THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2012
Publisher’s Note Scott Sumner The people of Quebec have a certain positive outlook on life it seems to me and snowmobiling is one of their favourite winter activities. The region of Charlevoix is a group of smaller towns to the east of historic Quebec City and is a very special setting. For the avid snowmobiler it certainly is a paradise.
PAGE 3
Great Snowmobiling at Charlevoix, Quebec Your snowmobile trip could begin at the famous 405 room Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu that has everything you need to begin your adventure. “ We are 112 years old and located right adjacent to the
watching which is very popular in the region along with tennis courts, volleyball and two adjacent national parks with walking trails. There is a large kids play area and baby sitting available.
There are easy air connections to Quebec City with Porter, West jet and Air Canada. When you arrive at the new Quebec City airport you will experience a very modern and well laid out facility that is one of the nicest you will find. Quebec City is an historic city in North America and offers much to see and explore. You snowmobile trip to the Charlevoix region could begin with a special train ride on Le Massif de Charlevoix, along the St Lawrence River where you can enjoy a beautiful breakfast, catered by Fairmont Hotels. Le Massif is a ski area and accessible by the train. The former manager of the Cirque du Soleil, who was born in the town of Baie - Saint Paul, decided to come back and develop a ski resort with the train and a new hotel. It will be become a major ski destination. “ We are like a gem not well known and have mountains, the St. Lawrence River and pretty forests. Snowmobile is not well known here yet but you will discover a different type of country with varied terrain and a nice view. There are some very nice outfitters here to welcome you as well,” said Sylvie Marquois Dandurand General Manager of Tourism Charlevoix. They have excellent cuisine and can be off in the middle of nowhere with their electricity generated by the water. It is very different from other parts of Quebec. Everything is small, charming and very secret. There are snowmobile rentals here more and more and we are at the beginning of something. We want the people to discover Charlevoix by snowmobile because it is very different.”
is a very luxurious setting with fireplaces and a fantastic dining area. The 5 star resort reminded me of watching an episode of the TV series “ Northern Exposure” set in Alaska where Dr Fleischman and Maggie stumble on a luxurious oasis in the middle of nowhere on their search for the lost city. You can have blizzard conditions outside but be enjoying some fantastic wine and food in this special place. It is always fun to have a guide on a trip like this who are very familiar with the area and can take you off trail to experience some beautiful country sites. The 47 Nord Expeditions compaany owned by Christoff and Paul will provide an excellent experience for you. These riders are absolutely avid snowmobilers themselves. Christoff runs a 2012 Arctic Cat Pro Climb 1100 Turbo sled and Paul a 2012 Ski Doo Renegade 1200, both decked out will GPS, left gas controls, extra lighting, many decals etc, etc. They love their sport!
St Lawrence River. The resort was founded by a boat company that was traveling on the St Lawrence Seaway bringing rich Americans and Canadian to the hotel in the summer time only. They tried in the winter but in 1986 opened 4 seasons after the hotel was insulated,” said Eric Quesnel, Director of Sales & Marketing for the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. “ We have beautiful winters here so want the people to come and enjoy that here. The property became a Fairmont 12 years ago after it was shut down for 6 months to renovate the entire building as well as adding a banquet room, indoor parking lot, outdoor sports facilities including swimming pool, fitness centre and kids play area with a $140 million renovation. The casino on property was expanded then as well. “ “ This weekend were able to fit 113 snowmobiles with inside parking and had over 250 sleds outside for the snowmobile events. The snowmobilers are welcome at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu a 5 star resort. We have great rates all season long starting from Sunday and Thursday at $139 per night. There are rental snowmobiles on site with all the clothing as well and a guide if you need one. We have a spa here and a casino for the evening. We are right on the trials and you can access the hotel and underground snowmobile parking. We are a luxurious snowmobile hub and welcome snowmobilers here to do their favourite sport.” Also at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu there is great skiing nearby, dog sled riding, snowshoeing and their own horses at the hotel where you can have a carriage ride for free. In the summer the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu have a 27-hole golf course with all the holes facing the St Lawrence River. They also have whale
After suiting up at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu you are on the trials immediately and off to your next destination. The trails are very pretty to ride with great scenery and snow conditions. The area offers elevations of up to 3000 feet and some great snow conditions you might find in more western locations like BC. Another popular resort destination might be theL’Auberge du Ravage, which is a very unique large log cabin that features 12-second storey rooms complete with their own bathrooms. The main floor
The Charlevoix region is one of the most beautiful you will encounter on a snowmobile. It offers great-varied trails with good elevations and views. The snow conditions are excellent and make for a great snowmobile experience you should try. See: www.charlevoixtourism.com www.fairmont.com/richelieu www.lemassif.com www.47nordexpeditions.ca www.lacmoreau.com for more information for your trip!
