Thunder Bay Business September 2012 -1

September 2012

Easter Seals Drop Zone Event Big Success See Page 15

Thunder Bay Families Challenged to “ Turn Over A New Leaf” This Fall Is Your Home Based Business Insured?

Off To The Fair!!

Aladdin’s feast – Perogies and Dumplings like you’ve never tasted them before!

Dowland See Pages 8-9 CEDC Announces Cancer Care Ontario Expansion to the James Whalen Building See Page 13

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2012

TAKING CARE OF (MINE) BUSINESS!” Prosperity Northwest, the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce’s premiere business networking forum, will launch September 26th at the Valhalla Inn. The event will be the lead-in to the Northwestern Ontario Regional Conference, attended by business, economic and community leads from the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, and the Northwestern Ontario Development Network.

The mineral sector will be one of the regional economic drivers featured at Prosperity Northwest. Mining company representatives, major exploration project personnel and mining/exploration service and supply businesses that support the industry, will all interface in the Trade Show portion of the event, on September 26th. Thunder Bay (and NWO) is emerging as a regional exploration and mining service centre. In addition, a technical session, complementing the Trade Show, will host speakers discussing supply chain procurement opportunities for companies engaging producing mines, major exploration projects and infrastructure related to the projects. The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) is pleased to partner at this event with the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Proudly, Northwestern Ontario (NWO) can state, that it is one of the mine pro-

duction and exploration “hotspots” in Canada. Four producing gold mines produce 1.2 million ounces of gold annually, and Canada’s only primary palladium mine is located in NWO. Add to the mix that 9 to 13 major exploration projects are on the “cusp” of production by 20132017, and the fact that hundreds of other exploration programs are “in the wings” not yet mature enough to make “the list of 13” ! The current mines employ over 3700 employees and contractors, which drive many more service and supply business jobs supporting the mines. The Ontario Mining Association’s research indicates that for every mine job, four others are created in indirect and induced supply businesses. The new mines coming on stream will require a similar size work force of over 3500. Ramifications for business development in NWO are huge! I am convinced that significant talent exists in the region to address service and supply demand, but it needs to be aligned and cultivated!

The current and new mines of tomorrow are world-class deposits with projected mine lives extending many years. For example, the new gold deposits represent an astounding 25 million ounces of new resource, never mind the chromite, iron, nickel, copper, platinum and palladium numbers. The chromite resource in the Ring of Fire, led by the Black ThorCliffs Natural Resources deposit exceeds 120 million tonnes, and will be mined for generations to come.

Challenges for mining companies, in particular the advanced projects, now and going forward, include: labour, infrastructure, Aboriginal consultation, finances (current weak market), permitting and supply chain requirements. To address the latter, Thunder Bay and NWO businesses are stepping up to assist new projects through to production, and are working with Barrick, Goldcorp and North American Palladium as suppliers and contractors. However there is much more opportunity for business engagement.

The regional mineral endowment has attracted the attention from a much wider audience than Ontario. Japan, China, India, the United States, British Columbia and Quebec, have invested or have “eyes” on partnering on some of the mineral projects.

The mineral sector has been in a “supercycle” starting in 2003, with a hiccup in 2008, that has led to enormous investment, improved discovery rates for deposits, and long time lines for exploration companies to work through the steps to build a mine. That statement spells out the opportunity for regional service and supply businesses, every step of the way along the exploration-mining sequence. For example, early exploration requirements include (to name a few): fuel, heavy equipment, field gear, accommodation, diamond drilling, assay labs, and geological consulting. Development requirements such as engineering, fabri-

cation, mill design, environmental studies, camp construction, infrastructure (power, roads) and deposit evaluation, follow through to numerous business opportunities with mine production.

Mining is a tough business; only one in 10,000 mineral occurrences becomes a mine. Therefore, as a business, seize the opportunity and engage the business of “ mineral exploration”, i.e. led by the exploration companies needing your services or products. Introduce yourself to the exploration companies early with an outlook to maximize benefits for your company and your personnel. One approach could be, if you don’t carry a specific product, could you bring it into the region?

We are celebrating, together, the exploration success of the following companies, drivers of business in Northwestern Ontario: Rainy River Resources, Treasury Metals, Gold Canyon Resources, Rockex Mining, Premier Gold, Stillwater Canada, Osisko Resources, Rubicon Minerals, Bending Lake, Magma Metals, Rock Tech, Coventry, Northern Iron, PC Gold, Goldcorp-Bruce Channel, Noront Resources and Cliffs Natural Resources.

John Mason, Project Manager-Mining Services, Thunder Bay CEDC

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2012

Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner Thunder Bay Hydro is launching a new campaign designed to further encourage community action on energy conversation. “ We are here today to launch a new campaign “Turn Over a New Leaf” to get families to conserve energy in their home.

