Around the North

The new 60-bed Meno Ya Win Health Centre has had its grand opening in anticipation of offering services to patients in Sioux Lookout on Nov. 7.

The numbers are in for Northern College's 2010 fall enrolment, showing a 13 per cent growth over last year. This marks another banner year for the Timmins-based institution, which saw a 47 per cent increase in enrolment in 2009.

The Discover Abitibi Initiative has landed $1.3 million from the province to help continue its efforts to support mineral exploration in Northern Ontario.

Dumas Contracting Ltd., a full-service underground mining contractor based in Timmins, has acquired Peruvian mining contractor L&L Contratista Minera E.I.R.L. for an undisclosed sum.

In a share sell-off worth $392.4 million, Hochschild Mining plc has reduced its stake in Lake Shore Gold from 35 per cent to six per cent.

How the province's plans may affect development around the Ring of Fire is just one of many topics the Timmins Chamber of Commerce is addressing through a series of task forces this fall.

The municipalitiy of West Nipissing and Sturgeon Falls are getting some provincial funding to beautify its waterfront and continue development around Minnehaha Bay.

Shipping and freight passing through the Port of Thunder Bay increased slightly in September over the monthly totals recorded last year. Cargo statistics recorded by the Thunder Bay Port Authority show 541,297 tonnes came over the docks last month.

Sault Ste. Marie's Bruce Strapp is the new executive director of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation. Sault MPP David Orazietti announced the appointment Oct. 5. Strapp, the current CEO of the Sault Ste.

Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) and Rail America Inc. have struck a new operating agreement to keep a smaller portion of a threatened short-line railroad in northeastern Ontario open for the long haul. The two carriers announced Oct.