Around the North

After 15 years with the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences, Michael Power is leaving to take a job with Elekta as vice-president and managing partner of strategic solutions and business development for North America.

Members of the Sault Ste. Marie community are invited to witness the final presentations at Algoma University's sixth annual Business Case Competition, happening this Friday, March 30.

MSE Enviro-Tech Corp. of Sault Ste. Marie is slated for growth in 2012 following response to the debut of its asphalt release agent last year.

The sale of shuttered St. Marys Paper in Sault Ste. Marie has been approved by an Ontario court. On March 26, authorization was given for the sale to numbered company 2319839 Ontario Inc.

First Nickel is reporting net earnings of $25.2 million in its 2011 financial and operating results for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011. The company delivered 23,924 tonnes of ore to Xstrata with an average nickel grade of 1.

The Ontario government has a “plan in place” to guide investment in the Ring of Fire, but is keeping the purse strings tight for now on any mining-related infrastructure spending.

Tembec's has announced a two-phased investment of $310 million in its Temiscaming, Que. specialty cellulose facility. Phase 1 will cost $190 million and the remaining phase is $120 million.

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is sponsoring a two-day wilderness first aid training course for field workers in mineral exploration.

The East Algoma Community Futures Development Corporation has received $157,500 from FedNor for community-based economic development initiatives in the East Algoma region.

Transition Metals Corp. has optioned a 100 per cent interest in five staked claims located 10 km south of Espanola.