Toronto tradeshow global in scope
Yellowknife looks good to the mining world

Dane Gibson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 24/99) - It's the greatest show on earth -- in the mining world that is.

The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) held their trade show and conference in Toronto, March 14-17.

Five Yellowknife representatives attended the event that had more than 200 company displays and a series of presentations designed to bring mining companies and investors together.

"There's companies from all over the world looking for investment opportunities at this conference," Yellowknife mayor Dave Lovell said.

"In the future, when these companies are looking at our area for potential investment opportunities, they'll remember meeting the mayor of Yellowknife and they'll remember the information we provided to them."

City councillors Cheryl Best and Dave Ramsay, city administrator Max Hall and economic development director Peter Neugebauer joined Lovell in Toronto.

When asked about the travel expenses an excursion like this represents to the taxpayer, Lovell said the benefits are something that will show "down the road."

"The non-renewable resource industries are the only economic hope for the territories in the foreseeable future. Tourism by itself won't support our population," Lovell said.

Yellowknife was promoted by its representatives at a trade show booth and hospitality suite. Lovell and the others staffed the booth daily during the conference, answering questions about the city, the region and what future opportunities exist here.

The total cost to the city for the trip was $20,000.

"The question is do we get something out of it for the money we spend? It's something we're always looking at," Lovell said.

"For right now, we're a city in the middle of a mining boom. For that reason, now is the time to keep in the forefront."

Councillor Cheryl Best said many of the questions she fielded at the conference surrounded diamonds, and how Yellowknife was fitting into the burgeoning Canadian industry.

"There's a lot of interest in the availability of rough diamonds. Right now, all BHP diamonds are being purchased overseas but when evaluation facilities start opening here, that will mean easier access to rough diamonds in the North," Best said.

"This conference was important because what's good for Yellowknife is good for the territories, and vice-versa.

"The city needs to continue to be front and centre for mining and exploration companies to realize the North is mining friendly and that Yellowknife is the perfect centre for mining activity."