The Municipality of Sioux Lookout connects over 30,000 people in 29 remote northern First Nations communities to health care, social, government and education services. Our community has been on a major growth curve with $250 million in capital projects including a new state-of-the-art hospital, a new MNR Fire Management Centre, increased serviced residential, commercial and industrial land development, and much more!
With additional growth and development on the horizon, Sioux Lookout is preparing for the Keewatin Patricia District School Board’s new cutting edge $30 million Secondary School. It will be the first of its kind in Northwestern Ontario, and the new building will also include spaces for its partners: FIREFLY, the Meno Ya Win Health Centre, Confederation College, Lakehead University, and the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children.
The Municipality has also approved plans for an additional $12.5 million expansion at our Municipal Airport, which is the 4th busiest airport in Ontario, carrying over 120,000 passengers with 30,000 movements annually.
As part of the community’s Economic Development planning, it is moving forward with a strategy designed to attract investment from the mining sector. The Sioux Lookout region is rich in mineral potential and we are seeking to maximize opportunities for companies and prospectors who have an interest in developing and advancing projects in proximity to the community.
We have been having ongoing discussions with the Resident Geologist’s office seeking its assistance to have the Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) consider conducting an Airborne Geophysical Survey in the Sioux Lookout region, as part of the OGS’s 2015 program. Online research indicates that much of the area northeast of Dryden, south of Sioux Lookout and northeast to Sturgeon Lake has not undergone any recent surveys, with the last one being completed between 1981-1990.
“The region would immensely benefit from this initiative, and the Municipality is committed to facilitating the success of this initiative through ongoing dialogue with the mining community,” said Vicki Blanchard, Economic Development Manager for the Municipality of Sioux Lookout.
In a recent announcement by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Municipality of Sioux Lookout, Lac Seul First Nation and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) have been chosen to participate in a pilot program called First Nations- Municipal Community Economic Development Initiative (CEDI): representing one of six pilots in Canada. The purpose of the project is to address a particular issue and to propose a practical solution that will contribute to developing and implementing a joint economic development project. The partners have chosen to work towards the development of a Regional Distribution Centre (RDC), first by initiating a feasibility study, focused on the 29 Far North communities currently served by the Sioux Lookout region.
The purpose of the feasibility study is to test the hypothesis that there is an unmet market demand for affordable/accessible local, fresh food products and consumer goods.
The CEDI team decided to work collaboratively on the RDC as a regional development project because they all fully understand and embrace both the cultural and geographical opportunities and challenges throughout the region, respectively.
Opposed to major competitors who are mainly based in large city centres, having a Regional Distribution Centre in Sioux Lookout would be perfectly suited to deal with the supply needs of its Far North customers. The concept involves avoiding high transportation costs by sourcing the same goods at competitive prices much closer. The study will determine how the products will be sourced direct from manufactures or importers that would allow for competitive pricing, better 'use by' dates, shorter delivery times and reduced stock holding. This would provide a better choice for Far North businesses looking for the supply of food and consumer goods.
Looking for a good investment? Choose Sioux Lookout and its neighbouring First Nation communities: we have achieved national recognition for our dynamic, forward thinking approaches to fostering sustainable economic and social development in an environment focused on growth and opportunities. We’re getting calls from others wanting to adopt our best practices, and we’ve been cited as an example of excellence!
Don’t miss out! For more information, email edo@siouxlookout.ca or call Vicki Blanchard at 807-737-2700.
