New Thales West-Coast Canadian Operations Centre Land Blessing Ceremony
Thales is pleased to announce that a land blessing ceremony was performed on the site of its future facility, which will support the Royal Canadian Navy’s AJISS Program, to acknowledge its location on the traditional territories of the Me’ le’ xelh Mustimuhwfor (Malahat Nation).
The land blessing ceremony provides a communal opportunity to give thanks to the land for the many gifts that it has provided.
The ceremony follows the signing of a letter of intent between Thales and Yos Economic Development, the business management arm of the Malahat Nation, for the design and development of a warehouse and office facility in the Malahat Business Innovation Park. This 55-acre development will become home to some of Canada’s most innovative businesses.
In clearing away negative energy and welcoming in the positive, the culturally significant ceremony makes way for construction to begin before the end of the calendar year.
The new facility, which is scheduled for operational tenancy in 2023, will primarily be used to support the Royal Canadian Navy’s AJISS Program: the comprehensive, long-term, in-service support contract for the Arctic Offshore Patrol Vessels (AOPV) and the Joint Support Ships (JSS), for which Thales is the prime contractor. This new facility will help Thales to oversee the refit, repair and maintenance of the AOPV and JSS fleets, together with the Royal Canadian Navy and the Fleet Maintenance Facilities, to ensure ships are mission-ready and available, where and when they are needed.
“Malahat Nation is excited to welcome Thales to our community as a partner in our economic growth and diversification. We look forward to a long relationship working together to support the AJISS program and hope to expand this relationship into future opportunities.” Chief George Harry, Malahat Nation
“The Thales Canada team is grateful for the land blessing ceremony. Tsetsuwatil, which in Hul'qumi'num Coast Salish signifies an enterprise working together for the common good, could not be more fitting in the context of the journey that we – together with the Malahat Nation, our customers, partners and suppliers – are embarking on through the AJISS program with the Royal Canadian Navy. This new relationship with the Malahat Nation is also a significant step for Thales Canada in support of Reconciliation across the country.” Chris Pogue, CEO, Thales Canada
As a global leader in advanced technologies, Thales invests in making the world safer, greener and more inclusive. This new facility will help to advance each of those goals in turn: safety through its contribution to Canada’s defence and security through AJISS and the Royal Canadian Navy; environmental stewardship in the building’s eco-design, which further moves Thales toward its commitment to be net-zero by 2040; and more inclusive by virtue of being Thales’ first significant step toward Reconciliation and deepening its relationship with Indigenous Peoples and businesses.
This new facility will also enable integration of key digital capabilities in big data and artificial intelligence to support modern in-service support practices for the Royal Canadian Navy and, in so doing, extends Thales’ enduring commitment to create jobs, partner with Canadian small and medium-sized businesses, contribute to important skills development, and facilitate further research and development investment in and across Canada.