Written by Zoé Buissé. Originally published by CentrePort Partner World Trade Centre Winnipeg.
A month after moving into MoveMobility’s new facility, Carrie McDonald still finds herself taking a wrong turn now and then.
“I’m still trying to remember which door goes to where,” laughs the company’s Chief Administrative Officer.
After eight years with MoveMobility, it’s a problem she doesn’t mind having.
Not long ago, the company was running out of room. Employees were working elbow to elbow, with desks squeezed into every available corner. But as they started manufacturing Type II ambulances — compact, van-based emergency vehicles — it became clear that squeezing people in wasn’t a long-term solution.
This spring, MoveMobility officially moved into its new 60,000-square-foot facility in CentrePort Canada, more than three times the size of its previous location. The $19-million investment marks a major milestone for the Manitoba company, which designs and manufactures wheelchair-accessible vehicles, ambulances, and mobile medical units that help organizations improve access to healthcare and transportation.
World Trade Centre Winnipeg sat down with Carrie to talk about this significant milestone, the company’s growth, what it means for Manitoba, and how the team is preparing to expand into new markets.
As someone who has watched this company grow firsthand, what does this milestone mean to you personally, and what will it allow MoveMobility to do next?
For me personally, it means we have the opportunity to help even more people — helping them get where they need to go and access the healthcare they need.
There’s an ambulance shortage across North America. Communities are feeling the impact. People call 911 and sometimes there isn’t an ambulance available. That’s literally a life-and-death issue, so knowing we can be part of the solution makes me incredibly proud.
From a company perspective, this investment reflects confidence in our team and in the opportunities ahead. We have the people and capabilities to continue growing, bringing new products to market, and entering new markets.
What does this expansion mean for Manitoba and Manitobans?
I hope Manitobans are proud that something being built right here is making a real difference for communities across Canada.
Growth also means more job opportunities. We’re continuing to hire and build a skilled workforce, and at the same time, we’re helping put Manitoba on the map by showing what companies here can do.
Who are some of the people, organizations, or partners that helped make this expansion possible?
Oh, there’s a lot of them! CentrePort Canada has been excellent — I’ve never been this involved with a business park before, but they go above and beyond. You can reach out to anyone on the team, and they’re always happy to make introductions for you.
World Trade Centre Winnipeg has been great too, whether it’s Market Intelligence, answering questions related to funding opportunities, or connecting us international trade training, like FITTskills.
The province has been there as well. Elected officials have listened to us throughout our journey and provided support.
Really, it was a group effort. It took a lot of people.
In 2024, the Manitoba government provided $1.3 million in grant funding to support MoveMobility’s expansion at CentrePort.
You just completed the Feasibility of International Trade FITTskills course. What were your biggest takeaways, and how has it changed the way you think about exporting?
FITTskills gave us a much better understanding of everything we need to think about before entering a new market. When you start an export journey, you don’t know what you don’t know. There’s so much out there, and especially right now, with tariffs, it can be overwhelming when you start to look into it.
What it’s really done is help us build a list of everything we need to understand before we commit to entering an export market. Even if it does nothing more than create a series of checklists of things we need to take care of, that’s going to be extremely helpful.
One of our assignments was secondary research. We had a couple of markets in mind, and I was surprised they got eliminated just from doing that research. It didn’t cost anything, it probably took 30 minutes, and it was enough to tell me, “Okay, this one doesn’t really make sense.”
In partnership with the Forum for International Trade Training (FITT), World Trade Centre Winnipeg delivers FITTskills—an internationally recognized, instructor-led trade training program that equips professionals with the practical skills and credentials to compete in global markets.
Earlier this year, you won the Innovation in Trade Award at the DARE Innovation Awards. What did that recognition mean to you?
Honestly, it was a complete surprise. I didn’t even realize it was an individual award — I thought it was for the company, so it made the moment even more surprising.
I remember looking at the other nominees in our category and thinking, we don’t have a chance. When they called my name, I just kept thinking, how did I win this?
What I really appreciated, though, was that the award recognized creativity in trade. I’m more of a creative person — not a numbers or facts-and-figures person — so the fact that it recognized trade as an area where creative minds are needed and can succeed, I really appreciated that.
The DARE Innovation Awards, hosted by CentrePort Partner North Forge, celebrates entrepreneurial excellence and innovation in Manitoba.
As demand continues to grow, what opportunities for MoveMobility are you most excited about?
There’s a lot to be excited about. As I said, the Type II ambulance is opening up a number of opportunities for communities, and being able to help people get emergency care when they need it is huge.
I’m also excited about our mobile health vehicles, which we describe as “doctor’s offices on wheels.” They bring healthcare directly to remote communities and to people who might otherwise struggle to access care closer to home.
To me, that’s a form of prevention. If more communities invested in these types of vehicles, we could help people get the care they need earlier and reduce some of the strain on the emergency system. As everyone knows, that’s an issue right across the country.
Is there a story that reminds you of the impact of this work?
One that has always stayed with me happened early in my time here.
We partnered with Variety Manitoba and donated a specialized van to a family with three children who used wheelchairs. Without that vehicle, they had talked about potentially selling their home just to afford transportation that could accommodate their family.
Because of that partnership, they didn’t have to make that choice.
Something as simple as getting everyone in the same vehicle and going out together as a family completely changed their lives. Seeing that impact firsthand was incredibly powerful.
Is there a story that reminds you of the impact of this work?
Honestly? Outgrowing this building.
Right now, this facility feels huge and we’re still getting used to it. But I look forward to the day when we’re elbow-to-elbow again because it means we’ve continued to grow and help even more people. Whether that’s in two years, five years, or ten years, that’s the feeling I want to remember.
Interested in growing your business internationally?
World Trade Centre Winnipeg helps Manitoba companies prepare for international markets through market intelligence, trade advisory services and export training, including FITTskills. Book an appointment with one of our Trade Advisors to learn how we can support your export journey.
