Critical air infrastructure in northern Saskatchewan is getting a major upgrade aimed at keeping remote communities connected year-round.
The federal government announced more than $11.6 million in funding Tuesday to rehabilitate key operational surfaces at Wollaston Lake Airport.
The investment, provided through Transport Canada’s Airports Capital Assistance Program, will fund repairs to the airport’s single runway, taxiway, and apron area. The project also covers electrical and lighting system upgrades, including new airfield lighting, an aerodrome beacon, and a wind direction indicator to improve safety during winter darkness and severe weather.
Wollaston Lake and the neighboring Hatchet Lake Denesuline First Nation rely on air travel as a primary link for medical care, essential supplies, and travel for most of the year when overland access is unavailable.
Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, said the funding provides critical support for northern residents who depend on reliable air transit.
The federal program has invested more than $13.5 million across three safety projects at the Wollaston Lake facility to date.
(TOP PHOTO: Secretary of State for Rural Development Buckley Belanger makes the funding announcement in Wollaston Lake this week. Photo provided)