by Nicolas VanPraet
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 13/98) - If trade show success is about being seen, the Northwest Territories mining promotion team at this year's Mining Millennium 2000 international convention in Toronto put on a feast for the eyes, and attracted much needed attention.

"We felt Canadians weren't aware of the significance of diamond production," NWT Economic Development Minister Stephen Kakfwi said. "They need to be made aware of the full economic impact of diamond development."

Pointing to the Northwest Territories theme park, a tennis-court-sized visual display featuring a stuffed polar bear, wolf and inukshuks with six Northern flags overhead and surrounded by the booths of NWT promoters, Kakfwi added, "Every year, you try to create more visual presence. We're getting there."

Although estimates of the number of people who passed through the NWT park between March 8 and 11 vary between 1,000 and 3,000, down from last year's numbers, NWT Chamber of Commerce director Bob Brooks said this year's show was about the quality of the contacts, not the quantity.

Nonetheless, the Northwest Territories room on the convention's main floor attracted more than 500 people and at a forum held to prove that diamond value-added industries are possible in Canada -- more people wanted to listen in than the 100 person-capacity room could hold.

Speaking at the forum were Roger Morton of Edmonton and Warren Boyd of Toronto. Both men have set up profitable diamond cutting and polishing operations.

Brooks said that in the past, delegates told him they've hearing exciting stories about Yellowknife and the North. "Before, they asked what's up there? But now (it's) how do I get up there?" he said.

Brooks and other Northern exhibitors answered queries about transportation, paved roads, amenities and work opportunities.

As contracts and partnerships between diamond players are negotiated, it is possible that a group of Belgians could move to Yellowknife if a cutting and polishing facility is based there.

Brooks said he pitched Yellowknife as a vibrant, modern town with recreation at its doorstep to Belgian delegates during the three-day convention. And he believes his pitch worked.

"If they made the business decision already, the quality of life sealed the deal," Brooks said. "When they find out it's a mini-metropolis in the middle of the wilderness, they're happy."

The Chamber of Commerce spent $6,700 to send two people to Mining 2000, an expense that was well worth it, considering the misconceptions that required straightening, according to Brooks.

The territorial team, which included representatives from BHP, DiaMet and Diavik Diamonds, as well as political leaders, put aside their sometimes opposing interests and worked to make the NWT look good to potential investors, Yellowknife Mayor Dave Lovell said.

Lovell, who was also at the convention, added that he gives the GNWT credit for its work at the trade show.

"A lot of (investors) will be coming to my office for coffee when they're in Yellowknife and that's exactly what I want," Lovell said.

Reaction to the NWT park from delegates scoping exhibit booths on the opposite side of the massive Toronto Convention Centre ranged from mild interest to glowing praise.

Delegate John Labrecque of Diamore Exploration, an Ontario company, said, "You don't see any other province putting in this much effort. It's good."