Timmins

A successful Timmins businessman has been selected as the independent chair of the joint operational review of the Sudbury Regional Hospital.

The Shania Twain Centre and the Timmins Underground Gold Mine Tour need extra funding from the city after experiencing a $241,360 net loss in 2001. The board of directors is asking for $117,000, up from $48,000 last year.

Business owners in the tourism industry will have an opportunity to learn how to enhance their operations and increase competitiveness through Canadore College's e-tourism initiative.

An exploration company has set its sights on exploring 11 properties in the Timmins area that could yield nickel, copper, gold and tantalum deposits.

Feedback from the community on how to retain and expand business in Timmins is filtering back into the Venture Centre and the Timmins Economic Development Corp., who are the midst of a business retention and expansion initiative.

An Ontario government survey has identified new targets for diamond and base-metal exploration in the Coral Rapids area, about 100 kilometres north of Smooth Rock Falls.

Air Creebec has taken steps to upgrade its air service by investing $5.5 million in a Dash 8 aircraft, the same type of aircraft used by AirOntario in its flights to Toronto.

Regular Budd Car service to Chapleau will be sustained due to an extensive refurbishment program launched by Via Rail.

Reminiscent of the re-birth of the snowmobiling trend, Chapleau is latching onto the latest outdoor craze of ATV recreation by forming its own ATV club.

By Marla Tomlinson In the James Bay lowlands there is a partnership in the works.