management and technical aspects of the defence system. At this time the partnership was 50-50, shar- ing all aspects of the business and Nasittuq Corporation was created. As a joint venture, Nasittuq delivered the operations and main- tenance contract for the NWS from 2001- 2014. It has also provided site support ser- vices at Canadian Forces Station Alert on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut since 2012. Today, Nasittuq is now a majority-owned Inuit company, registered on the Inuit Firm Registry, with ATCO Frontec maintaining a 49 per cent standing for both shares and equity. Under this new ownership structure announced in January 2021, Nasittuq won back a seven-year North Warning System contract in January 2022. Innovation: One company, infinite possibilities An undertaking as momentous as NORAD modernization requires forward- thinking partners who will invest time and resources to realize efficiencies and cost- savings. With more than 30 years of global operations experience and the ability to de- liver innovative solutions, ATCO Frontec is well-positioned to be a partner-of-choice for NORAD modernization activities. Continuous improvement is a core value of our business. Our system of identify- ing and applying lessons from our opera- tions helps inform future opportunities at all levels of organization. For instance, we investigate and implement ways to reduce our reliance on chemicals. Operating in www.vanguardcanada.com OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 17 Sponsored Content PERSPECTIVE In ATCO Frontec and the greater ATCO family, NORAD and defence contractors alike may be assured of a partner who is Always There. Anywhere. remote and rural areas has taught us how to make better use of water and to find ways to reduce the amount of waste. For example, we use ozone dispensers for both housing/janitorial and within our kitch- ens, to limit the use of chemicals agents. We're also working with various industry partners to develop and implement ways our projects may repurpose solid waste as an energy feedstock, thus reducing fossil fuel consumption. Furthermore, we're able to leverage the innovative engineering and research and development from other parts of ATCO to develop sustainable solutions for NORAD modernization and deliver on Industrial and Technological Benefits. In the last three years, we have partnered with our colleagues at ATCO Infrastructure Solu- tions and ATCO Energy Solutions in har- nessing solar energy for use in remote and rural areas. With its Indigenous partners, ATCO has installed the largest off-grid so- lar and storage microgrid project in Canada near Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. The project has reduced the community's reliance on diesel generation. ATCO has also acquired the rights to build two solar installations in Calgary to support transition to lower- carbon energy. Once completed, the two projects will be the largest solar installation in a major urban centre in Western Cana- da, at 27 and 37 megawatts, respectively. The installations will cover the equivalent of 170 football fields, power more than 18,000 homes and offset 68,000 tonnes of carbon a year. Path Forward The path to bringing NORAD assets into the 21st century offers considerable plan- ning, innovation and patience. In ATCO Frontec and the greater ATCO fam- ily, NORAD and defence contractors alike may be assured of a partner who is Always There. Anywhere. Learn more at: frontec.atco.com