Ross Video building new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in eastern Ontario
Ross Video is breaking ground on its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in eastern Ontario, and it promises the facility will be completely green.
The company designs and manufactures equipment for live event and video production is expanding its Iroquois, Ont. facility, an hour south of Ottawa.
Jeff Poapst, Ross Video’s chief manufacturing officer, said the facility would be carbon neutral by 2030.
"Our commitment to environmental sustainability is taking a real step forward with this expansion," said Poapst.
The company boasts clients like NBC, as well as provided technology for big events like the Super Bowl and the Oscars.
CEO David Ross tells CTV News Ottawa that the industry is seeing a shift with a focus more and more on sustainability.
"Especially when you get to a certain size of a company, it’s important to have a certain social responsibility," he explained. "They (clients) do ask us about our environmental impact. It’s becoming more and more of a question that affects your competitiveness if you’re not able to say you're a green company."
Plans include adding solar panels on the roof, which the manufacturing company will use to power its facility. It will also upgrade insulation, and add charging stations for employees' electric vehicles, among other features.
The entire renovation will not be cheap, it comes with a price tag of $15 million. The Ontario Government will provide $2.25 million of that under the regional development program.
Ontario Minister of Economic and Job Creation Victor Fedelli says that will help create 30 new jobs.
"We know that our investment helps encourage growth, it helps encourage the job creation. And so that's why we’re here," said Fedelli. "It is a very green industry and they’re making it even greener."
The expansion is set to be completed by 2022, with the entire facility being carbon neutral by 2030. In all it will add more than 100 new jobs to the area in the next few years, according to the company.
Iroquois is a small rural area with a population of 4,500 in South Dundas, Mayor Steven Byvelds says it’s positive that smaller areas can be seen as a pivotal location for technology companies.
"Jobs are important," he explains. "We need those jobs, high-tech jobs to bring good money into our community and that money is spent, and other people enjoy the benefits of having a high-tech manufacturing facility to broaden our economic development horizons."
Ross, who grew up in the region, said he’s “proud” to be expanding in the region.
"It’s my home. It’s where I grew up," he says. "There’s nothing like making an impact in the town where you went to high school."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Body of Quebec man who died in Cuba found in Russia, family confirms
A Montreal-area family confirmed to CTV News that the body of their loved one who died while on vacation in Cuba is being repatriated to Canada after it was mistakenly sent to Russia.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Saskatchewan isn't remitting the carbon tax on home heating. Why isn't my province following suit?
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
RCMP officers had no legal authority to enter man's home, make arrest: B.C. court
A B.C. man has been found not guilty of assaulting two RCMP officers – with the court finding he was resisting an "unlawful entry and arrest" in his home before he was tasered, taken down and hauled away in handcuffs.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.