Drone Delivery Canada delivers pandemic supplies to Ontario First Nation

Drone Delivery Canada delivers pandemic supplies to Ontario First Nation by unmanned aircraft to ensure contact-free shipments of protective equipment and testing supplies.

Drone Delivery Canada delivers pandemic supplies to Ontario First Nation by drone

Based in Vaughan, Ontario, Drone Delivery Canada is making small deliveries of about 10 pounds to Georgine Island First Nation in Lake Simcoe during a federal government-funded pilot project, reports inbrampton.

Besides the small shipments, the drone delivery company also has the ability to deliver packages of up to 400 pounds by unmanned aircraft if needed.

The News outlet reports that William McCue, a councilor with the First Nation, said the community has upheld lockdown rules for longer than the rest of the province, and the use of drones will help supplies continue to roll in while people stay isolated.

“At the beginning of the pandemic we had a total lockdown of the community,” said McCue. “We tend to wait maybe three weeks or more before we go into the various phases that the province implements.”

The drone delivery system that is due to start in the coming weeks, McCue said that the community will be much better able to withstand a second COVID-19 wave.

Getting supplies to the community on Georgina Island can take up weeks because of complicated logistics. With a drone delivery system shipments of protective equipment can be brought to the island every hour even with rain or snow.

“I think the community will feel more at ease knowing there is another avenue for us to obtain supplies without (contact),” said McCue.

If proven successful, the drones might eventually also be used to deliver everyday items, such as groceries and insulin to the remote communities. The CEO of Drone Delivery Canada, Michael Zahra said that his company can contribute to the fight against the Coronavirus in a number of ways.

“First Nations communites and remote communities have always been one of the markets that we've been addresssing since day one,” said Zahra. “With the pandemic, we had a significant increase in inbound inquiries from First Nations communities and in healthcare… like hospitals, labs and senior homes.”

The drone delivery service to Georgina Island can be seen as a back-up to the community's regular supply chain, with the benefit of being contact-free. Drone Delivery Canada is preparing to set up a similar service for the Beausoleil First Nation in the Georgian Bay.

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