Engineering Northwest Ltd. CONSULTING ENGINEERS FULL RANGE OF ENGINEERING SERVICES - Project Management, Feasibility studies, Preliminary and Detailed Design, Engineering and Construction Surveys, Contract Administration and Site Inspection FIELDS OF SERVICE - Water and Sewer Systems, Land Development/Subdivisions, Highways and Roads, Traffic Studies, Bridges, Water and Sewage Treatment, Landfill Sites, Airports, Marinas, Environmental Assessments. Phase 1 Site Assessments
Ph: 807-623-3449 Fax: 623-5925 #301-200 s. Syndicate Ave Thunder Bay, Ont P7E 1C9 www.enl-tbay.com
PAGE 4
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2012
POSITIVE IMPACT OF RING OF FIRE Watching the developments surrounding the “Ring of Fire”, it has become apparent that big changes are on the horizon for Thunder Bay and our region. In the last two years alone, we have witnessed the Province of Ontario open their Ring of Fire Secretariat office in Thunder Bay - where the Ring of Fire Coordinator Christine Kaszyki directs traffic into Ontario’s new economic promise land. Also, the Matawa First Nations have created a high profile coordinator office in Thunder Bay to achieve maximum economic benefit from the gargantuan mineral deposit while making sure the environmental concerns of northern communities are met. Both The City of Thunder Bay and Town of Greenstone have made favourable pitches to host the proposed ferro-chrome processor utilizing expert professionals enlisted to build on the service industry and attract new players into the region. Thunder Bay’s Community Economic Development Commission has created an entirely new mining branch led by John Mason who is focused on growing Thunder Bay’s service sector. First Nations and aboriginal leaders within the region are fast gaining global player recognition, Thunder Bay based First Nation companies are making their moves with Wasaya Group leading the charge.
Recently, Wasaya group has expanded into new ventures to include; a new Helicopter division, a partnership with Sioux Lookout based Morgan Transfer trucking company, and on October 28, 2011 Wasaya Group Inc and Dowland Contracting Ltd announced a new joint venture to service the infrastructure needs of growing First Nation communities in Ontario. The companies stated that the joint venture “Wasaya Dowland Contracting” will provide construction capacity to communities in Northern Ontario as well as have the ability to serve clients throughout Ontario & Manitoba. Wasaya Dowland Contracting will undertake large construction initiatives throughout industrial, institutional and commercial sectors. The company will be available to serve the ‘Ring of Fire’ region should they require our industrial capacity. Dowland has 20 years of experience completing large scale mining projects for best in class companies throughout Canada.
Two of the largest players in the Ring of Fire have set up administration centres in Thunder Bay. Cliffs Natural Resources have set up their ferro-alloys office in the city where hiring has already started for ground work preparations. It is widely expected that Cliffs will require up to 2500 workers at their Black Thor property which is scheduled to begin production in 2015. Cliffs strategic partner KWG Canada Chrome has recently donated $2
million to Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School to help build new residences for northern students, a seriously huge contribution helping make Thunder Bay a better place for everyone in Northern Ontario. Noront Resources, who are already out growing their Thunder Bay office, are also forecasting human resource numbers at 2500 for their Eagles Nest operation. Having the big guys in town is making a huge impact on our local service industry, forest supply companies are getting into the mining supply side of things, drilling companies are making Thunder Bay a base, assaying labs have cropped up or expanded, large contractors such as Nuna Group of Companies have opened local offices and the Ontario Prospectors Association’s annual symposium continues to grow and attract larger crowds and more participants, even to the point of having to turn away interested companies. Officials at Noront resources have told Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs to expect up to 200 new companies in the region. All this burgeoning mining activity becomes visible at Thunder Bay International Airport’s passenger levels. 719,500 passengers went through the airport’s gates in 2011, an increase of nearly 28,000 from 2010’s totals.
