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NUNAVUT - The Nunavut Mining Symposium kicks off this week in Iqaluit, drawing industry members across the country to discuss the past decade of mining in Nunavut.

Scott MacRae of Atlantic Industries Ltd shows off his booth at last year's Nunavut Mining Symposium. This year, delegate numbers are expected to drop to 250, down from about 300 delegates last year. - NNSL file photo

"It's the opportunity for the industry in Nunavut to get together - it's a viable industry, it's a big contributor to the economy up here - and it's an opportunity for them to all get together and discuss common issues," said Bernie MacIsaac, chair of the steering committee.

The theme of this year's event is akin to the old proverb: "Those who ignore history are destined to repeat it."

"The territory has been here for 10 years now. Let's take a look back over the last 10 years and see what we've learned," said MacIsaac.

But it won't all be a delve into the past. With an official event title like "Looking Forward: Translating Challenges to Opportunities" attendees will also be doing a bit of crystal ball gazing.

"Let's look forward to the next 10 years and see how we can make things better," said MacIsaac.

"It's going to be interesting ... to hear what people consider to be some of the lessons we've learned these last 10 years and some of the advice for the next 10," he added.

The three-day event, which has previously been held in different towns around the territory, is hunkering down in Iqaluit for the third year in a row after organizers realized attendance numbers were higher when held there. MacIsaac expected attendance numbers will go down this year, however, regardless of where the symposium was held.

"A lot of companies don't quite have the amount of money they did last year. A lot of companies aren't going to be here because they can't afford it or rather than sending two or three (people) they might just send one," he said.

Melanie Abbott, Iqaluit-based co-ordinator for the symposium, confirmed numbers have dropped from last year.

"We have over 250 delegates registered this year and there are currently 30 exhibitors registered (for the trade show)," she said.

Last year, there were 300 registered delegates and 45 exhibitors for the trade show.

The symposium also has a town hall feature - a moderated panel discussion which gives industry, government and community members a chance to engage each other.

"We solicit questions from across the territory. It's going to be webcast as well so it's an opportunity for the public," said MacIsaac.

He added the event has grown in general over the years, from first attracting largely exploration companies to now attracting all facets of the industry, most recently those from service companies.

"Service companies now are starting to pay attention to what's going on up here because they see opportunities for themselves," he said.

And that's just one of the many lessons the industry has learned in the decade since Nunavut's birth.