First Light Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in Canada

The school bus safety manufacturer is moving forward on a new $30 million building across 7.5 acres in Winnipeg, MB, with eyes on global market expansion.

News/Media Release

Read News/Media's Posts

May 21, 2025

First Light Breaks Ground on New Manufacturing Facility in Canada — The building will serve as headquarters for First Light Safety Products and its parent company.
Photo: First Light Safety Products

2 min to read

In a market strife with uncertainty right now, one company is moving forward despite it all: First Light Safety Products announced its new facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There, its new hub will design, test, and manufacture its fully illuminated stop arms and other products for North American, and soon, global use.

"In a time when many in the private sector are pumping the brakes, we’re accelerating," a company website post read. "While global markets hesitate and many companies are adopting a 'wait and see' approach, we’re proudly moving forward with confidence."

The company said that despite tariffs impacting cross-border trade, First Light’s products remain shielded under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement. It is also planning expansion into emerging markets like India and Vietnam.

Inside the New Facility

A groundbreaking was held in April as the company's leadership, partners, and community came together to celebrate the space coming soon to 1455 Clarence Avenue.

The new 140,000-square-foot, $30 million facility is built in partnership with Weathervane Investments by Pre-Con Builders.

Spanning 7.5 acres beside Motor Coach Industries, it will serve as the headquarters for both First Light Safety Products and its parent company, Smartrend Manufacturing Group. The facility will consolidate Smartrend’s three Winnipeg locations into one space while creating 100 to 200 new jobs over five years.

Other features include a restaurant-style lunchroom, collaboration zones, a progressive training facility, mechanical and electrical R&D laboratory with a full suite of testing equipment, inspection and quality lab, and 95,000 sq. ft. of advanced manufacturing and warehouse space.

“This is a calculated risk,” said Scott Bearss, partner at Weathervane Investments. “But when you’re advancing safety, the reward far outweighs the risk. We believe making this investment now is still going to be a great decision three to five years from now.”

The project is scheduled for completion in October 2026.

“We’re not just building a facility,” said First Light President and CEO Kevin Smith. “We’re building a legacy of safety.”

Other News

The manufacturer also recently announced five new school districts in Pennsylvania that will be using its products in a post on LinkedIn.

Topics:stop arms suppliers Canada Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.