MBiz | Spring 2021

Photo © Volker Beckmann

jobs would be a great boost for the local economy. SubZero is also planning to build a dedicated outdoor testing track. In the past, the cold-weather testing site has hosted clients from all over North America, as well as companies from England, Germany, Japan and Southeast Asia. Not only is Morris in the thick of rejuvenating Thompson’s existing testing industry, he is champing at the bit to expand it to cold-weather testing of drones and electric vehicles. The Thompson Chamber of Commerce is planning to hold a rally in the summer of 2022 to promote the electric-vehicle industry, with EVs travelling from the U.S. to Thompson. Morris says the Chamber is working with the provincial government to add more charging stations along the northern Manitoba route. ■ Thompson has proven to be a prime cold- weather testing site for other automobile companies, along with testing for small jet aircraft, helicopters, heavy equipment and snowmobiles.

Thompson’s cold-weather testing facilities. “SubZero has been revived over the last year,” Morris says. “But, because of COVID, there was no cross-border travel, which affected business. And I couldn’t get to trade shows and to different companies. (But) I’m notifying people that we’re still here for winter testing. “Testing slowed down, but didn’t stop over the past year. Ford built its own facility and was testing trucks. Honda has a facility, but those guys didn’t come this year.” Thompson has proven to be a prime cold- weather testing site for other automobile companies, along with testing for small jet aircraft, helicopters, heavy equipment and snowmobiles. Such testing has reportedly had an economic impact of $2-$3 million on the city of about 14,000 during past winters, and that number doesn’t include

the impact of companies that built and maintain permanent testing facilities, such as the Global Aerospace Centre for Icing and Research (GLACIER). SubZero North was established to provide a host of services, including “good communications links … easy transportation access to the test site from their (testers’) home base, quality hotel accommodation and food services, equipment rental shops, repair facilities and a friendly environment.” The agency can even provide staff to help with testing, says Morris, who worked in the auto-body trade in Thompson for about 30 years. “We have standby testing people and some businesses could need as many as 200 drivers (to test vehicles). We’re just here to basically facilitate them.” Morris figures creating 20 or 30 seasonal

SPRING 2021