Prime players in the international aviation and space-related field will descend on the Gateway City in October for an event designed to showcase the city’s aerospace capabilities.
Running Oct. 8 to 10, YYB North Bay World Space Week is both an investment attraction meet-and-greet and part of a United Nations world-wide event celebrating space science and technology.
Organized by the city’s economic development team, the Oct. 8 Industry Day is expected to attract between 75 and 100 invitees, including some aerospace heavyweights who will be visiting North Bay for the first time.
“This is a real networking opportunity,” said city economic development officer Steve McArthur.
Industry Day at Canadore College’s aviation campus will feature presentations by both original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and local companies engaged in aerospace activities, followed by a tour of the airport, including the college’s new composites lab.
“We want more of a personalized face-to-face, business-to-business (event) with plenty of opportunities for them to chat and exchange business cards,” said McArthur.
Aviation, aerospace and advanced manufacturing are the main pillars in the city’s economic development strategy, and Jack Garland Airport is its centrepiece.
Anchored by Bombardier and Voyageur Airways, the airport is home to 21 companies involved in maintenance and repair, aircraft assembly and testing, fixed wing and rotary training, and international charter service. More than 500 people are employed in this sector.
“We have four or five companies who are controlled goods certified, which means they can bid on military contracts,” said McArthur.
For instance, North Bay companies made a considerable contribution to Canada’s first military surveillance satellite, the Sapphire, launched in 2013.
“We’re hoping the prime manufacturers and the OEMs who are attending might be able to learn more about the companies we have, their capabilities, and consider them for future contracts or current contracts,” said McArthur.
Among the local companies attending are the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, Paragon Bay Group, Motion Industries, North Bay Machining Centre, and Gin-Cor Industries of Mattawa.
“It’s a good local mix of companies being displayed with the traditional metal pounding right up to custom design to electronics and other things,” said McArthur.
Also in attendance will be Swiss Satellite Systems (S3), which partnered last year with Canadore College to test and launch experimental sub-orbit satellites in North Bay. Company founder Pascal Jaussi will be speak about his company’s accomplishments and outline their future plans.
The City of North Bay and Industry Canada are awaiting confirmation from other space-related companies like MDA Corporation and COM DEV International.
Economic development staff will promoting North Bay’s uncongested airspace for experimental flight testing and the $30 million spent on the airport’s 10,000-foot runway, water tower, and site servicing for its business park.
Education Day on Oct. 9 will feature various activities and presentations for students from the local school boards to get them thinking about aerospace careers. Community Day on Oct. 10 opens thing up to the public with events happening around the city, including a night sky viewing at the waterfront by the local astronomy club.
On the speakers list over the three days are Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield; Robert Godwin, author and curator of the Canadian Air and Space Museum; and Iain Christie, executive vice-president of Aerospace Industries Association of Canada.
