Around the North

Timmins forestry firm Little John Enterprises has received provincial funding, including a $1-million loan and a grant of $251,500 for the near term completion of an 11,000-square-foot expansion.

Following the death of former Wallbridge CEO and chair Risto Laamanen July 7, the company has appointed president Alar Soever to the top spot.

The Ministry of Labour will turn its eye towards live electrical equipment in the mining industry in September as it continues its month-by-month "blitz" on individual sectors.

Apollo Gold Corporation, which operates the open-pit Black Fox Mine 64 kilometres east of Timmins, has raised $13 million through the sale of flow-through and common shares.

Nine young entrepreneurs in the Timmins and Hearst areas are receiving a total of $225,000 in provincial funding to assist with their business start-ups.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was in Sault Ste. Marie July 17 to announce the official opening of Essar Steel Algoma's new $135-million co-generation facility, which will reduce the mill's emissions and power use.

Vault Minerals Inc. plans to proceed with a 1,500-metre diamond drill program on its Lebel gold property in the Kirkland Lake gold camp, currently under option to Goldcorp.

Kirkland Lake Gold reported a net income of $2.3 million in a release detailing the results of its fiscal year that ended April 30. For the 2008 fiscal year, the company suffered a net loss for the year of $10.5 million.

Tony Clement is defending comments he made saying Sudbury would have become a “Valley of Death” if Inco hadn't been sold to Vale Inco in 2006.

Internet users in the Timmins area will soon be able to access free high-speed wireless service at 80 public locations.