Ornge begins expansion in northeastern Ontario with new hangar

Ornge air ambulance announced it has acquired a new, larger hangar in Sudbury.

The new hangar at the Greater Sudbury Airport, similar to its current location.

Ornge air ambulance announced it has acquired a new, larger hangar in Sudbury. The new hangar at the Greater Sudbury Airport, similar to its current location. (Photo from video)

The 35,000-square-foot site was originally built in 2015 and was leased by another contractor until Ornge purchased the location at the beginning of the month.

A year ago, Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones was in Sudbury to announce $108 million for Ornge’s expansion, which included four additional aircraft, two new crews, two 24/7 aircraft and a new hangar.

"The extension was tied to more serviceability specific to northeastern Ontario and introducing two 24-hour lines in Sudbury," said Wade Durham, chief operating officer and deputy chief executive officer at Ornge.

"As a result of that and that expansion, we had to look for a new a new hangar at the Sudbury airport to accommodate."

In a statement, the Greater Sudbury Airport described the acquisition as an important milestone, saying it is "proud to play a role in supporting Ornge in their expansion to connect northeastern Ontario with critical, life-saving services."

The new hangar will serve as Ornge’s second 'superbase' in Ontario, operating fixed wing aircraft, rotor wing aircraft and critical care land ambulances.

"By expanding the service, we’ll actually better service northeastern Ontario, including the James Bay coast and a lot of the First Nations communities," Durham said.

In the next few years, Durham said Ornge will be recruiting for a variety of positions, including critical care paramedics, pilots and engineers.

"We currently have an overall staff of about 30, but that'll increase to over 100 people in the next few years to ensure that basis is fully staffed," he said.

With the added space, Ornge will be able to expand its training capabilities.

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"Currently, Ornge does all the critical care, training for paramedics and that training is typically done in Thunder Bay or in Toronto," Durham said.

"But now, we’ll be able to do it here in Sudbury."

Some renovations will be underway starting now, with an anticipated completion of phase one by spring 2025.