Thorunn Howatt
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Nov 23/01) - This year's Geosciences Forum in Yellowknife was a resounding success.

"It was an excellent turnout. We've been pleasantly surprised," said NWT and Nunavut Chamber of Mines general manager Mike Vaydik.

Canadian North Sales Manager Valerie Vrisk shows her stuff at the NWT Chamber of Mines 29th annual Geoscience Forum in Yellowknife. - Thorunn Howatt/NNSL photo

The event, now in its 29th year, brought together some 600 geologists, geophysicists, engineers, prospectors and others in exploration and resource development. A trade fair was held at the Explorer Hotel. There were more than 65 booths compared with last year's 38.

"The fact we split the talks from the trade show has allowed us to expand," said Vaydik explaining that the Capitol Theatre acted as a venue for lectures.

The chamber ended up turning away companies who wanted space for trade show booths.

"We could have a bigger trade show if we had a convention centre."

Airlines and communications companies were two of the industries that got into the forum in a big way.

Vaydik attributed the interest in the show to a continuing diamond rush as well as oil and gas interest.

"There is a big staking rush related to the Coronation Gulf," he said, adding the oil and gas industry is comparable to the Northern mining industry.

"The numbers are almost the same as the mining industry in terms of money spent and acreages," he said.

The forum started out nearly 30 years ago as a party during the seasonal down-time in the prospecting business. "It started out as a party and it still has that atmosphere. It's kind of like a club," he said.