Around the North

Staking of properties around the Sudbury district continues as platinum exploration heats up. The world's platinum producer giant, Anglo Platinum, is forging ahead with an $1.18-million exploration program at Agnew Lake, west of Sudbury.

A committee has been established for the Ontario Mineral Exploration Technologies (OMET) program to evaluate proposals and make funding recommendations to the OMET board.

The City of Greater Sudbury has experienced an 18.1 per cent increase in new home construction this year in comparison to last year's figures.

A land-improvement project has been initiated for the East Sudbury-West Nipissing area to support diversification of the cash crop industry and expansion of agriculture-related industries in the area.

The first annual Workplace Health and Safety Conference takes place at Sudbury's Howard Johnson Hotel and Conference Centre Sept. 19 and 20.

An accident at Falconbridge Ltd.'s Fraser Mine near Onaping has claimed the life of an employee. On July 28, an unidentified man sustained fatal injuries while blasting ore down a hung-up ore chute on the mine's 3,600-foot level.

A contentious reload centre and sawmill proposal in Sault Ste. Marie has been given the green light to proceed by the Ontario Municipal Board.

Rising imports and a slow economy resulted in a second-quarter loss of $47.8 million for Sault Ste. Marie-based steelmaker Algoma Steel Inc.

Addressing the gaps in cellular phone service in the Algoma-Chapleau area is the aim behind a $75,000 telecommunications feasibility study funded by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

A new call centre operated by EDS Canada will create 275 new jobs in Sault Ste. Marie.