By Pauline Clark
Finding accommodations in Kenora is “just about impossible right now,” says the city’s mayor. And that suits him just fine. It is a sure sign that in this northwestern city there is plenty of economic development taking place, says Dave Canfield.
Canfield says the city has become much more aggressive in their goal to attract value-added businesses to the area and he is content with the progress the city has made.
“Great things are happening and we want to keep going while the momentum is there.”
The softwood lumber dispute has been an eye-opener for industry-dependent communties, and demonstrates a need for Canadians to start reproducing softwood, he notes. In an effort to strengthen their ecomic base, the City of Kenora has placed the attraction of wood manufacturers to the area at the top of its to-do list.
Funding was secured last year for the development of an industrial park through a four-way partnership between the city, Fednor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. and Trus Joist Weyerhaeuser.
Weyerhaeuser’s Trus Joist TimberStrand LSL Plant No.3 is slated to open in the fall. It is the largest timber strand mill in the world and one of only three in North America, and will employ 220 people. Construction on the $258-million project began in December 2000, and production is expected to be underway by early November.
In close proximity to the plant, the city’s industrial park development is nearing completion.
The water was officially turned on in early June after the 15-kilometre water and sewer lines were installed. Road reconstruction to the site is underway and expected to be completed by summer’s end.
In addition to the industrial park, Canfield says the city also has additional property around the airport and is aggressively marketing it to prospective manufacturers.
“Last year we set a goal to create 1000 new manufacturing jobs and we’re working towards that,” he says.
Other businesses are looking at setting up shop in the area. Canfield says the city has already seen the addition of a new fabrication company and an expansion at Kenora Forest Products.
The fabrication company, specializing in lift systems and docks, relocated to the area from Winnipeg and employs over 20 people. The Kenora Forest Products expansion has created another 20 new jobs.
The city is also working on developing opportunities with Avalon Ventures, the mine north of Kenora.
In addition to industrial jobs, Canfield says they are also expecting “a fairly large retail project” to get underway. The jobs created from the retail project are not included in the city’s goal to create 1,000 new jobs.
Canfield estimates Kenora’s population of 16,000 doubles in the summertime with an influx of cottagers from the Winnipeg area to the famous Lake of the Woods area. That is why the city is trying to attract businesses that relate to the cottage industries, as well as value-added industries, says Canfield.
Building permits are on the rise, Canfield points out.
“We’re a little over a million ahead this year on building permits, and we anticipate housing starts will continue to rise.”
Canfield, formerly mayor of Jaffray Melick, became the first mayor of the new City of Kenora in November 1999 when the town amalgamated with the towns of Kenora and Keewatin to form the new city.
“I’ve got one of the best councils, if not the best, in northwestern Ontario, to work with,” says Canfield. “Everyone’s been working real hard and is very dedicated—completing 15 kilometres of sewer and water line in three months is a good demonstration of the dedication we’ve got here...”
