New association in northern Ontario

Prospectors in far northern Ontario have a new voice. It’s called the Boreal Prospectors Association (BPA).

The Thunder Bay, Ont.-based association says it was established to “provide a forum in which its members can identify and address the many unique geographical, governmental and cultural challenges facing the mineral industry in Ontario’s far north.”

The BPA is a member of the Ontario Prospectors Association (OPA) and is governed by an executive of independent prospectors, regional First Nation representatives and industry representatives working in Ontario’s north.

The executive of the Boreal Prospectors Association includes: Thomas Tookate from the community of Attawapiskat, prospector Doug Parker, Luc McKay from Shibogama First Nation, Mike Fox of the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (an aboriginal-owned organization), David Duchesne of the Independent First Nations Alliance, Michael Cunningham from De Beers Canada, and Mitch Diabo of the Kasabonika Lake First Nation. The region north of the 51st parallel includes about 35 communities, all of which are First Nation — except Pickle Lake and Moosonee. There are 36 members in the BPA, about half of whom reside in northern communities. The rest are from industry and government.

The BPA announcement comes at a time of increasing mineral exploration activity and significant discoveries in the expansive region, including De Beer’s Victor diamond project near Attawapiskat.

“The role of the mineral industry is becoming increasingly important to economic development of northern Ontario’s communities,” says Parker, a prospector and director of the BPA. He adds that his association will support northern prospectors, and aid in community-industry interaction by encouraging better mutual understanding. Parker wants to encourage northerners to become involved in the minerals industry, an approach he thinks will benefit local communities by encouraging development.

The BPA is hosting a symposium at the Sunset Inn and Suites in Sioux Lookout, Ont., on Feb. 21-22.

For more information, e-mail BorealProspectors@hotmail.com or call the Ontario Prospectors Association at 1-866-259-3727.