There are many worthwhile charities for companies to partner with. Yet there are very few that offer a local and personnel connection like Make-A-Wish Canada. The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a charity in Canada whose grants wishes to critically ill children each year. The amazing work they do changes the lives of these children and their families for the better! This dedication to children and community aligns directly with the core values the Northern Strands Group of Companies holds. We have committed to grant the wish of one child each year for the past several years and everyone chips in to make this a reality. Our teams take this commitment to heart, and we work throughout the year make this donation possible each year.

With fundraising events not possible this year, our team became creative in their fundraising efforts. Our staff rose to the challenge this year and we collected recycling from all locations to send to SARCAN as well as having a silent auction with donation items from companies we work with.

This last year we sponsored a 7 year old girl named Alexis. She loves swimming, Lego and animals. Her wish was to have a puppy! Through our donations and fundraising this year we have been able to grant this wish for Alexis. She welcomed home a Cocker Spaniel puppy this year.

The creativity of these kids and amazing strength and spirit makes working with Make-A-Wish so much fun! There are quite a few children in Canada waiting for a wish so check out their page at: https://makeawish.ca for ways you can get involved or donate! It’s an amazing organization doing work to make the world a softer and gentler place for critically ill children in Canada. 

Fortis is well known for designing wire rope and electrical cable reel winders, reel trailers and mobile reel handlers for the mining and construction industries in Saskatchewan. So it was no surprise when a local potash mine tasked Fortis to design a custom Hydraulic Reel Trailer for transporting electrical cable underground. The reel trailer needed to be used in conjunction with the mines current CWS hexagonal cable cores and Toyota Land Cruiser personnel carriers. The mine specifically required a self-propelled hydraulic unit to reel large electrical cable and have the ability to lower the reel to allow for "free" wheeling while the gears would be disengaged. 

This particular Fortis engineered Power Cable Reel Trailer needed to meet the following specifications :

1. Lift a fully loaded cable core. 

2. Reel in 1000ft of cable while trailer remains stationary

3. Safely free wheel cable out while driving

4. Transport fully loaded cable cores

5. Have a self-contained power system to complete the required motions

6. Meet the mines required trailer specs

7. Incorporate a dual axle design

8. Fit within the mines cage dimensions for lowering into the mine

See the below 3D visual renderings of the custom Hydraulic Reel Trailer