“Thunder Bay has an incredible future. I see the direct parallels of what happened in the oil sands industry; we are just shifted in time. The amount that is going to happen here in its own way will compare with what has happened with the oil sands in Alberta in term of resources broadly- mining, forestry and other resources. It is all here and you can see the industry need and demand for the particular minerals and metals. Thunder Bay is on the epicenter of that development so get ready for the ride,” Dr David Lynch, Dean of Engineering, University of Alberta So, if we are to sum up what positive impact the Ring of Fire has had on Thunder Bay and the region in the last two years, it can only be described as “impressive, very impressive”, as we have only started scratching the surface. In the next couple of years as this mega – mining project starts to dig its heels in deep, beware, as we at Opportunity Thunder Bay warn you, the window of opportunity is world wide open! By Jason L Susin Join Opportunity Thunder Bay on facebook
Here’s an excerpt from the Community Economic Development Commission,
Drummond Report Aligns with City’s Cost-Saving Efficiencies is in step with the City’s goals. February 16, 2012 – Mayor Keith Hobbs said the Drummond Report’s approach to restraint and rationalizing service delivery
Hobbs discussed the report this week with City Manager Tim Commisso and Carol Busch, City Treasurer and General
There are over
100 million websites.
&DQ \RXU FXVWRPHUV ¿QG \RXUV"
Website design, development & hosting. Search engine optimization. Custom applications.
corporate web solutions www.sencia.ca
_ 1.888.817.3707 _ info@sencia.ca
Prosperous Future
“Working with business for a sustainable and prosperous future.” 409 George Street Thunder Bay, ON P7E 5Y9 Tel: 807.623.6000 raffej@parl.gc.ca
John Rafferty, MP. Thunder Bay - Rainy River New Democrat Critic for Forestry
www.johnrafferty.ndp.ca
Manager Finance & Corporate Services. “The focus of the Drummond Report is about restraint and finding efficiencies,” Hobbs said. “It’s also about cost containment, which is what Council and Administration is examining with the Core Business Review and CITYLean. The Drummond Report suggests increased collaboration between the province and municipalities – that’s something the City is certainly willing to discuss further.” The Drummond Report was commissioned by the province and prepared by economist Don Drummond. The Report suggests ways for the Ontario government to reform public services while finding savings for taxpayers. The Ontario government will decide how to move forward on Drummond’s suggestions and then the City of Thunder Bay and other municipalities will examine those actions. “We look forward to the Ontario budget, which will provide the first indication of the government’s direction,” Mayor Hobbs said. The Report recommends continued
restraint with wages and benefits. The City is interested in understanding more about Drummond’s proposal to voluntarily centralize bargaining with police and firefighters. The Report said that “larger municipalities, or some groups of them, will tend to bargain together, and, likewise, the smaller municipalities will bargain together but separate from the larger ones.” Commisso said these potential changes to labour relations, including improvements to arbitration, could be beneficial to the City of Thunder Bay. “Centralized bargaining could allow for a quicker resolution when contracts expire and overall it could contain increasing costs,” he said. Commisso and Busch don’t believe the Drummond Report will impact the City’s 2012 budget, currently under review by Council, although this is to be confirmed. However, the Report suggests delaying the phased upload of social service costs and court security by two years and this recommendation is of particular concern to the City as well as the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association. The Report also recommends setting uniform education tax rates. “The City of Thunder Bay’s taxpayers have historically benefitted from a reduction in education tax rates, but if this recommendation is approved it could impact taxpayers,” Busch said. The timing of the Report’s release allows City officials to speak with provincial ministers at the Ontario Good Roads Conference from February 26-29.
