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Jennifer Obleman
Monday, September 17, 2007
Co-op adds warehouse
Ikaluktutiak/Cambridge Bay - If the building materials arrive before the bay ices over, there will be a new warehouse at the Ikaluktutiak Co-op this winter.
The 4,000 square foot warehouse - in the planning stages for about four years - will replace the building that formerly housed the Co-op store, which is now being used for storage.
"Mostly it's going to hold our sealift stuff," said Arctic Co-op Ltd. president Bill Lyall. "It will make things a lot easier for our people because it will be attached to the store."
Fortune completes testing
Behchoko/Rae-Edzo - Fortune Minerals has wrapped up a two-year, $20 million underground test mining program at its NICO gold-cobalt-bismuth deposit north of Behchoko. About 75 tonnes of ore will be flown east to be used in a large-scale pilot plant test next month.
Fortune expects to have a mine and mill operational at the NICO site by 2010, along with a workforce 255 strong.
"Cobalt is the most valuable metal in the deposit, followed by bismuth," said Julian Kemp, vice-president of finance and chief financial officer for Fortune Minerals.
Northern store expands
Iglulik - Work will begin in the weeks ahead on a major expansion to the Northern store here.
"They're adding 6,000 square feet of selling space. That will allow us to expand considerably our refrigerated lines," said Jim Deyell, director of public affairs for the Northwest Company.
In addition to an increased inventory of produce, dairy, meat, and cheese, a Fun-to-Go counter will be added, featuring hot drinks, sandwiches and deli products. The new portion of the store is expected to open in December.
Chamber plans member drive
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson - There's strength in numbers, and the Fort Simpson Chamber of Commerce is looking to muscle up.
That was the main topic of discussion at last Tuesday's meeting, said chamber president Kirby Groat.
"We have a lot of businesses in Fort Simpson that are not members," he said, adding of about 100 local businesses, only 32 are chamber members.
Starfield seeks knowledge
Qamanittuaq/Baker Lake - Starfield Resources is looking to mine traditional knowledge as well as nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum and palladium.
One study is already under
way with the Ferguson Lake Native Group in Baker Lake, and the company held meetings last week across the Kivalliq to pursue further studies.
"We would like to see if elders from the communities of Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake and Arviat are also interested," said Denise Lockett, Starfield Resources' Community and Government Relations consultant.
New building soon
Lli Goline/Norman Wells - Construction of the Norman Wells Land Corp.'s new building is proceeding on schedule, said Jess Fortner, executive director.
"We're expecting probably mid- to late-October we'll have a turnkey, meaning our tenants can move in," he said. Taurus Contractors began work on the 12,000 square foot, two-storey building last spring.