Springer Aerospace to be sold locally, founder says financial worries behind them
Springer Aerospace in Echo Bay, Ont. has found a way out of its reported $5.7 million debt – all while remaining locally owned and operated.
The company has new owners – its former neighbours – the duo behind Northshore Tractor Limited and Lock City Dairy.
Vic Fremlin has lived next to Springer Aerospace founder Dan Springer for 50 years.
Fremlin, along with his brother Tom are investing $5.5 million in the local aerospace company to keep it going.
“If we’ve got a guy of this caliber, Springer Aviation, here, you’re not going to rebuild that here. There’s no way you’re going to be able to do it,” said Fremlin.
“He did it over 50 years.”
- Download the CTV News app now and get local alerts on your device
- Get local breaking news and updates sent to your email inbox
The business will continue to be run by Springer, as the Fremlins believe the company’s founder had been ‘dealt a bad hand.’
“I’m not worried one bit,” said Fremlin.
“I’m probably more worried about a cow calving in the back of my farm more than I’m going to worry about what he’s going to do down here.”
Springer told CTV News the ‘bad hand’ Fremlin refers to was poorly timed investments.
In the years immediately before the pandemic, Springer Aerospace spent about $7.5 million in upgrades to its hangar and runway – then COVID-19 happen; that Springer said no one could have predicted.
“Our customers are the regional airlines of the world, and especially in Canada,” said Springer.
“The mandate was that they couldn’t carry passengers, so they shut down for two years and that really hurt us.”
Company officials said pre-pandemic the aerospace firm had about 150 employees – now just 50.
Springer said with financial worries now behind them, he expects that with the upgrades already put in place, they will regain those employees and even “expand to new heights.”
“We have the facilities in place, we have the key people in place, we have the financing in place. We’re going to increase our customer base, service our existing customers and rebuild our workforce,” he said.
Officials said the transactions to finalize the sale should close by the end of the week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Freeland leaves capital gains tax change out of coming budget implementation bill, here's why
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
BREAKING Hosting Vancouver's FIFA World Cup games could cost half a billion dollars
Hosting seven games in Vancouver during the 2026 FIFA World Cup could cost more than half a billion dollars, according to an updated estimate provided Tuesday.
Moe 'will respond' to CRA, insists Saskatchewan has 'paid in full' amid carbon tax audit
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says his government 'will respond' to the Canada Revenue Agency when it concludes its audit of the province, but that his position is Saskatchewan doesn't owe Ottawa any money.
Eviction for landlord's use was legitimate, despite owners' partial move, B.C. court rules
A B.C. judge has upheld the eviction of a family from their North Vancouver townhouse, finding that the landlords did not take an unreasonable amount of time to move into the home after the tenants vacated it.