By April 1, Trinity Helicopters will have bases in all three territories, providing faster response, better access, and lower costs for helicopter services for northern industry.
A base in Whitehorse will be open by February 5, Cambridge Bay by March 15, and Iqaluit by April 1, 2011, bringing the number of Trinity’s bases to four across the North.

“We’re a northern company,” notes Trinity’s President, Rob Carroll. “So it makes sense that we have a panterritorial presence. With four bases stretching from Whitehorse to Iqaluit, we’ll be where the exploration action is, and able to respond quickly to industry needs.”

And there is much action in exploration across the north. Natural Resources Canada, in its October, 2010 update, made optimistic forecasts for exploration expenditures in both the NWT and Nunavut, putting investments by industry up from 50 per cent to 120 per cent. Exploration in the Yukon continues to be strong.

With robust exploration in Yukon and Nunavut, and a rebound in NWT exploration, Trinity made a strategic decision to position itself where it could best serve its customers.

“We see companies with smaller exploration programs and local needs. With bases across the north, we can be that local supplier. These small exploration companies won’t need to pay the cost of getting a helicopter into the area – we’ll have them there at the ready; a significant cost saving to our customers,” notes Carroll. In addition to the having the benefit of proximity to serve smaller projects, the new bases will provide the depth and range to effectively serve major exploration projects.

The new bases will create local benefits. “We want to be part of the community. That means hiring local employees, and having the benefit of local knowledge. And this summer, we hope to be able to provide training for northerners who want to continue to develop their skills in this industry.” And it also means giving back to the community. Trinity supports local health and wellness initiatives for in support of women, youth, and elders, in the form of grants and scholarships.

“We think the opportunity that will come from having four northern helicopter bases is fantastic – for Trinity, for northern exploration companies, and for the communities,” says Carroll.