The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) has launched a new mining website and a campaign to promote greater awareness and highlight the spinoff business opportunities associated with the region's booming mineral sector.
That's one of the actionable items the CEDC is pressing ahead with after the recent release of its Mining Readiness Strategy (MRS).
“The recommendations from the MRS suggested that we create a robust mining campaign for Northwestern Ontario,” said John Mason, the CEDC's mining services project manager, in a news release.
"This campaign paired with the new website will help promote the extensive exploration and mining opportunities within the region, specifically for businesses, new workforce, and education and research."
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The commission said also kicking off its Northwestern Ontario Mining campaign which will position CEDC, locally and globally, as a "node for facilitation, collaboration, training, and information for the mining sector in northwestern Ontario over the next year."
The campaign is aimed at improving overall regional industry awareness and position the CEDC as a facilitator to support the impending growth in this area's exploration and mining sector.
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The CEDC has been working with two lithium exploration companies to find a suitable location for a proposed chemical processing plant in the Thunder Bay area. Early indications are a large brownfield property in nearby Fort William First Nation appears to be the frontrunner.
“The marketing campaign will leverage the new mining website to ensure we are sharing the most up-to-date and relevant information,” said Eric Zakrewski, the commission's CEO.
“The updates to the website are a direct result of the feedback gathered from mining and exploration stakeholders in the region. So we know that the information on our new site is exactly what the industry is looking for.”
The website includes two web pages outlining regional infrastructure projects and mining resources, along with supply chain contacts, education and training opportunities, employment opportunities, developing critical mineral projects, and Indigenous success stories within the mining industry.
On April 28, Zakrewski will do a virtual fireside chat with Tim Hill, CEO of Impala Canada, owners of the Lac des Iles Mine, northwest of Thunder Bay, to inform local businesses how they can get involved in future supply chain opportunities associated with the open-pit and underground palladium mine. There will be a question and answer period.
