Mining continues to play a big role in Wawa’s affairs

The Town of Wawa owes its origin and history to the mining business, and even though mining and mining related activities are currently a declining contributor to the town’s economy, they still play an important role. Mining is the largest employer for the town, with some 35% of the workforce engaged directly in mining and a further 35% involved in the peripheral industry. Other major employers are government, logging and tourism.

“There’s been very little (mining exploration) going on, at least since the abolition of the flow- through share program,” Wawa Mayor Doug Woods told The Northern Miner. The town of 4,500 hasn’t really changed its dependency on mining in the past 20 years — mining is generally for iron and gold — although over the past several years the community has taken steps to diversify and to protect itself from the employment instabilities sometimes associated with a mining based economy.

An economic development office, business development centre and industrial park have sprung up. A mini-mall and marina were constructed and a tourist information centre has flourished with the completion of the four-lane Highway 101 from Highway 17 into the town. Three new power generation plants provide additional non- mining employment.

With social and medical services often stretched in boom periods, the town is nevertheless lauded by the mayor as providing a friendly, clean, family and outdoors oriented living environment with top quality, modern conveniences.