Pending a vote by the RM of Buckland council, the former home of Thorpe Industries may have a new tenant. (Nigel Maxwell/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Expanding businesses

Western Canadian company aims to land head office in RM of Buckland

Nov 18, 2021 | 5:00 PM

A building used this past summer as a drive-thru clinic for COVID-19 vaccinations, and was once also home to Thorpe Industries, may one day represent a home base for a company that includes helicopter operations, fuel sales, food franchises, and the leasing and sales of aircraft and aircraft equipment and buildings.

Before moving in, Trio Group Ventures Ltd.must first receive approval from the Rural Municipality (RM) of Buckland council, and its ratepayers. Company president Patrick Campling explained in an email that they operate twenty companies which in turn have operations across Western Canada and the territories.

“In the past we have worked well with the mayor of Prince Albert and the city manager and we look forward to building a similar relationship with the RM of Buckland,” he said

Great Slave Helicopters is one of 20 companies operated by Tri Group Ventures Ltd. (Submitted photo/Vicki MacPherson)

With respect to why the company was interested in this specific location, financial controller Vicki MacPherson explained the area is zoned for industrial use and the Tri Group was attracted to the recent activity happening in the area, which includes the sale of the Nisbet campground to Prairie North Construction.

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“It looks a like a good opportunity for us. The building is exactly what we need for expanding companies,” she said.

One of those companies is Great Slave Helicopters, which has its head office in Yellowknife; but with respect to the company as a whole, MacPherson explained they don’t really have a home base yet, and are just kind of all spread out.

“The finance office is growing rapidly and we have expanded as much as we can in this space” she said referring to their current office at Carlton Court Plaza in Prince Albert.

And with respect to hiring, Macpherson acknowledged there may very well be many opportunities locally as the company grows.

The RM of Buckland Council plans to discuss the discretionary use application during a Special Meeting of Council on Nov. 26 at 1:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public. Reeve Don Fyrk told paNOW all of council is in favor of the application and are welcoming the company with open arms.

“Hopefully we can benefit each other,” he said.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell