Page 42 Page 42 MLEN SPRING 2020 By Kevin V incent Stakeholders and decisionmakers in central Canada s robust mining forestry and energy sectors are setting aside a stretch of July 2021 to be in Thunder Bay Ontario Ca nadian T radeEx the company that produces the Big Event Canadian Mining Expo in T immins one of the largest trade shows in Canada is working with Thunder Bay ofcials to host another Big Event called the CENCAN Resource Expo The event will showcase north western Ontario and Manitoba mining services and supply sec tors forestry construction and en ergy industries all under one roof at one time The event originally scheduled for September 2020 at the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition Grounds has been rescheduled to July 79 in 2021 It was a decision that was made after a great deal of thought said Canadian T radeEx President Glenn Dredhart CENCAN is Central Canada s largest gathering of industry stakeholders under one roof at one time and it wouldnt be fair to the exhibitors and guests to host the event during these uncer tain times he added W e are excited to host this event in 2021 It will give us time to make sure the event is a success Prior to the COVID19 outbreak we were al ready 50 booked and that jumped another 10 during the height of the COVID pandemic we fully ex pect all booths will be sold before the end of 2020 The excitement for CENCAN Expo 2021 is un derstandable Canada s resource based economy is experiencing incredible growth as the world grap ples with the impact of the coronavi rus on the global economy The anticipated impact of CEN CAN is huge notes John Mason Thunder Bay s Project Manager of Mining Services As a new trade show with a resource industries fo cus this is an opportunity for com panies to showcase the newest equipment and state of the art tech nology for Thunder Bay and region to see he added enthusiastically The format of large equipment on display interactive supplyservice company displays promotion of workforce growth and indigenous opportunities all spell success for this event Mining forestry and the energy sectors contribute tremendously to the economic wealth of the region including wellpaying jobs in the Northwest added Mason North western Ontario is 526417 km roughly the size of France 547030 sq km It extends north and west of Lake Superior and west of Hud son Bay and James Bay Manitoba forms its western boundary About 250000 people live in Northwest ern Ontario Thunder Bay a city of more than 120000 people serves as the re gional hub for Northwestern On tario The eastern boundary rests north of Sault Ste Marie around the town of W awa Northwestern On tario includes the districts of Keno ra Rainy River and Thunder Bay In addition to Thunder Bay other major communities include Ke nora Dryden Fort Frances Sioux Lookout Greenstone Hearst Red Lake Marathon and Atikokan There are over 50 First Nations communities in Northwestern On tario and Thunder Bay is home to the head ofce of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation NAN which repre sents all First Nations in Northern Ontario who are a part of T reaty 9 Thunder Bay also referred to as the Lakehead is strategically lo cated and well connected with a transportation network that moves Thunder Bay hosts Central Canadas Largest Ever Resource Expo Thunder Bay where East meets W est