New employment opportunities and positive developments are attracting people to The Garden River First Nation, an Indigenous community in Ontario, Canada .
The production of aggregates plays an important role here. The profits generated from the operations are reinvested within the First Nation to create new jobs, new housing and new perspectives for the future, according to Wirtgen Group.
As part of a current project, Garden River is supplying aggregates for Highway 17A, which runs through the reserve and also serves as a bypass for the Trans-Canada Highway. In order to fulfill demands in terms of tonnage and grain quality, the community has invested in a fleet of Kleemann machines consisting of a jaw crusher, two cone crushers, two screening plants and a stacker. Depending on the specifications for the final product, the machines operate in combination as primary, secondary, and tertiary crushing and screening plants.
An Investment in the Future
Wirtgen Group photo
The resurfacing work began at the end of 2025 and is scheduled for completion in 2028. Almost "When we became aware that the bypass was going to undergo resurfacing and we were to be partnered into that project, we realized that our old crusher was too outdated and wasn't capable of producing some of the products like the Superpave," said Chris Morettin, business entities manager of Garden River First Nation. "We needed to replace that model with something brand new that had the capabilities to meet Ontario Ministry of Transportation requirements."
The 20-year-old impact crusher required constant maintenance and couldn't keep up with the operation's demands. Morettin and Aggregate Supervisor Travis Belleau started looking into newer aggregate-crushing technology. In spring 2025, they made the decision to invest in a Kleemann plant train. "We conducted a financial analysis based on revenues that were going to be generated," said Morettin. "We were able to see that purchasing this equipment would pay for itself over the lifespan of this project."
Intuitive, Advanced, Safe Technology
Apart from the fuel-efficiency, users are impressed by the intuitive operating concept of the machines in the plant train. "I haven't been crushing very long, and I found it fairly easy to learn," said Belleau. "I think that speaks volumes. What I like most is the touch screen, which has tons of information on it."
The safety functions are also an important feature for the Garden River crew. "We appreciate the way the machine protects itself," continued Belleau. "When there's a problem, the machine actually sirens it off to warn you and switches itself off and you then just walk over and diagnose the code. The safety factor that is built into the machines has been instrumental in helping us to learn and understand the machines and keep them running longer."
Wirtgen Group photo
Revitalization of the community
The goal is the reinvestment of revenues in the revitalization of the community, according to Wirtgen Group. In 2025, the band built 20 new houses, supplying all the aggregate themselves. And, with the opening of several subdivisions, the business growth continues.
"That gives us more work for the community and makes it possible for more people to move back," said Balleau. The rehabilitation of Highway 17A brings jobs not only in materials processing but also in road construction, where machine operators, construction workers, surveyors and other human resources are required.
As the Garden River First Nation continues to expand its materials processing capacity, the foundation it has laid with its investment in Kleemann equipment will support the growth of the community in the coming years, according to Wirtgen Group. Today, 176 years after its founding, Garden River is providing clear proof that honoring traditions and embracing innovation need not be mutually exclusive — and are rather a formula for building a thriving, self-sustaining future.
