The Canadian Shield Announces Partnership with Challenger Motor Freight to Assist in Fulfilling 10M Unit Face Shield Order from Public Services and Procurement Canada

Last month, Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), on behalf of the Government of Canada, awarded The Canadian Shield a contract to manufacture 10 million units of its reusable face shields for healthcare providers and essential workers across the country.

As the country has ramped up an aggressive approach to buying, specifically when it comes to personal protective equipment for front-line healthcare workers, The Canadian Shield has relied heavily on and is grateful for the continued support it has received from its many community partners and stakeholders in Waterloo Region.  

The Canadian Shield is excited to announce that they have partnered with Waterloo Region-based transportation and logistics company, Challenger Motor Freight, to assist in fulfillment of the federal contract.

It’s not every day that a federal contract of this size is awarded to a company in the Region of Waterloo. And never before has the region witnessed two local companies join forces in such a manner to help supply the Canadian healthcare sector in response to a global pandemic.

The partnership between The Canadian Shield and Challenger will see Challenger transport all of the face shields manufactured for the federal order from The Canadian Shield’s facility in Waterloo, ON to Health Canada headquarters for distribution.

As one of the largest privately owned transportation and logistics companies in Canada, Challenger transports freight both cross border in North America and nationally within Canada to help companies respond to supply chain requirements. Despite the unique industry challenges presented in the midst of COVID-19, Challenger has implemented continuity plans to ensure they can continue to manage critical operational functions.

“As leaders within the transportation industry, our responsibilities extend beyond our commitment to our people and our customers. In these unprecedented times, it is important that companies such as The Canadian Shield and Challenger come together as a team to assist our frontline workers,” said Dan Einwechter, Chairman and CEO of Challenger Motor Freight. “We are proud to once again have the opportunity to support our local economy. These types of special relationships play a vital role in the recovery of our great country.”

The federal contract requires The Canadian Shield to produce 10 million face shields by August, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the 16 million medical face shields that have been procured by PSPC from Canadian companies. As such, the partnership between Challenger and The Canadian Shield will be ongoing as orders become ready to be shipped to Health Canada.

This significant investment in Waterloo Region’s unique innovation culture has highlighted the homegrown strengths of local companies and the community at large. While the emerging partnership between The Canadian Shield and Challenger demonstrates the collective power and collaborative spirit that Waterloo Region is known for, it has also contributed to a revitalization of the region’s economy by mobilizing local talent and putting people back to work.

The Canadian Shield’s reusable face masks offer a long-term, sustainable solution for Canada’s healthcare industry. With an opportunity such as this comes an increased need for collaboration. “We are thrilled to be partnering with Challenger so we can deepen our contribution to a cause that is so much greater than ourselves,” said Jeremy Hedges, Founder and CEO of The Canadian Shield. “At the end of the day, we’re helping to save lives. Capitalizing on the opportunity to harness the strengths and abilities of others from different corners of our local ecosystem showcases our community’s ability to scale innovation and continue to solve complex challenges.”

Shipments of The Canadian Shield face shields to Health Canada via Challenger began on May 7, and will continue until the federal contract order is fulfilled by August 2020.