Wasaya celebrating 20 years of successful business operations serving remote First Nations
From Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal
Airline‘s success offered as inspiration
Northwest Bureau - 07/17/2010
Wasaya Group Inc. will celebrate the company‘s 20 anniversary during a ceremony July 28 on the Wunnumin Lake First Nation.
“This celebration is important to showcase our community ownership, and also to recognize a multitude of individual success stories of First Nations grassroots people who have worked together to make a difference for our communities,” Wasaya Group CEO Tom Kamenawatamin said in a news release.
“In doing this we want to particularly express to our youth that if they put their minds and energy towards accomplishing their goals, whether in aviation, management or other meaningful career paths, that they will be successful too,” he said.
The anniversary celebrations will be held in conjunction with the company‘s annual general meeting and various other community activities July 27-29. Highlights include aircraft tours, company displays, live entertainment, children‘s activities, and a community feast.
“Our biggest achievement is we have been able to survive 20 years as a First Nations business,” said Wasaya Airways LP president Tom Morris.
“We came from the poorest region in Ontario, yet we are successful. For us to grow as a company we had to do it the business way,” he said, adding that “we did it the right way, the hard way, the business way.”
Wasaya Airways is offering a special fare for anyone interested in travelling to the event. For more information, call 1-877-492-7292, or visit the website: www.wasaya.com.
Wasaya Group of Companies is owned by 10 First Nations of Bearskin Lake, Kasabonika Lake, Keewaywin, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Kingfisher Lake, Nibinamik, Wapekeka, Wunnumin Lake, Muskrat Dam and Pikangikum.