'We have a brilliant future' - mayor
Doug Ashbury
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Jan 31/01) - The mayor says it will be at least three years before two more diamond-cutting and polishing plants are working on NWT-mined rough diamonds.
Gord Van Tighem has met with representatives of the two companies -- he feels it is too early to name them -- and is confident they will be joining three existing cutting and polishing plants in Yellowknife.
 Gord Van Tighem |
Sirius Diamonds, Deton'Cho Diamonds and Arslanian Cutting Works currently cut and polish diamonds from the BHP Ekati diamond mine. The next batch of Northern-mined rough diamonds made available to NWT manufacturers will have to come from owners of Diavik mine.
Additional diamond cutting and polishing plants "leading to up to 300 employees total" is among many bright lights on Yellowknife's marquis, says Van Tighem.
Building business
Construction activity is up, says Van Tighem
According to city figures from January through November 2000, there was $23.6 million worth of construction work done in Yellowknife, up 13 per cent from the $20.9 million over the same period in '99.
Construction highlights include a 69 per cent increase in the value of residential construction to $5.4 million.
The value of commercial construction decreased four per cent to $12.9 million. But new commercial building rose 140 per cent to $6 million.
Mechanical-related construction rose to $5.2 million, a 21 per cent jump.
"The number of private developers currently seeking information on land and zoning encourages us," Van Tighem said. Commercial development this year could come in at five times that of 2001, he adds.
On Old Airport Road, Canadian Tire plans to construct a 66,000 square-foot building, doubling its size and payroll, by November. This frees up a prime piece of downtown property for new commercial development, he said.
"At least six other expansion or renovation projects on Old Airport Road and Kam Lake (industrial park) are in the advanced planning stage. We have a brilliant future from our golden background."
