Yellowknife (May 15/06) - Northern delegates invaded Edmonton last week, but they weren't looking for a fight - they were there to make some valuable connections.

John Sabourin, an NWT carver, was one of three Northern artists featured during the Meet the North conference in Edmonton May 8-10. - photo courtesy of Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

The Meet the North conference and trade show was held in Edmonton May 8-10. More than 700 delegates attended the conference, with 75 per cent of the delegates coming from the North.

"We had excellent representation. There were 30 booths set up together in a Northern village," said John Carter, executive director of the Northwest Territories Chamber of Commerce.

Carter was pleased to see such a large contingent from the NWT and Nunavut.

"The reality is, business in the North is a tough go with the high cost of labour, fuel and rent.

"To get out there and make connections in the south is a great step," said Carter.

Making the trip from Cambridge Bay to Edmonton was worth it for Kitikmeot Foods, said manager Dale Smith.

Smith said the main goal of the trip was to let people know about the muskox and char that Kitikmeot Foods sells throughout North America.

"We've been talking to distributors, restaurants, chefs and hotels and there is a huge demand," said Smith.

The Kitikmeot Foods booth even went so far as to hire a chef to make a special slow-cooked muskox stew, which was served to delegates.

"Muskox is an exotic food people want," he said.

The conference had more than 194 booths, said communications official Kim Nishikaze of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

The Edmonton Chamber hosted the event and was pleased with the turnout.

"There was lots of traffic and lots of networking. A lot of contacts were made," said Nishikaze.

Carter wanted to use the opportunity to get another message out to southern businesses and federal government representatives.

The Northwest Territories needs more federal money for infrastructure, said Carter.

"We wanted the south to be aware of this because it's in their own vested interests," he said.

As more big business comes to the North, a lot of companies will be sourcing out labour from the south, Carter noted. He felt the presence of Northerners at the tradeshow helped to get the message out.

The North will be hosting its own trade show, Opportunities North, in Yellowknife September 2007.