GREENSTONE — Six economic development projects across the municipality of Greenstone have been given the go-ahead as a result of $5 million in provincial spending.
The announcement was made by Premier Doug Ford and Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs Minister Greg Rickford during a visit to Northern Ontario last week.
One of the six recipients of Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation funding involves upgrading community centres in each of Greenstone’s wards.
Mayor Jamie McPherson said those dollars will be put towards the “major inner workings for the arenas and the curling clubs.”
“The community centre in Longlac – the Recplex there – is fifty years old,” McPherson noted. “So after 50 years these parts are wearing out, so therefore we’ve got the ability now to keep them going for another few generations. And, that’s what’s so great is that we can say that these facilities will have the ability to keep going.”
“If you don’t have a place to meet, you don’t really have a community,” said McPherson.
McPherson made particular mention of other major projects being developed in Greenstone, including a two-story training complex and community centre for Ne-Daa-Kii-Me-Naan Inc. (Needak) and plans for the Migizi Plaza by Minodahmun Development Inc.
Further noted in the press release were investments made towards Instinct Contracting, Aroland First Nation, and Booth’s Air Repair Inc.
“The business training complex is the cornerstone – it’s kind of the fruition of what we’ve been working [towards] for the last number of years,” said Needak general manager Deanna Hoffman. “The plan… is to house the Needak staff, as well as open it to the forest industry to have more synergies and realize some mutual benefits… setup training programs… being able to [connect people to] meaningful employment after training – a lot of people are trained but they don’t have the employment to go to, so this will facilitate that.”
But Hoffman was quick to point out that what they will be offering at the complex is not just limited to those interested in pursuing forestry.
“It’s open for other entrepreneurs or other people – smaller operators that want to get started, where you can come in, we can do some training, set you up with a little office space, and provide some assistance in that respect,” said Hoffman.
What’s more, the location will have an EV charging station for electric vehicles, retail space for First Nations vendors and entrepreneurs, a potential coffee shop, an industrial garage wherein Needak hopes to host an apprenticeship program for aspiring mechanics, and even a greenhouse to supply the local market, communities, school programs, and restaurants.
“It’s a cornerstone of future development and ideas,” said Hoffman. “Essentially, anything the communities think they might want to do, we should be able to facilitate.”
Needak is currently based out of rented office space in Longlac and they have moved three times since the company was formed in 2012, according to Hoffman.
The Needak training complex, then, is a much-needed, permanent upgrade.
Minodahmun Development — a company formed in partnership between the Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, Aroland, and Ginoogaming First Nations — is set to start work on their equally ambitious Migizi Plaza next month in Geraldton.
Migizi means ‘eagle’ in Ojibway.
“It’s an initiative that’s led by our three owner communities,” said John Glover, chief executive officer of Minodahmun. “Our goal here is to develop a thriving business hub for community members, local residents, industry, and tourists. We’re strategically located at the Trans-Canada Highway and the town of Geraldton and the newly built Equinox Gold Greenstone Mine, so we’re hoping the plaza can be a business hub for the area in this emerging mining hub in Ontario.”
Glover further highlighted the fact that while this is indeed a major project that will bring visitors to Geraldton and the wider municipality, it also gives First Nations’ communities a way to take part in the local economy and a platform to have their culture seen and heard.
“We’re hoping… that the plaza will showcase that vibrant culture of our owner communities —Aroland, Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, and Ginoogaming — and also provide valuable economic development and employment opportunities to community members, and really allow the First Nations to be participants in development of the region,” said Glover. “We really want to focus on promoting Indigenous entrepreneurs, Indigenous business — that’s what we are about at Minodahmun, so we want to see that obviously be a big part of what’s happening there.”
Glover also made mention of building a “summer market” area that would be a large teepee structure wherein small businesses and Indigenous artisans to sell crafts, food, and other wares in a central location where their exposure can be maximized.
“Where the mine is being built is where there’s the big transformational change,” said Glover. “And Migzi Plaza is, of course, right there at the entrance to Geraldton.”
Being in such a conspicuous spot at the crux of Highway 11 and Highway 584 and with ample space on the property, Migizi Plaza is attracting other business partners as well.
“We’ve also had some requests for different types of services that will be needed at the plaza,” said Glover.
“We’re looking at a Tim Hortons facility, we’re working with another freight partner on putting a terminal at the plaza, working with some other restaurants on some opportunities… we’re examining a commercial card lock and fuel station facility… and then we’re also looking at some commercial and industrial space for businesses that will support the local mine and the community. There’s also the potential for hotel development on the site as well, that’s also in great need… because it is pretty large — 27 acres — there’s lots of room to do different activities there.”
Minodahmun also holds an 11-acre parcel of land in Geraldton for industrial development.
Glover said that Minodahmun has “some earth work and servicing” to do for their first phase, which he expects will be completed by late spring 2024, before they can move forward with constructing buildings on the property through 2025.