Our challenge to families is to see who can

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Thunder Bay Families Challenged to Turn Over A New Leaf This Fall lights. We also encourage customers to participate in our coupon programs whether it be buying dimmers, turning the heart down by a few degrees at night or allowing the temperature to rise up a few degree in the day not using the air conditioner, simple things like that,” said Wilson. “ In my home our TV and amp are on a power bar which we turn off at

first of it’s kind and 17 years in the making with Nissan, the worlds first mass market electric vehicle. The car costs around $ 40,000 after taxes including an $8500 gov-

better in terms of length of kilomteres per charge. It takes about 6 hours to charge and if you do that off peak it is only going to cost you about $ 4 dollars to charge.”

ernment rebate. The leaf will get about 180 kms per charge in town. As you drive in town and coast or brake it regenerates. “ The car will learn from your habits and get

said Ty Alderice, Sales Consultant at Halfway Motors Nissan.

Tim Wilson, Vice President Customer Service & Conversation Thunder Bay Hydro conserve the most and they are entered in a draw for our contest for an energy efficient washer and dryer,” said Tim Wilson, Vice President Customer Service & Conversation Thunder Bay Hydro. “ We are also launching this new vehicle in our fleet, the Nissan Leaf an all electric vehicle. We will be using the Leaf to promote the campaign and do site visits to customers, auditing their conservation progress. We will also use it to participate in local trade shows in the city. It is a good win for us to be able to put a 100% electric vehicle on the road and study it to see what effect it has on our distribution system and be able to answer questions from others who may decide to buy an all electric vehicle.”

What are some of the things a family can do to reduce electricity use in their home? “ There are a lot of simple things you can do to conserve electricity like turn off the

night so there is no phantom consumption while we are in bed. We are asking people to dig a little deeper and find opportunities to save energy.”

According to Wilson if people can conserve 5% of their electricity use it would be great. “ We know some people may not participate because it is a small part of their budget. The average usage is about 800 kilowatts per month in a home. As electricity prices continue to rise we want to focus on the kilowatt hours.”

Businesses can also save as part of the Save on Energy program with a full suite of business programs that Thunder Bay Hydro offer. “ The business community is further along the path than the residences are, the main reason being we are just getting to the point where we will launch more residential programs. The business have the direct install lighting, direct install heat and cooling initiatives electricity retrofit programs. We are out in the small business community right now and there has been some real good uptake by them on the programs that we have now.

The businesses have the opportunity to save more, “ said Tim Wilson. “ The best program we have right now is the direct install lightning which is over $1000 of free lightning that takes place. We have a contactor that will do an assessment and take a look at what lightning fixtures they want replace and there is no charge to the customer. If they want to go further and deeper with us and do additional work they can. The program has been in place for 3 to 4 years now. In the last two years it has taken off.”

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THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2012

CAN’T BEAT THOSE STREET FAIRS!

By Sherry Aalto With summer, you get street fairs! And the ever popular Kakabeka Street Fair was a welcomed summer tradition that was held in Kakabeka Falls this past weekend, August 17th, 18th and19thst, 2012. Kakabeka Falls, Ontario is just 17 minutes west of Thunder Bay, Ontario and for many, was a very short ride to enjoy family fun!

The fair drew a large crowd, as it usually does, and all the popular vendors brought out their wares that you may enjoy those unique and timely temptations.

The fair in all its nostalgia, brings families and friends together from all over the area as they partake in the celebration of this community. There was particular interest in the fact that the fair caught the attention of travelers who where making their way through the this quaint, little community. Area ven

dors offered tasty entree’s and treats that you could only get at the fair. A real sense of community resonated throughout the town and continued all the day and night long. The fair goers felt quite at home as they mingled and browsed with their families and friends heading off to the rides... and more rides! Eats and more eats! Crafts and more crafts!

Traditional old time fun has been winning the hearts of the people for years and as the generations gather for the festival event, a sense of neighbourly exchange is extended to all. You can’t

really describe this feeling, you have to get out and experience it for yourself.

As always, we told you to not miss out this year. We said to mark it on your calendar…and did you? We sure hope you did because if you missed the fair, you just missed out on another good time and another memory maker for you and those you love. Hope to see you next year and don’t forget to mark it on your calendar!

THUNDER BAY BUSINESS SEPTEMBER 2012

Kakabeka Street Fair - Thank you from Marlis

The Kakabeka street fair was started in 1997 to promote Kakabeka Falls as a tourist destination. It was created with the understanding that we would put Kakabeka Falls on the map. With this goal in mind, a great group of businesses who, at the time, started the Kakabeka Falls and District Business Association, worked hand-in-hand with each other to make the area part of the North Superior Tourism Association.

We worked hard to light up Kakabeka and ended up starting the street fair. The businesses were: A-Okay owned at the time by Nunzio and Margaret, The Pines owned and operated by Fuch Mau and many others such as the Suttons, ourselves, and also Terry and John Hakkala. I wish to thank them for being a part of the street fair from the beginning along side Cathy Alix and the Kakabeka Credit Union. We continued on for the last 13 years even after many sold, retired, or passed on. I would also like to thank all of those individuals whom participate every year in the street fair. Thank you to Alfie Kruger, who started the stage at the hotel, he is well and truly missed. Thanks also to his son Bruce, who has taken the helm from their business and has continued the tradition his father had started. Way to go Bruce!

Every year onward the street fair has increased and increased, I hope the

group that takes over afterwards will continue this new found tradition.

Thank you all for everything.

Marlis

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