The new staking rush around the Town of Cobalt has ushered in an upcoming mining conference this fall to showcase this area of northeastern Ontario.
Within the last two years, the area around the town has become fertile ground for junior miners eager to jump on the electric vehicle and lithium-ion battery bandwagon in the search to secure global supplies of cobalt.
The Township of Coleman is spearheading an inaugural Green Mining Conference over three days in mid-September, with the Town of Cobalt and Town of Latchford also on board as event partners.
The historic Cobalt Mining Camp has more than 150 former producing mines scattered across the district, particularly from the heady silver rush era at the turn of the last century. The district is also designated as a Parks Canada National Historic Site.
The three-day conference, which takes place Sept. 12-14, is geared to showing off the area’s mining and mineral potential while also promoting sustainable development.
The conference is limited to 125 delegates and, according to the event website, “will provide a venue for genuine discussion about the green mining movement and the future of mining and mineral exploration.”
Four locations will host the event: the Latchford Recreation Centre, the Cobalt Train Station, Cobalt Community Hall and the Cobalt Classic Theatre.
FedNor sent a $27,225 cheque to Township of Coleman to stage the event. The funding was announced by Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Anthony Rota at the Cobalt Mining Museum on April 10.
A federal government release said the event is expected to attract a diverse mix of experts from across the mining industry, offer networking opportunities and tours of the area, and stage technical panels on brownfields, zero waste, green mining and will feature a presentation on the historic Cobalt mining camp.
The agenda and speakers haven’t been set but the presenters will come from industry, government, and academia.
"We’re proud to partner with the Government of Canada through FedNor to coordinate and host our region’s first Green Mining Conference,” said Coleman Township Mayor Dan Cleroux, in a government news release.
“This partnership initiative will promote clean growth throughout the area, while helping to ensure communities, businesses, and the environment can thrive."