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2012
PAGE 9
New EMS Building Will Serve Us Well! Continued from page 8 The need for a central and new location was first identified formally in 1995. The process began for finding a 'best location' which in itself, was a huge challenge. There were zoning complications, a site selection process which involved using an evidence based analysis to realize the best possible location for the greatest benefit, which literally took years. Also the cost of the property, the nature of the property, nature of the roads and other factors were considered for this new location. The new facility will address gaps involving geographical coverage, encompassing the north and south sides of the city. EMS needs to be available for 911 to the areas that they receive most of the calls for, which are the downtown cores and heavy residential areas. The necessity for a new EMS building, which site preparation began February 2011, justifies the $11,000,000.00 necessary for the construction of the project, for this most critical service. The much needed and well over-due project will now be home for the many people who answer to the 'call'. The projected date to move into the new site will be sometime in late March, 2012. Right now the system is fragmented. There are 3 stations with paramedics spread throughout the three stations and administration is spread out as well. There are vehicles that are parked outside all winter. There is a fragmented warehouse system where there is a fragmented supply and logistics system. Going into the new headquarters, brings everything together, where EMS can operates out of one central deployment. All of the paramedics will report to one central headquarters and from there they
will be sent out to their posts for their shift. The administration, the training and the supplies and warehousing system will all be integral and combined. So there will be significant operational and support efficiencies that will be realized. Servicing the entire district of Thunder Bay and area involves, 17 stations, Upsula in the west, to Armstrong in the north and Manitouwadge and Long Lac in the east and all the way down to the U.S. Border. In the city the stations are in service 24 hours a day, seven days a week and in the districts the stations are on 12 hours on site and 12 hours on standby for call back, so there is 24 hour coverage. Mr. Gale comments that "This has been a long time coming and it has been a work in progress for almost 20 years and we are very excited and appreciate the support of Thunder Bay Municipal Council and the citizens in the city and the district of Thunder Bay in getting us to where we are! And I personally am excited about improved service being delivered to people!"
When you think of EMS, you might say to yourself, 'Why did they need this new site and why so much for the construc-
'field' and in the administrative departments, have chosen this as their life career. Where would a lot of us or those
tion?' You may even think that so much was not necessary...until you or someone you love has to make that 'call'. We in Thunder Bay, are fortunate to have these services and we are equally fortunate that those who serve us in the
we love, be without them? The building was constructed by Tom Jones Corporation and their team of local sub contractors.
PAGE 10
THUNDER BAY BUSINESS MARCH 2012
New Superior North EMS Headquarters Beginnings The new EMS building began life last spring. Here is our article on that start again for your information.
On a very cool morning April 15th at 105 S Junot Street in Thunder Bay a brief ceremony was held to mark the official opening of the new $11 million Superior North EMS building. This new structure will be the headquarters in the Thunder Bay district to the 190 EMS staff, 170 of whom are paramedics. “ It is an exciting day for EMS, our paramedics and indeed for the citizens of Thunder Bay. With this new facility, which is long overdue and frankly 20 years in the making, the citizens of Thunder Bay and in particular in the North Ward and including throughout the district of Thunder Bay will see improved service through EMS,” said Norm Gale, Chief of EMS. “ It absolutely will help us. The facilities we have now are inadequate in terms of size and health and safety issues. This facility will address those issues. Our paramedics will have sufficient space in which to do their work and keep the equipment which includes sensitive diagnostic units in a clean and secure area. It is a big deal for EMS and our paramedics.” According to Gale the new site is a good location. “ We have a problem with our response times in Thunder Bay North
so one of the things this station will addressed is response time in Thunder Bay North. We will have two other satellite stations in the city, one on Beck Street in Thunder Bay North and we are looking at a new station for Thunder Bay
moving in the winter time after that. All of our staff that are stationed in the city of Thunder Bay are working in facilities now that are lacking in some form. This will improve conditions for paramedics. The facility is LEEDS Gold. We looked
Road. This property was just sitting here and after all was said and done EMS was happy with it. What the location will do is create other development because there were never services here before and now there are going to be services. It is
Above: Councilor Brian McKinnon, Red River Road, Norm Gale Chief of EMS, Mayor Keith Hobbs, Thunder Bay, John Jones of Tom Jones Corporation
South which is in progress,” said Gale. “ The building will be 35,000 square feet in size. A large component of that will be garage space. There will be room for 20 EMS vehicles inside the garage. There will also be administrative and training space, warehouse space and paramedic quarters.” “ We are planning on substantial completion in December of this year and
at new facilities across the province including in Ottawa and Waterloo and took what they did well, learned from their mistakes and avoided them.” said Norm Gale. “ I am very happy to see this day. It is the culmination of a lot of work with administration, Norm Gale and his people and the neighbours. It was originally proposed on the north side of Red River
good for everyone,” said Brian McKinnon, Councillor, Red River Road. “ It will be a gorgeous building. It has everything they need for not only Thunder Bay but the whole district. It will be attractive for the EMS staff. The road will be four laned here as well. We want to put some crossings in here for pedestrians. Thunder Bay is booming. I’m bias but this is one example.”