A modern-day trailblazer with a holistic approach to economic development aptly describes Vicki Blanchard, Sioux Lookout’s economic development manager.
“My forte is developing partnerships and special projects,” said Blanchard, who describes herself as a visionary able to see a project’s successful conclusion before she’s even begun. “I don’t see gaps – I see opportunities.”
She draws on more than 25 years of experience in business, education and training, as well as in the public and private sector in Northwestern Ontario.
She started in business management in her hometown of Thunder Bay as a purchasing agent before being transferred to Dryden with Berglund Industrial Supplies during the town’s mill expansion.
During the 1990s, she worked as the assistant to Robert Nault, Kenora-Rainy River Member of Parliament and former Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development.
“In our region, there were 52 First Nations and 26 communities. Working for him gave me exposure to the inner workings of government at different levels.”
Blanchard later returned to the business world, running her own company and being active in the community. She developed Aboriginal partnerships and worked in the health, adult learning and education fields. She played an integral role in establishing an Aboriginal education program for diabetes and for several years, coordinated a water treatment training program with First Nations chiefs.
In January 2007, the City of Dryden invited Blanchard to join their economic development team as the marketing development officer in putting together the Dryden Economic Development Corporation. “We had some really great projects, including hosting the 2010 Canadian Windsurfers Masters Championship.”
Later in 2010, a head hunter contacted
her about an economic development position with the Municipality of
Greenstone, a region being branded as the “Gateway to the Ring of
Fire,” a huge potential mining development in Northern Ontario’s
James Bay lowlands. Blanchard accepted the
challenge of preparing
the region for the Ring and for the next four years, until February
2014, was Greenstone’s economic development manager.
During that time, she leveraged more millions in regional development and was a key player in the recently launched 13,000-square-foot Greenstone Regional Skills Training Centre at the Greenstone airport in Geraldton, an achievement she rates among her career highlights.
She worked on the project for 18 months, developing partnerships and securing $3.5 million in federal and provincial funding. Another highlight was the successful hosting of the first Grow Greenstone Expo for businesses and individuals interested in the region’s mining sector.
In March 2014, she accepted the position of economic development manager for the Municipality of Sioux Lookout.
“What really attracted me was the exciting opportunities in economic development here in Sioux Lookout. It is a unique community of about 5,000 people that is the hub for the far north, connecting more than 30,000 people in 29 remote First Nations communities to health care, social, government, and education services. Sioux Lookout Airport is the fourth busiest in Ontario, with 120,000 passengers going through on 30,000 flights annually,” explained Blanchard. “There is so much growth potential here – it will be a booming place in the near future.”
One of her biggest special projects is establishing a non-profit Regional Distribution Foods and Goods Centre, through a three-way economic development partnership between Sioux Lookout, the Lac Suel First Nation and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug. The centre would serve as a distribution point for fresh and affordable foods and consumer goods to the region.
Blanchard thrives on breaking barriers in economic development and building partnerships and relationships, particularly with First Nations communities.
“I love my job and feed off of the opportunities,” said Blanchard, adding with a chuckle, “People say ‘If you want something done, give it to Vicki.”
