START SMALL DREAM BIG!
Direction North was founded and began operating in 2015. After using 5-ton trucks for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 winter road seasons, we expanded the operations, offering complete tractor-trailer service to Garden Hill for the 2017/2018 winter road season.
At the beginning of the winter road season in late 2017 Direction North began hauling goods to Garden Hill with one truck and one reefer box. By the end of the season in spring 2018, we tripled the size of our fleet and diversified the equipment on hand to deliver a greater variety of goods. The 2018/19 Winter Road Season was a clear success for Direction North and we were one of the first freight companies on the Winter Road, as well as one of the last.
Direction North's current vision is to build a first of its kind in Manitoba 100% Indigenous owned and operated logistics company. Manitoba’s winter roads have proven very lucrative for the trucking companies that haul goods, but none of the major players are owned and operated by the people who receive the goods shipped on the winter roads.
We hire from our communities
Direction North’s team of drivers is 100% Indigenous, and Direction North is continually and aggressively seeking new drivers. If you want to enter the industry please contact us today!
MICHEAL BIRCH - FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
Michael is originally from Garden Hill First Nation and has been an entrepreneur since he opened his first store in Garden Hill when he was only 16 years old. Michael was named Manitoba’s 2001 Aboriginal Entrepreneur of the Year, by the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business. The first recipient of the award. Michael evolved the innovative idea of optimizing and modernizing business opportunities on First Nations from his former First Nations Buying Group program that leveraged the collective buying power of dozens of Manitoba reserves.
Michael is currently the President of M.B. Enterprises (MBE), a full-service facility management company that specializes in building and managing retail businesses on behalf of Manitoba First Nations. MBE has developed a philosophy of “giving back” to their client communities by adopting a business model that returns profits and ownership back to the band over time.
Michael founded Direction North in 2015. At the time, he purchased one 5-ton truck to service his own business at the time, Garden Hill Convenience Store, as well as Garden Hill First Nation as a whole, including Island Lake Family Services, Garden Hill Health Authority, and the Garden Hill Education Authority.
MATT AQUIN - VP LOGISTICS
Matt brings over 17 years of Transportation and Logistics Management to the team.
He started his career in 2005 and quickly excelled by developing relationships with not only his customers but his partner carriers. Matt was the youngest Account Executive in Vitran Express history and has since advanced his career to include Director and C.E.O titled to his resume
Matt brings an energy and passionate commitment to Direction North that will undoubtedly help grow the relationships with our current customers and partner but will also help to open new doors and explore new opportunities for our company.