The financial fires continue to burn brightly in Timmins with the promise of millions in investment and ongoing growth.
With hundreds of jobs created through Lake Shore Gold and Apollo Gold's underground and open pit mines, and the numerous junior exploration firms scattered through the region, local optimism is running high.
Despite failing to land a diamond processing facility which eventually went to Sudbury, officials also remain confident in the ongoing impact of the De Beers Victor Mine, located 500 km of the city.
"Overall, we're holding our own," says Mayor Tom Laughren.
"There are worries and challenges, like there are with any municipality, but we have a real good business base and that definitely helps. We're seeing some solid numbers and for that we're pretty thankful."
As a visible sign of this fiscal confidence, construction crews can be seen working throughout the city on numerous projects sparked in part by the ongoing strength of gold, Timmins' flagship mineral.
Among these projects is the recently announced $10-million addition of a dialysis area to the Timmins District Hospital, as well as the new 4,000-square-foot women's shelter, "Centre passerelle pour femmes," worth $1.5 million.
Steel girders are already going up for the new four-storey Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board building facility on Algonquin Boulevard, with a project value of $6.7 million.
A new $1-million, 4,000-square-foot dental office is in the works for Riverside Drive, while nearby, the LCBO store is seeking a $300,000, 7,000-square-foot expansion.
Construction activity can be seen at the Walmart site, where work is well underway on the $7-million addition of a 38,000-square-foot grocery outlet.
On the tip of most city officials' tongues, however, are plans by Ontario Power Generation to pursue $300 million worth of work on Upper Mattagami River dams, all within 50 kilometres of the city. This work is expected to produce $80 million in local spin-offs.
Also piquing local hopes is the $10.8-million renovation of the St. Mary's Manor downtown. The former hospital will be converted into a senior's residence by Autumnwood Mature Lifestyle Communities Inc., a division of Sudbury-based Dalron Construction.
Such developments are moving the city towards the status of an increasingly important hub in northeastern Ontario, says Laughren. Already, Timmins is a central link between the municipalities and First Nations of points further north, and other northern Ontario centres such as Sudbury.
Strengthening this status as a nexus for the northeast is the nearly $23 million in post-secondary construction projects for Collège Boréal, l'Université de Hearst and Northern College, says Dave McGirr, president of the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC).
To further develop local appeal as an educational cluster, TEDC officials are planning to "look aggressively" at attracting a full-blown university campus to the region to complement the city's post-secondary offerings. The move, says TEDC CEO Christy Marinig, would further allow Timmins to retain students and skilled workers who would otherwise travel to Sudbury or southern Ontario.
The organization is also hiring a coordinator to examine economic development opportunities in First Nations communities within the city and upwards towards the coast.
"I think just having someone on the ground that understands the dynamics and knows who the players are, and building that knowledge, will help all of the businesses and organizations in Timmins and up the coast," says Marinig. "By having one central coordinator, all partners will be able to better share information and be more successful in working, delivering and implementing projects."
Funded by FedNor's Rural Economic Development program, this pilot project is being pursued in partnership with the Mushkegowuk Council in Moose Factory, and the Wabun Tribal Council, based in Timmins.
The coordinator will take the lead on "key projects" on behalf of the affected communities, where there is often a lack of capacity or resources for staff to pursue additional economic development opportunities.
If the project proves successful, the individual partners will contribute funding to ensure the continuation of the position beyond the three years.
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