Northern Ontario mining suppliers are headed to two of the world's largest mining shows once again.
FedNor announced on Feb. 18 it's providing $852,500 to the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase (NOMS) to attend mining shows in Toronto, hosted by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), and in Vancouver, hosted by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum (CIM).
The annual conventions are important events that enable Northern Ontario mining suppliers to promote their products and services, make connections, and secure sales with customers from around the world.
FedNor has provided financing for the Showcase for the last eight years.
“FedNor’s ongoing support for the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase is a testament to the results this flagship initiative delivers in the form of jobs, growth and economic benefits for participating businesses,” said Carman Kidd, mayor of Temiskaming Shores, the community that organizes and oversees the showcase, in a news release.
“We are pleased that PDAC 2022 is moving to a hybrid model that will allow NOMS to return with an in-person pavilion to help maximize opportunities for exhibitors.
“At our last in-person event in 2020, NOMS helped businesses increase sales by more than $12.7 million, while creating more than 90 jobs. I look forward to the positive results 2022 will deliver for all involved.”
Of the funding, $695,000 will be allocated to the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase pavilion at PDAC, which includes booths for 110 exhibitors from the North.
This year, PDAC will be held in person June 13-15, and an online version will follow June 28-29.
The remaining $157,500 will be used toward the Showcase's exhibit at the in-person CIM event, slated for May 1-4, which will be attended by 25 suppliers.
“Northern Ontario’s mining sector is a key economic driver that is helping fuel sustainable growth and job creation, while paving the way for a strong recovery and the long-term success of our region,” FedNor Minister Patty Hajdu said in the release.
“With more than 700 jobs created and over $80 million in direct economic benefits generated to date, this is an investment to maximize opportunities for businesses, municipalities and Indigenous communities as we move forward with Canada’s economic recovery and beyond.”
According to the province, since its inception in 2015, NOMS has helped participating businesses generate sales of more than $80 million, while creating 772 jobs across Northern Ontario.
