In vest Northern Ontario
By Sherry Aalto
“AND WE HAVE LIFT-OFF!!” www.investnorthernontario.com. Five Northern City Centres, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and North Bay, (Ontario), formulating ONEDC, have effectively and successfully launched a new web portal today, (February 11, 2010), into the 21st century and onto the Global Market with their proverbial shingle hanging out, “Open For Business”!
It was and is with great vision and combined passion that these five municipal corporate bodies for economic development in the north, formed this unified partnership and motto “Let Us Build Together!” Almost five years since its inception, ‘Invest North’, the partnership of these five Northern Cities have developed this excellent tool, strongly encouraging global business and investment to Northern Ontario. With strong and recognized appreciation for each other,
affiliates in many, many levels and others too numerous to mention, ONEDC could never overstate the collective feeling of accomplishment! ONEDC (Ontario’s North Economic Development Corporation), effectively
delivers ‘strength in numbers’.
ONEDC has made www.investnorthernontario.com very user friendly and is informative for news on past and present products available in the north. With site info updated to ‘current’ regularly, ONEDC, in partnership, recognize global needs and can offer solutions globally
through products involving manufacturing and technology in Energy and Environmental Alternatives, Aerospace in Northern Ontario, Information Communication Technology in Northern Ontario, Advanced Manufacturing in Northern Ontario and Health Sciences in Northern Ontario.
The power of modern technology is the critical broad band that transcends us into global markets around the world. www.investnorthernontario.com has come to fruition based on three principles, “Good People, Good Planning, and Good Management”!
The mayors and councilors of these five cities incorporated ONEDC in August, 2005. ONEDC is an excellent vehicle for the north to take control of its own destiny in the international market on a global scale. The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for FedNor and Ontario’s North Economic Development Corporation have been major players in the promotion of the North and what it has to offer the world. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines and Forestry states “The Invest North website is an important part of our collective effort to strengthen the North by promoting our investment advantages.” Lynn Peterson, Mayor of Thunder Bay, said “The City of Thunder Bay is proud to be a part of the Invest North website to promote investment in Northern Ontario” and “As a
gateway, our community is striving to encourage investment in the North and we will work together with the other Northern communities in our region to strengthen our success.” The partners of ONEDC ‘dovetail’ their combined efforts for the greater good of all. One such critical function is to collect information in regards to ‘overview of growth’ of the primary growth sectors.
“Five Primary Growth Sectors” are:
Advanced Manufacturing in Northern Ontario – involving the range of activities and processes incorporated within this practicum include:- Industrial research and development focused on the commercialization of new products, methods and processes.- Design, engineering and development of new materials, prototypes and systems.- Innovative / advanced manufacturing processes, techniques and technologies for the creation of new products, services and their
applications.
- Design and use of robotics, innovative software, automation
and advanced control systems.
- Creation and adaptation of waste and energy conservation
technologies resulting in reduced environmental impact and emissions.
- A focus on Global Excellence in the commercialization of
technologies and products which provide global economic opportunities
for manufacturers and the communities they represent.
Health Sciences in Northern Ontario
- The Northern Ontario School of Medicine NOSM, is a pioneering faculty of medicine for the whole of Northern Ontario. A joint initiative of Lakehead University and Laurentian University, with main campuses in Thunder Bay and Sudbury, Ontario and a multiple of teaching
and research sites across Northern Ontario. Northern Ontario’s cancer care is world class and leads in overall patient satisfaction for cancer treatment, diagnostic and surgical wait times, support and care.
- “Diagnostic Imaging” - Northern Ontario was the first in Canada to acquire the world’s first intelligent SPECT (Siemens Symbia T16 SPECT/CT nuclear medicine camera) technology. The new unit reduces the amount of time to diagnose a specific problem, allowing physicians
to pinpoint exactly what the problem is in one imaging session.- “DNA” - Northern Ontario is home to the only privately-run company in Canada that is accredited to perform Mt-DNA testing. Mt-DNA can determine identity, ethnicity and genealogical relationships from a wide range of biological materials, including blood, saliva, bone, teeth and shed hair.
Alternative Energy and Environmental Technologies in Northern Ontario
- “Wind” - Northern Ontario has the largest wind energy farm in Canada along the shores of Lake Superior with 126 towers generating 189 MW. This wind energy farm produces enough clean, renewable energy to power 40,000 homes on an annual basis.
- “Bio-Fuels” - Several initiatives are currently underway which involve the utilization of various forms of feedstock from both virgin and waste sources as a means to create valuable fuels for the region’s industrial and transportation needs. One such unique program entails the growing of “bio-crops” such as canola and corn on former industrial lands utilizing a mix of pathogen-free, composted municipal and forest products waste.
- “Solar” - Northern Ontario will have the largest solar energy farm in Canada with facilities in Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay and Sudbury. The first $400 million project will be a 60 MW facility in Sault Ste. Marie that will be operational in 2010. And much, much more!
Information Communication Technology in Northern Ontario
- The growing sector is supported by a network of recognized post- secondary institutions offering world class curriculum, including the only Master of Science in Computer Games Technology program inCanada.
Listing – Software and Hardware Engineers, I-T Consultants, Network Administrators, Database Administrators,Software Developers, Computer Communications Specialists, Research Analysts, Systems and Security Administrators, Computer Engineers,
Robotics, Multimedia and Web Designers.
Aerospace in Northern Ontario
- The aerospace industry in Northern Ontario is complimented
by a fullrange of leading edge aerospace education programs offered at several Northern Ontario colleges. Programs include, Aerospace Manufacturing Engineering, Aviation Technician, Aviation Flight Management, Aircraft Structural Repair and Pilot Training.
- All five cities provide runways long enough to accommodate any size aircraft, be it passenger or cargo, with many other airside asset base accommodations.
Both the Federal and Provincial governments provide generous incentives to support the capital projects needs related to the relocation and expansion of firms to our region, offsetting costs of construction, leaseholds and equipment. They also provide extremely competitive
research and development project funding support as well as tax credits, wage support programs and excellent post secondary training opportunities in both technical colleges and universities in each of the five cities.
Steve Demmings, M.C.I.P., R.P.P., CEO, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, Karen Martin, Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission Marketing Information Officer, along with Acting Mayor Rebecca Johnson, Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, Jim Feir, Ontario Region Foreign
Affairs and International Trade Canada and invited guests of interest held this conference by closed circuit, video communications with Mayors Victor Fedeli of North Bay, John Rowswell of Sault Ste. Marie, John Rodriguez of Sudbury and Mike Doody of Timmins for this official
launch. Rick Evans, City of North Bay and Chair of ONEDC, delivered a brief introduction following the Welcome and Review Agenda by Helen Mulc, Greater Sudbury Development Corporation. The entire Launch Event was performed in one hours’ time. The benefit will last a life time! Open the door and let the world in! www.northernontario.com !
