Thales Canada partners with Malahat Nation for new West Coast Operations Centre
Thales is pleased to announce the opening of its new West Coast Operations Centre in the Malahat Business Park in Mill Bay, British Columbia, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to innovation, collaboration, and economic reconciliation in Canada.
Strategically located in Pacific Canada, the Thales West Coast Operations Centre represents an investment in the future of in-service support solutions that are tailored to meet the unique demands of the Royal Canadian Navy’s evolving needs. The new operations centre will employ a skilled workforce focused on overseeing the refit, repair and maintenance of the Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) and the Joint Support Ships (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.
“Ensuring the mission readiness of the Royal Canadian Navy’s fleets is critically important and this new operations centre demonstrates our commitment to delivering best-in-class in-service support capabilities to the Royal Canadian Navy,” said Chris Pogue, CEO, Thales Canada. “This partnership with the Malahat Nation underscores Thales' dedication to working with Indigenous communities, fostering mutual growth, and emphasizing sustainable practices.”
The facility is designed with environmental sustainability in mind, aiming to minimize its carbon footprint while promoting responsible resource management. Thales and the Malahat Nation share a vision for a sustainable future, prioritizing ecological stewardship and community involvement.
"We are excited to collaborate with Thales on this initiative,” said Chief George Harry, Malahat Nation. "This partnership represents an important step toward empowering our community and ensuring that our voices are heard in technological advancements that will shape the future.”
The facility incorporates an innovative water capture and re-use system that enhances the sustainable use of water in support of the maintenance of the natural landscape. Water is an essential environmental element that holds significant cultural importance to the Malahat community.
“Creating meaningful economic opportunities for Indigenous nations that respect their values of sustainable resource management is essential for building a fairer society,” said the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “Through Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy, the partnership between the Malahat Nation and Thales to build a West Coast Operations Centre provides important economic benefits to the community.”
The new development was built in partnership with Yos Economic Development, the business management arm of the Malahat Nation, and is located on the traditional territories of the Me’luxulh mustimuhw. This partnership with Yos Economic Development is a result of Thales Canada’s Industrial and Technological Benefits (ITB) commitments to Canada through its participation in the AOPS and JSS In-Service Support program. In Canada, Thales employs more than 1300 people from coast-to-coast, offering leading capabilities in defence, aerospace and space, cyber and digital.