The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Town of Snow Lake was recently presented with a multi-year economic development plan prepared by its community development officer, MaryAnn Mihychuk. The document was dated June 30, 2012 and covers a three-year period beginning at that date. Expanding upon Snow Lake's 2009 sustainable community plan, this newly enhanced project outlines a three-year economic development work plan that targets the community's future while attempting to foster all aspects of its growth. The plan notes that the town is on the cusp of a number of new developments and it is crucial it have the fabric in place to direct and oversee all future advance of the community. 'Each of these mineral development projects will bring significant revenues and jobs into the community and will increase Snow Lake's capacity to address residential, commercial, industrial and infrastructure needs, which will be required as the town anticipates population growth to 2,100 by 2014,' Mihychuk wrote in the plan's executive summary. See 'Direct...' on pg.12 Continued from pg.10 The plan maintains that in order to achieve the advantages the mineral development projects have to offer, Snow Lake must participate in what are described as 'three major economic New North development initiatives, aimed at strengthening its role and resources to be a leading Manitoba community.' They are: a) A core services hub _ set up to market Snow Lake as a mineral supply and service centre; b) A centre of expertise _ to develop a mining remediation research entity in Snow Lake; and c) Growth and development _ which will focus on Snow Lake as a centre for business recruitment. To become a core service hub - mineral supply and service centre, the document advises Snow Lake should develop into an exploration mining and service centre for Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan. 'This role for the Town of Snow Lake presents a niche opportunity to service the Exploration sector,' it reads. 'This sector, being less cyclical like mining, would provide greater long-term sustainability. Snow Lake businesses would aim to cultivate supplier relationships in a buy local strategy with large-scale mining companies.' The second initiative is becoming a centre of expertise - mine remediation research centre. The paper explains Snow Lake is ideally suited to host a 'world-class' research centre on mine closure and remediation based on three strategic factors. 'First, the Snow Lake Greenstone Belt and area has a unique history with the prolific closure of more than 60-100 producing open pit and underground operations for base and precious metals,' reads the document. 'Second, BacTech Environmental is building the world's first remediation bioleach plant in Snow Lake and has committed to funding a Centre of Excellence in Bioleach remediation, and third, Snow Lake is centrally located between the Northern Manitoba Mining Academy in Flin Flon and the cold weather testing centre in Thompson.' The third enterprise put forward is growth and development - business recruitment, retention and quality of life. Within the document, Mihychuk maintains that in order for the town to entice new business to, and preserve it within the area, stakeholders need to be proactive in marketing the business opportunities available in the community. 'In addition, Snow Lake should consider establishing some type of settlement service to assist professionals who have already been hired, and their employable family members find appropriately skilled work in their professional area of interest as well as introduce them to the educational, cultural and recreational programs,' she writes. The report also tackles the ever-present issue that challenges businesses _ securing financing. Noting that businesses in Snow Lake, similar to other mining towns, face significant challenges in raising capital due to poor awareness of the mineral industry, it recommends the town, in concert with the province, explore financing opportunities and promote the region nationally through information sessions to investment and financing groups. The full report is available through the Town Office. My Take on Snow Lake runs Fridays.
