SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A rebound in mineral exploration in both the NWT and Nunavut helped increase attendance at the 38th annual Geoscience Forum in Yellowknife this week.

The annual event, organized by the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines, drew a total of 779 delegates by the end of Tuesday.

That's up by nearly 40 people from last year, a year when many companies reduced their trade show spending, sent fewer delegates than normal and, in some cases, opted out of having a booth on the exhibit floor.

This year's trade show boasted a number of NWT-focused mineral exploration companies and operators with displays, including De Beers Canada, Rio Tinto, BHP Billiton, North Country Gold, Canadian Zinc, Tyhee Development, Selwyn Resources, Darnley Bay Resources, Peregrine Diamonds and Fortune Minerals.

Exploration spending in the NWT is expected to total $98.8 million this year, up 124 per cent from the previous year.

Bob McLeod, minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, addressed conference attendees via a previously-taped speech filmed in high definition and shown in Theatre 1 of the Capitol Theatre.

"We all know it has been a challenging last two years for the mining and oil and gas industry. But the tide appears to have turned and good things are happening in our territory," said McLeod.

"The world economy is recovering and investment is returning to our territory. Projects like Gahcho Kue, Courageous Lake, Prairie Creek, Selwyn and Nechalacho are signs of a bright future."

Exploration dollars in Nunavut are expected to top $280.6 million this year - nearly $100 million more than in 2009.

The mining chamber is working on opening its first Nunavut-based office in Iqaluit.

As in previous years, the Capitol Theatre served as the venue for technical presentations on topics as varied as uranium exploration to the recently formed Northern Projects Management Office, an offshoot of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency.

In Theatre 3, which was mostly devoted to talks addressing community participation in the industry, the Yellowknives Dene First Nation provided a reminder of the extent mining is driving economic activity within its communities.

Bouwa Whee Catering - 100 per cent owned by Deton'Cho Corporation, the business arm of Yellowknives Dene -will now provide food for De Beers Canada's Snap Lake Diamond Mine, announced Roy Erasmus, Jr., president of Deton'Cho.

That contract took effect on Oct. 18. Bouwa Whee also caters the cafeteria at Rio Tinto's Diavik Diamond Mine.

Between both contracts, about 20 Yellowknives members are among the staff, said Erasmus.

On Dec. 1, another subsidiary, Deton'Cho Logistics, will begin a new three-year contract with De Beers at Snap Lake.

"We've taken the mining industry and we've embraced it," said Erasmus.

The Geoscience Forum kept Yellowknife hotels packed and busy over the past week.

"We've been full since Sunday," said Jenni Bruce, general manager of the 80-room Chateau Nova and president of the Yellowknife Hotel Association.

"We set aside about 75 per cent of the hotel for Geoscience guests. I can confirm that Yellowknife Inn is full as well, and Capital Suites as well."

The forum wrapped up yesterday.

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