THUNDER BAY – Over 300 delegates from across Ontario and Canada met at the Valhalla Inn on Wednesday for the final day of the second annual Prosperity Northwest Conference.
Hosted in partnership between the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce and Anishnawbe Business Professional Association with support by Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund, the conference focuses on regional opportunities in mining, energy, forestry, and the bioeconomy.
“There’s a lot of excitement in the region relative to the opportunities that are presenting themselves in the resource sector from mining to energy, transportation, forestry, you name it,” said Jason Thompson, outgoing chair of the board for the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce.
“There’s a lot of excitement that’s taking place here.”
Wednesday’s agenda featured a full-day conference and tradeshow with panel discussions and presentations focused on using wood to drive decarbonization and economic development, driving Ontario’s economy in the north, and more.
Over 60 exhibitors from a broad range of local, regional, and national organizations set up booths to meet and connect with attendees.
“It’s many things. It’s the technical trades, it’s forestry, engineering and even ecological science,” said Ken Boshcoff, mayor of Thunder Bay.
“All of these are now coming together and showing that, yeah we have mining, but we also have a forestry component too that can help fuel all these things.”
