Northern promoter
Hay River mayor working for a strong North

by Anne-Marie Jennings
Northern News Services

NNSL (Apr 27/98) - Jack Rowe may be in charge of Hay River, but he says he is thinking of the entire territory when he meets with big business.

"We will have a stronger Northern economy if the communities are able to stand on their own," he said.

Rowe's most recent meetings came as representatives of De Beers Canada toured Hay River businesses.

"They were here by invitation of the Town of Hay River," Rowe said. "It's a way of making sure some of the corporations know what's available."

The town has worked in recent months to promote itself as a prime location for southern-based businesses to enter the Northern market. While diamonds have been at the forefront, Rowe said not all that glitters in Hay River's future is gemstones.

"We have to maximize our strengths," he explained. "While we're a small town, we have the resources companies need. We have to make companies aware of our facilities."

In recent months, Hay River has welcomed the likes of Diavik, BHP, RaiLink, and a number of other companies to take a closer look at the amenities Hay River has to offer.

"We can't just ask what De Beers can do for Hay River," Rowe said. "We have to ask what we can do for De Beers."

But for Rowe, the best asset Hay River has in its favor is simple: "We're just a really nice place," he said.

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