Around the North

Thunder Bay Fine Papers, one of the city's feel-good stories in 2008, entered into receivership in late October. Court-appointed receiver Deloitte Touche took possession of the mill and will attempt to sell the closed-down north end facility.

Xstrata Nickel will halt operations at its Craig and Thayer-Lindsley nickel mines ahead of schedule and bring lower-cost Nickel Rim South and Fraser Morgan mines in Greater Sudbury into production in the new year.

Nominations are open for the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Awards. The 15th annual gala takes place April 18 at the Valhalla Inn. The awards are open to any person or business who is a chamber member as of Dec.

FNX Mining posted a $26.5 million third quarter loss for their fiscal year ending Sept. 30. During the same period last year, the Sudbury mid-tier miner recorded $12.5 million in earnings.

Sault Ste. Marie Mayor John Rowswell wants federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to give Northern Ontario a separate share of Ontario's equalization payments. In his Nov.

TV Ontario's Steve Paikin is paying special attention to Northern Ontario's resource economy this month. Paikin's current events program, The Agenda, heads to Sault Ste. Marie Nov. 16-17 for an interactive community discussion.

The Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) are applauding a recommendation by a provincial safety panel that large propane facilities must be certified by a professional engineer.

Harry Gow, founding president of Transport 2000, a national transportation think-tank, will be the featured speaker at a town hall meeting of the Coalition of Algoma Passenger Trains, Nov. 27 in Sault Ste. Marie. The citizens group (www.captrains.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce saluted its best and brightest at the 13th annual Rainy River District Business Awards at La Place Rendez-Vous, Nov.8. Two Business of the Year awards went to M.L. Caron Electric Ltd.

The City of North Bay is boasting another record year for building permits issued. The Gateway City issued $80.5 million in permits, besting last year's mark of $78.6 million.