Mary 
Long-Irwin, a prominent face and vocal supporter of Thunder Bay's business community, is stepping down as president of the city's chamber of commerce.
Her resignation becomes effective, June 30.
For nine years, she has been a staunch economic development advocate in directing government attention toward forestry, manufacturing and helping to secure coach contracts for the local Bombardier plant.
A replacement has not yet been named.
She briefly resigned as head of the 1,100-member chamber in 2007 in an unsuccessful bid to land the federal Liberal seat for the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding.
Long-Irwin said she needs a “change of scenery” and insists she's not running again.
Her plans are to take the summer off to visit relatives in Europe before weighing some job offers that have come forward within the last week. They range from working in the mining sector to doing some consulting work.
“It's the right thing to do and if I want to move into something else, I have to give it that my full time attention.”
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, she was a successful local retailer in opening Microwave World in the 1980s. She moved on to positions as a small business adviser with Confederation College's Northwest Enterprise Centre and then onto to a general manager's job with the Superior North Community Development Corp. in Terrace Bay.
Long-Irwin said she's enjoyed working with various government ministers, community and business leaders “to get things done” and get more attention paid to Northern Ontario in the provincial budget.
“I don't think we've moved the yardstick quite as far I would have liked as far as Ottawa and Queen's Park understanding what the North really means, but that's takes time.”
She is most proud of her lobbying efforts on behalf of the city's Bombardier plant and working with other community partners in establishing an emergency services training centre for Thunder Bay.
Long-Irwin wants to continue working toward community development and growth. Aside from the loss of many forestry mill jobs, she's excited by the advances and the hundreds of new jobs created in the medical and life sciences sector, and emergence of Thunder Bay as a mining supply hub.
She said she will continue to work with the business community and volunteer her time in charitable endeavors including cystic fibrosis.
“When you have a strong and successful business community, you have a very successful growing city.”
