Toronto (Mar 14/05) - With more than 2,600 mineral exploration permits issued in Nunavut during the past two years and diamonds adding lustre to the NWT economy, it's no wonder there was such a strong Northern flavour at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) mining trade show and convention.

Held last week in Toronto, the event attracted more than 1,000 exhibitors and 14,000 delegates.

"We've had a great time," said Tongola Sandy, president of the Kivalliq Inuit Association (KIA), after a luncheon hosted at the show by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.

He said it is important for the Kivilliq region to be well represented at events like PDAC given the important role mining will play in the future of his region.

"The Meadowbank Bank gold project at Baker Lake has presented its draft environmental impact statement," he said.

"KIA hopes to begin work soon on the Inuit impact benefit agreement on this project."

He said getting a chance to see mining officials with that project as well as other companies, such as Shear Minerals, Comaplex Minerals and Starfield Resources, can only do good things for Kivalliq communities, like Chesterfield Inlet, where mining industry jobs could make a huge difference in the quality of life for residents.

For many Northerners, like Kitikmeot Corporation president Charlie Lyall, attending PDAC is an annual tradition that's continued for about a decade.

His company was among several from Nunavut with a booth on the show floor and he estimated 50-60 Inuit made the trip south.

"We've sure made a lot of contacts with people interested in exploring in the Kitikmeot region," he said.

Getting a chance to talk to these companies before they come North is invaluable for both parties, he said.

"We can talk about what the proper procedure is for doing work," he said. "That saves them a lot of time as opposed to coming in, making mistakes, learning from them and then coming back the next year."

From the west

News/North national advertising manager Petra Ehrke also made the trip to PDAC.

"There were lots of people there who do business in the NWT as well," said Ehrke. "I had great chats with John MacPherson from Canadian Zinc Corporation and Catherine DeVito from Commander Resources."

The show didn't go smoothly for all of the Northern exhibitors, however. Great Slave Helicopters publicly complained about its booth going missing in transit with a courier - meaning the $5,100 it spent going PDAC was largely wasted.