Thunder Bay — A First Nations owned local business is receiving over $195,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to boost job creation and community development in Northern Ontario.
Supercom Industries, based in Thunder Bay and Fort William First Nation, manufactures the Spring Drain, a patented product designed to reduce railway track degradation and derailment risks caused by unstable peatlands.
“To see the innovation that’s coming forward from our partner First Nation communities and being able to assist them to grow that business, I think it's the direction we need to be taking to continue to grow the economy in Northwestern Ontario and support our families,” said MPP Kevin Holland.
The investment will allow the company to expand manufacturing capacity, add storage and transportation equipment, and enhance product installation.
“This funding is a great example of how the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation supports innovative, homegrown solutions right here in Thunder Bay,” Holland added.
Supercom is fully owned by five First Nations communities along Lake Superior’s North Shore. It holds an agreement to commercialize, manufacture, sell, and install the Spring Drain system across North America.
“Our organization is 100 percent First Nations-owned,” said Norm Jaehrling, chair of Supercom’s board of directors.
“We have five members, First Nations, and a number of business lines, including an agreement with TBT Engineering, which owns the intellectual property around Spring Drains. That agreement permits us to commercialize it and take it to market.”
Sarah Levesque, Supercom business development and sales manager, explained how the product works:
“The Spring Drain is a corrugated weeping tile wrapped with filtration fabric and geo-grid, filled with river stone. It functions as a pressure relief valve when trains pass over peatlands, protecting tracks from damage.”
Supercom’s innovation has earned cross-border recognition.
“In 2024, we won the Product Innovation Award through REMSA (Railway Engineering-Maintenance Suppliers Association) in the U.S. and from CARS (Canadian Association of Railway Suppliers) in Canada,” said Levesque.
The company also focuses on sourcing locally and supporting Indigenous businesses:
“We prioritize sourcing from Canadian companies and suppliers,” Levesque added. “We even purchased supplies from another Indigenous-owned business.”
