Getting boom ready

Fort William First Nation leaders want their community and the city of Thunder Bay to get ready for the region’s mining boom.

So next month, the community is hosting its first ever mining conference.

Fort William First Nation’s economic development director Michael Pelletier said the two-day conference will host a number of speakers and presenters from mining companies looking at developing the region to employment trainers.

“Maybe give them a little bit of a how-to on how to get involved with mining,” Pelletier said.
“If this whole region succeeds Fort William succeeds. It’s a good thing.”

Identifying opportunities now will help people and communities prepare when development comes. The conference is also a great chance for the area to highlight what Fort William First Nation and Thunder Bay have to offer in terms of servicing proposed area mines.

“We’d also like to work with the city to develop this area as a hub for mining,” Pelletier said.
Pelletier hopes that hundreds of people attend the free conference.

”Everybody’s welcome,” he said. “The more the merrier. I think that there’s strength in numbers and we can all learn off of each other.”

The conference takes place March 25 and 26 at the Fort William First Nation Community Centre