Timmins

Determined to chart their own economic future, the Town of Iroquois Falls cut the ribbon in April on an economic development office and established a community development team.

By Michael Lynch Creating between six and 10 full-time jobs is a good possibility for Iroquois Falls, says Suzanne Parton, chair of the community’s forestry committee.

By Michael Lynch “Iroquois Falls needs to create a destination point,” says Norm McDowell, chair of a volunteer subcommittee charged with the task of giving tourists a reason to stop and spend money.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Dan Newman announced the Town of Cochrane will receive $30,000, through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, to enhance its nine-kilometre trail system.

FedNor has given $500,000 to the Cochrane and Area Community Development Corp. for the development of a new tourist attraction. The CDC plans to develop a pioneer village as part of a new regional tourist attraction.

By Diana Scheddin Last October, Ed Pedskalny was convincing farmers in the Cochrane district to start working their land again, growing barley. Pedskalny and his son-in-law John Wilkes, creators of Iced Spirits Ltd.

Bruce Mines new water filtration system is expected to be up and running in the fall of 2003. Earth Tech Canada Inc. will design and supervise the construction of a filtration system for the Bruce Mines water treatment plant.

International mining giant Placer Dome Inc. signed an option agreement with Moneta Porcupine Mines Inc. to explore a property between the Dome and the former Hollinger gold mine in Timmins.

Kinross Gold Corp.'s former mine operations on its Timmins Marlhill property is being converted to an open pit to extract the last reserves of gold prior to closing it.

Ontario's far north will have more opportunities to generate investment, create new jobs and increase economic prosperity as a result of a new provincial program through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.