Northern Ontario Business

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

Lighting a fire under biomass: procurement process draws interest, but not everyone is pleased.
How the province will make use of its abundant forestry biomass is one of the most intriguing and critical issues in the future development of Northern Ontario. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One thing . . .

The month starts here: some things that you need to know--and a few you probably don't.(NEWS)
THE COLLECTED WISDOM OF ... Name: John Vanderwees Title: President Company: Vanderwees Home & Garden Residence: Thunder Bay Q What's been your biggest challenge? For our business, it's b . . .

101 tough conversations to have with employees.(READ THIS)
Have you ever had to have one of those conversation with employees that is sensitive, you really don't know hot to open up the discussion little own dive into the nut of the matter? Well, a little h . . .

Surf here.(NEWS)
www.infocom.gc.ca/menu-e.asp The Information Commissioner investigates complaints from people who believe they have been denied rights under the Access to Information Act - Canada's freedom of inf . . .

Figuratively speaking.(NEWS)
Percentage of people who admit they have dated someone with a higher position in their company, according to a survey by CareerBuilder.com: 34 Of those who have dated a higher up in the last year, . . .

Mixed reviews on the budget.(NEWS)
With major tax reform, billions in infrastructure dollars, an increase in the minimum wage and the harmonizing of sales taxes, the 2009 Ontario budget is getting mixed reviews. "From a municipalit . . .

The medium is the message in Northern Ontario.(PRESIDENT'S NOTE)
I have written for years about the colonial aspects of living in rural Canada, most of that experience gained from my life in Northern Ontario and my family history in Nova Scotia. It does become a . . .

A wasteful proposal.(ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING)
The hottest issue in Northern Ontario today is biomass. It is also an IQ test for Dalton McGuinty, Michael .Gravelle, and Donna Cansfield. Are they going to undermine Northern growth once and for . . .

Mineral exploration keeps Wisk Air flying: supplying junior miners in remote locations keeps this company hopping.(THUNDER BAY)
Mineral exploration is driving the expansion of Thunder Bay's Wisk Air Helicopters. The company is tacking a 3,600-square-foot addition onto its existing 4,800-square-foot hangar and office space on . . .

Truck dealer re-opens on anniversary of fire: tragedy turns into new shop facility for Thunder Bay business.(THUNDER BAY)
A February 2008 fire that gutted a Thunder Bay heavy truck dealer's service department was commemorated this year with the opening of a new shop. Thunder Bay Truck Centre opened an expanded 22,000-s . . .

Finding a home for nuclear waste: federal organization seeks public feedback on site.(THUNDER BAY)
Storing nuclear waste in the deep confines of the Canadian Shield has always evoked a basic gut level reaction from Northerners. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Officials from a federal organization task . . .

A vision and a plan: home-grown consultant seeks to take on new projects.(THUNDER BAY)
A Thunder Bay environmental consulting firm is on an aggressive fast track to expand its offerings beyond its northwestern Ontario boundaries. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] True Grit Consulting Ltd. is . . .

Filler up with micro-algae? T Bay hydraulic shop partners with green diesel developer.(THUNDER BAY)
A local machine shop making pneumatics and hydraulics components wants to be on the leading edge of the green fuel revolution. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Titan Worldwide Inc. has signed a partnershi . . .

Sky's the limit for UAV maker: prop technology may open doors for T Bay company.(THUNDER BAY)
These aren't your radio-controlled hobby planes anymore and a Thunder Bay entrepreneur is poised to benefit from an emerging international market. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Unmanned aerial vehicles . . .

Lakehead out to promote student exploration research: miners have access to lab equipment and government research dollars.(THUND
Lakehead University is opening its doors and expertise to exploration companies. Associate professor of geology Peter Hollings is often a frequent visitor to Northern Ontario mineral symposiums, c . . .

Energy projects keep Kap hopes high: hydroelectric, biomass, solar potential sparking local optimism.(GREEN REPORT)
From a $1.5 billion hydroelectric project to biomass possibilities, officials at the Town of Kapuskasing believe the community has what it takes to maybe one day become the "energy capital of the No . . .

Keeping it green in the kitchen: mobile eco-friendly countertop refinisher sets up shop.(GREEN REPORT)
A northeastern Ontario entrepreneur is hawking an environmental-friendly spray-on application to keep more countertops out of the landfill. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tom Jutras, owner of Northern E . . .

