Cannabis manufacturing facility coming to Nipissing First Nation

Breaking ground at new cannabis production plant on Nipissing First Nation. (Supplied)

North Bay — The shovels are in the dirt for a brand new cannabis manufacturing plant on the Nipissing First Nation.

Golden Harvest Organics Inc. broke ground on a new-state-of-the-art 30,000 square foot cannabis facility.

The facility is owned by Natalie Payette-Chevrier. She is the first female First Nation entrepreneur in the country to take on a project of this size and scope.

The idea for this new plant, which began more than two years ago, was meant to be a leader in creating one of the first Health Canada-regulated wholesale cannabis producers.

"I’m so proud of our committed team and Board of Directors, who clearly see this vision and have not stopped working over these two years," said Payette-Chevrier.

The plant is expected to employ 80 people.

Golden Harvest Organics is a wholesale agent of medicinal and recreational cannabis. Like any Canadian production facility involving food, drug and agriculture, it has to follow all the rigorous regulatory measures from Health Canada and Nipissing First Nation’s Cannabis Act.

"I am very happy to see this project breaking ground in our community. Natalie and Doug, as proprietors of this business, continue to demonstrate what you can achieve through hard work, commitment and doing things the right way," said Nipissing First Nation Chief Scott McLeod. "They are leaders in entrepreneurship in Nipissing First Nation and I am proud to extend the council's support for this business."

The facility is set to become one of the most secure in the region; second only to NORAD in North Bay.

Mandatory security planning includes:

Golden Harvest Organics is hopeful production can begin next January.