Hatchet Lake Buys Transport Company
- EFN Staff | December 11, 2013
Hatchet Lake Development (HLP) LP has purchased the assets of Reds Transport Ltd, a general goods transportation company in Prince Albert that services Wollaston Lake, making it the first 100% First Nations owned transportation company providing general transportation services to the region.
Assets were purchased on October 30, and the new company, named Caribou Transport L.P, began operations November 1. Its fleet includes tractors, reefers, flat beds, and three-tons.
"We are very excited to be making this announcement," says Anne Robillard, CEO of HLD. "Transportation logistics in the Athabasca are very challenging. This investment gives us greater control over the transportation of goods into our communities and makes some of those challenges more manageable.
"It also provides an excellent opportunity to hire and train Northerners in an important sector and build local business knowledge."
Robillard says Red's Transport is well-known for providing excellent service in the Athabasca, and she says this new partnership will continue and expand that service.
Rick Smith, the former owner of Red's Transport Ltd, will continue as General Manager of Caribou Transport L.P.
"I'm very pleased to be working with HLD," says Smith. "We've had an excellent relationship with HLD over the years, and this partnership benefits everyone."
He says upcoming plans include establishing a depot in Wollaston in order to provide the same level of freight service found in a southern community. Smith expects the depot will be running in early 2014.
"This is just the first of many improvements we'll be able to make as a result of this partnership."
Caribou Transport will take over the depot and property on Old Highway 2 south of Prince Albert, as well as the equipment that was owned by Red's Transport. Caribou intends to expand its specialty of operations in the Athabasca, as well as its services to Central and Northern Saskatchewan by working in partnership with communities it serves and other transport companies.
HLD organizes and manages investments, business activities, and labour force deployment on behalf of the Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation. It runs seven business operations including retail, hospitality, highways and infrastructures, fishery, and labour services.
HLD also has investments in five other companies: Prince Albert Development Corp, Prince Albert First Nations Business Development LP, Athabasca Catering, Athabasca Basin Development, and Northern Aviation Partnership.