Essar Steel Algoma puts a sock on air pollution: new $25 million baghouse technology traps particulate.(GREEN REPORT)
Air quality in Sault Ste. Marie has taken a turn for the better. Essar Steel Algoma has a new air pollution technology operating that captures particulate emanating from its main blast furnace. The . . .

Bracing for a bug battle: ash borer infestation has Sault insecticide company focussing on US, Ontario-Quebec markets.(GREEN REP
This summer is shaping up to be the busiest season ever for BioForest Technologies Inc. As ash trees start to bud in mid-May media and urban foresters in Southern Ontario are signalling Armageddon . . .

Weeding out the harmful effects of pesticide.(GREEN REPORT)
The Ontario government's province-wide cosmetic pesticide ban will take effect on April 22, and Mike Wisniewski, owner/operator of Sudbury's Weed Man, is upset because the provincial government hand . . .

The Green Energy Act: a good start but still a few miles from the finish line.(NEWS)
In February 2009, like many Ontarians, I was eager to get my eyeballs on Bill 150.I had hopes it would provide clear guidance and the right legislative context to push us through to a greener econom . . .

Wardrop Tetra Tech merge for larger projects: North America's largest front end mining group.(ENGINEERING)
Looking to expand into Canada and broaden its global reach, California-based Tetra Tech acquired Wardrop Engineering in the beginning of this year to enhance its engineering expertise and internatio . . .

Bestech diversifies for market share: despite the tough economic climate Sudbury-based Bestech forges ahead.(ENGINEERING)
In these uncertain economic times, a financial planner is probably preaching diversification and one Sudbury-based company is using that principle to not only weather the storm but expand in spite o . . .

RoboMap revolutionizing underground mapping: the Robot Mapping System can cut the time to survey an entire mine from a year to a
A shopping cart-sized robot driven by a video-game joystick controller is revolutionizing underground mapping in the mining industry. The Robot Mapping System, known as RoboMap, was developed and . . .

Diamond cluster, a reality in the north: Greater Sudbury expands its mining excellence.(CONSTRUCTION)
The development of Ontario's first diamond cutting and polishing facility in the heart of Greater Sudbury brings with it new luster and shining possibilities for the community. [ILLUSTRATION OMITT . . .

Downturn the perfect time to build: post secondary looking to capitalize on stimulus packages.(CONSTRUCTION)
The provincial and federal governments are injecting billions in stimulus dollars to keep our economic heartbeat from flat-lining. Many Northern Ontario colleges and universities are seeing this a . . .

Top construction companies.(CONSTRUCTION)
Ranked by 2008 revenues followed by # of workers Contact # of full time employees Email address # of workers during peak season Address . . .

Lakehead engineering students bridge the way to Vegas: taking top honours in design-build competition.(CONSTRUCTION)
Lakehead University civil engineering students are not intimidated by competing against big American colleges. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A four-person team of student bridge builders are heading to . . .

Provincial funding for Hearst arts centre.(IN BRIEF)
A new arts centre for Hearst is expected to create job and other spinoff benefits in the local hospitality sector. The Conseil des arts de Hearst is buying a Knights of Columbus hall with plans to . . .

Northeast workers lack basic skills says labour report.(IN BRIEF)
The lack of reading, writing, communication and computer skills is being cited as top priority item in a northeastern Ontario labour market study The Labour Market Group's annual Trends, Opportuni . . .

Go Transit coaches could be built in Thunder Bay.(IN BRIEF)
Bombardier Thunder Bay could benefit from building new GO Transit coaches if the federal government comes to the table with infrastructure funding. The provincial government announced April 3 that . . .

North Bay airport property becoming industrial park.(IN BRIEF)
The City of North Bay hopes to rectify its shrinking industrial land base by moving to higher ground. Municipal planners are eyeballing hundreds of acres of undeveloped land at Jack Garland Airpor . . .

Timmins downtown to see $10-million revamp: Sudbury-based firm to rebuild retirement residence.(CONSTRUCTION)
The eventual transformation of an abandoned building in the heart of downtown Timmins into a sprawling, $10 million multi-use facility is creating high hopes for city and project officials alike. . . .

