DEH CHO - Two helicopter companies in the Deh Cho are celebrating after securing new contracts with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Dehcho Regional Helicopters Ltd. will be using its firefighting purpose-built Astar 350 to provide firefighting support and suppression services out of Fort Simpson after winning a five-year contract with the Department of Environment and Natural Affairs. - photo courtesy of Dehcho Regional Helicopters

Both Dehcho Regional Helicopters Ltd. out of Fort Simpson and Denendeh Helicopters Ltd. out of Hay River were awarded five-year contracts to provide firefighting support and suppression services to the department. Both contracts are valued at more than $2 million if the expected number of hours are flown.

"We're elated that it's finally happened," said Joanne Deneron, the president of Dehcho Regional Helicopters Ltd.

The company, which was the incumbent in Fort Simpson going into the request for proposals procedure, began preparing and lobbying almost a year in advance, Deneron said.

The founding members of the partnership include the investment arms of Acho Dene Koe First Nation, the Fort Simpson Metis Nation, Nahanni Butte Dene Band, Sambaa K'e Dene Band and Jean Marie River First Nation as well as the business arms of Liidlii Kue First Nation and Pehdzeh Ki First Nation, which joined last December. They all worked together to get the contract, she said.

The five-year contract, which is the cornerstone of the company's business model, provides peace of mind knowing Dehcho Regional Helicopters won't have to survive from one year to the next. The contract will give the company the opportunity to expand and look for other opportunities for work, said Deneron.

Deneron said the region will benefit from having a local company doing the work.

"Who knows better about the region than the people that live in it," she asked.

Dehcho Regional Helicopters is working in partnership with Great Slave Helicopters Ltd. which will be operating the helicopter for the contract.

Securing one of the contracts is also a feather in the cap of Denendeh Helicopters Ltd., said John Curran, the marketing manager with Discovery Air Inc.'s northern services.

When the Hay River contract was last awarded in 2008 Denendeh received it through negotiations. This year the company had to compete on a national stage against other bids through the request for proposals process.

"They know their businesses are built on a sound model and running properly because they can bid in an environment like that and win," Curran said.

Denendeh is majority aboriginal-owned through the investment arms of Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation of Fort Providence and the K'atlodeeche First Nation of the Hay River Reserve. Great Slave Helicopters, a subsidiary of Discovery Air, holds a minority stake in the company.

Curran said in both cases the companies were awarded the contracts because they provided the best solutions to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, including the proper helicopters, local experience and proven track records with creating economic wealth in the region.

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