Around the North

Pending the outcome of city council meetings this spring, construction of a major tourism project in Sault Ste. Marie may get under way as early as this year.

Businesses, schools and social service agencies on Manitoulin Island will take a greater step toward global connectivity with enhanced pager and Internet connections. FedNor is committing $222,500 to the LaCloche Manitoulin Business Assistance Corp.

A series of public consultations were held from Dryden to North Bay in January and February to allow forest industry stakeholders to have their say in the harvesting of timber on Crown lands.

NorTel Mobility has launched new digital cellphone service to Timmins as part of a $6-million investment to introduce a network in northeastern Ontario.

A business plan competition for high school students know as bizDreams 2002 is under way in Thunder Bay. The competition will provide students between the ages of 14 and 20 with an opportunity to showcase their business and entrepreneurial talents.

Thunder Bay city councillors are remaining tight-lipped about details of two groups interested in developing Thunder Bay's waterfront. One of the individuals is a Texas-based developer and the other is unknown.

Development Thunder Bay has won a marketing award of excellence from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario. The council gives awards annually for outstanding achievements of its members and those in the economic development profession.

By Michael Lynch A research program underway at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay could result in increased profitability for mining companies.

Falconbridge is shutting down its Sudbury smelter for nine weeks this summer because the nickel company cannot find enough feed to keep it operating at high capacity. A company official says it was basically an economical decision.

The 2001 Partners in Eco-Adventure Tourism (PEAT) summer brochure has been chosen best specialty tourism publication by the Economic Developers' Council of Ontario.