Ownership key in wind projects: huge benefits to First Nation communities.(CONSTRUCTION)
First Nation lands in Northern Ontario are hot commodities for wind energy project developers. And these projects can be very beneficial to communities, especially if cooperatively owned instead of . . .

Read this.(NEWS)(Brief article)(Book review)
A CLASS with DRUCKER - The Lost Lessons of the World's Greatest Management Teacher Author William A. Cohen, PhD. Published by Amacom - American Management Association "What everyone knows is fre . . .

Surf here.(NEWS)
No telling what the future has in store for the economy, but if you have an iron clad stomach and a few extra pennies, now is the time to jump into the stock market if you have not already. After so . . .

On getting a little perspective.(PRESIDENT'S NOTE)
Once a recession gets into full swing, it develops its own rhythm, like a good hockey game. We have the daily stats; from unemployment numbers to housing starts, from GDP estimates to consumer spend . . .

Seven at one blow.(ECONOMICALLY SPEAKING)
Remember the Grimm Brothers' fairy tale about the tailor who killed seven flies with one blow? He was so proud that he got one of those plastic name tags, and under his name he wrote "seven at one b . . .

Prepped for reality: Canadore College Co-op placement is confidence booster.(TRAINING & EDUCATION)
When Canadore College student Krystal Robertson thinks back on her co-op experience, it was more than being parachuted from the relaxed campus life into the button-down environment of a government o . . .

Lack of skilled labour, training harming tourism industry: provincial report targets global excellence by 2020.(TRAINING & EDUCA
A continued lack of training and skilled labour across the industry is leaving many Northern Ontario operators up a creek without a paddle, according to industry leaders. While tourism continues t . . .

New hospital pushes toward completion: $409 million project is city's largest construction project.(SAULT STE. MARIE)
The largest construction project in Sault Ste. Marie's history is finally taking shape with the project progressing past the half-way mark. When it opens in two years, the $409 million Sault Area . . .

Northern Ontario Business Awards hails regional leaders.(SAULT STE. MARIE)
Nothern Ontario Business Awards is hailing this year's winners in Sault Ste. Marie, with host mayor John Rowswell and Patricia Mills, publisher of Northern Ontario Business. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] . . .

One stop shop for Tulloch: Thessalon survey-engineering firm picks up two Sudbury firms.(TRANSPORATATION)(Survey)
One of Northern Ontario's largest survey and engineering firms has gotten bigger. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tulloch Consulting Group acquired two Sudbury-based companies in 2008; first with Great L . . .

What's the future of passenger rail? Negotiations continue with CN to keep tour train rolling.(TRANSPORTATION)
Like a winter without end, the future viability of passenger rail in one part of northeastern Ontario is in the deep freeze. One citizen's group in the Algoma district has made it a mission to pre . . .

Bridge cheque in the mail? Transport Canada reviewing $50 million Canada plaza expansion.(TRANSPORTATION)
Money for a new Canada Customs plaza at the Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge may soon be in the offing. The bridge authority's $50 million funding application for a new and improved customs i . . .

Kenora bears to the right: roundabouts greener, safer alternative to improve traffic flow.(TRANSPORTATION)
Kenora motorists are quickly learning they don't own the road, but need to share it. The northwestern Ontario municipality opened a traffic roundabout last fall as part of its larger $25 million ' . . .

City of Greater Sudbury.(COMMUNITIES OF THE NORTH)
While its legendary expertise in the mining and related service and supply sector continues to make international headlines, the City of Greater Sudbury is looking to expand its horizons. Laurenti . . .

Sault Ste. Marie.(COMMUNITIES OF THE NORTH)
Major investments and projects by traditional and new industry and institutions have given people in Sault Ste. Marie some confidence they have not experienced in years. Despite slumping world fin . . .

Manitouwadge.(COMMUNITIES OF THE NORTH)
Manitouwadge is nestled on the shores of Manitouwadge Lake, north of Lake Superior, midway between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay. With a population of 2,300, Manitouwadge is known for its tranqui . . .

Red Lake.(COMMUNITIES OF THE NORTH)(Brief article)
RED LAKE QUICK FACTS 2008 MUNICIPAL TAX RATES * Population: 4,526 * Commercial occupied: * Location: 482 km northeast of 0.03058833 Winnipeg or 568 km north . . .