North Star Air (NSA) officially opened its new $5.5 million hangar and warehouse project at YTH Thompson Airport on August 18 with a noon ribbon cutting ceremony. The new facility will support the airline’s ongoing fleet and route expansion.

“The new 15,000 sq. ft. facility provides us with a strategic location for long-distance shipping to our northern customers. The Thompson base is NSA’s first base outside of Ontario and will serve all of Northern Manitoba along with the Kivalliq and Qikiqtaaluk Regions of Nunavut,” said Frank Kelner, President of NSA. “We have a proven track record of providing reliable service to over 50 remote northern communities throughout Canada and this new location will further enhance our ability to service our customers. In addition, we have hired 25 full-time staff for the Thompson base,” added Kelner.

Besides the ribbon cutting and speeches, the opening ceremony also featured a charitable barbecue, charity plane pull, children’s entertainment, and door prizes.

NSA was founded in 1997 and acquired by The North West Company Inc. in June 2017. It has grown rapidly over the past three years and today operates a fleet of 16 aircraft with 180 plus dedicated employees servicing over 50 remote Northern communities.

The North West Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading retailer of food, products and services to rural communities and urban neighbourhoods in Canada, Alaska, the South Pacific and the Caribbean. North West operates 237 stores under trading names Northern, NorthMart, Giant Tiger, AC Value Center, Cost-U-Less and RiteWay Food Markets and has annual sales of approximately CAD$2.0 billion.