Around the North

A proposal by the provincial labour minister, Peter Fonesca, to remove a rule which exempts independent construction operators from extending benefits and services through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has upset the province's large

A long-anticipated motion to develop two so-called Sudbury "legacy projects" worth a combined total of nearly $110 million was barely defeated on the council floor at a special meeting called to hear the matter on Oct. 21.

Among 174 eco-friendly and sustainable entries from all over North America, the Vale Inco Living With Lakes Centre has won third prize at the 2008 Holcim Awards.

A $11.6-million project AbitibiBowater is undertaking in the Thunder Bay area recently received a shot in the arm from the provincial government in the form of a $1.16-million grant.

Forestry industry leaders and value-added wood producers from around the globe are gathering to share their knowledge at the Growing Forest Value: Opportunities in Northern Ontario forum in Thunder Bay on Oct. 15 and 16.

The Timmins Chamber of Commerce recently hailed ANO Architects/Architectes Ltd. as October's Member of the Month with a small event at the company's offices on Algonquin Blvd. East.

The province has given a Fort Frances year-round greenhouse and farm market garden operation a solid chunk of green to become more environmentally friendly and generate its own energy.

For the third time in a row, North Bay-based Cementation Canada has been named one of the country's Top 100 Employers in an annual competition overseen by Mediacorp Canada.

Register for Sudbury https://secure.ontarionorth.com/EDC/sudbury.html Register for Sault Ste. Marie https://secure.ontarionorth.com/EDC/ss_marie.html

Entrepreneurs looking to prepare themselves for outside investment will have their day or two Oct. 21 in Sault Ste. Marie and Oct. 23 in Sudbury with full-day events hosted by the Northern Ontario Enterprise Gateway.