Community developers from across northwestern Ontario and the U.S. Midwest will converge on Fort Frances in September for the annual Northern Networks Conference.
This year's theme, Local Solutions for a Sustainable Future, will delve into topics of forestry biomass, renewable fuel and expanding cross-border trade opportunities for locally grown food.
It's a regional networking event for the 150 economic development officers, municipal and First Nation leaders expected to attend the Sept. 15-16 event. La Place Rendezvous hotel is the venue.
“We use it as an information and learning conference (in) working with our American friends to keep that door of communication open,” said Geoff Gillon, regional economic developer for the Rainy River Futures Development Corporation.
Field tours will showcase the area's local wood product manufacturers and agriculture.
Bio-energy will be a major theme with speakers such as Lorne Morrow of CRIBE (the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy), Adam Sherman of the Biomass Energy Resource Center in Vermont, and a speaker from a municipal waste gasification plant in nearby International Falls, Minn.
“We believe we need to work locally to come up with creative solutions to help us become more sustainable,” said Gillon.
The keynote speaker is Chief Clarence Louis of the Osoyoos Indian Band, whose British Columbia development corporation runs nine businesses and employs hundreds.
For details on the conference go online at www.rrfdc2.dynamic-site-builder.com/northernnetworks2010.html
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