THUNDER BAY -- Networking is key to most business success.
Nowhere is that more truthful than in Northwestern Ontario, where isolation and distance from major centres makes it that much more difficult to connect with potential clients and other industry leaders.
The one-day Prosperity Northwest conference is all about helping businesses find new ways to grow said the fifth-annual event organizer Nancy Milani.
“Because we are so far removed, I think sometimes we get a little bit forgotten about. So it’s incredibly important. I always say it’s who you know. That’s how we do business here. This is what this forum has provided for people, to either start relationships or build upon ones they currently have.”
More than 70 exhibitors took part in Wednesday’s conference, which include a trio of guest speakers, notably keynote speaker Andrea Holmes of the Ontario Chambers of Commerce.
Holmes was there to provide an update on the skilled-trade shortage the province is expecting in the coming years and ways companies can combat the problem.
While Holmes says the provincial and federal governments aren’t the be-all, end-all solution to close the aforementioned gap, they do have a couple of policies and programs about to be put in place that can help.
“A lot of it has to do with the aging demographics, especially in the skilled trades, which I know there is difficulty being faced in Thunder Bay,” Holmes said.
“But particularly we’re seeing that employers aren’t investing enough in the workforce and that’s why we came out with a report two weeks ago that actually talks about the new programs that the government is rolling out.”
Much of the training costs, for example, for new hires is covered through government incentives in qualified sectors.
“Government policies are not the only solution to our labour force problems and (owners) of course have to get engaged. But they are one step forward and if employers take the government up on a lot of the programs that they’re offering, there are lot of strides that can be made in facing the labour-market challenges.”
Also speaking were Rubicon Minerals Corp.’s Brian King and New Gold Inc.’s Sarah Thompson, representing a pair of new gold mines slated for the region, both of which present new opportunities for existing companies.
Milani said this year’s forum reflects the increased importance of the mining industry across Northwestern Ontario.
