As Nunavut’s mining industry grows, its mines are adding significant employment and business benefits for the territory, its communities, and economy.

Alex Buchan, Nunavut VP of the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines presented an overview of Nunavut’s mining sector at the Northern Lights Conference in Ottawa on Feb. 2. For the territorial economy, Nunavut mining’s direct contributions are very large, and in 2016 mining formed about 20% of the economy, he said. Mining’s contribution is even larger when you consider sectors like construction and transportation. This is a welcome turnaround from 2009, when Nunavut had no mining industry, added Buchan.

A groundbreaking partnership points to a model for future resiliency across Northern Ontario and beyond. The Missanabie Cree, the Chapleau Cree, and the Netamisakomik Anishinabek
(Pic Mobert) First Nations are now significant owners in two Hornepayne businesses.

Kenora Forest Products staff members are back at work after a massive fire roared through two kilns on the last weekend of 2017.

New research at the University of Waterloo could lead to the development of batteries that triple the range of electric vehicles.

The Ultra Deep Mining Network (UDMN) held its third annual Symposium for its 76 network members from across Canada on Dec. 13 and announced another UDMN commercial success by one of its members.

The Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s Exploration Assessment Digital Data Formats (EADDF) project outlines a standard set of guidelines for the submittal of data in a digital format. The guidelines hope to streamline digital data submission on a national scale.

On Dec. 21, 2017, Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (TSX: AEM) announced it has agreed to acquire all the Canadian exploration assets of Canadian Malartic Corp. (CMC), including the Kirkland Lake and Hammond Reef Gold projects.

Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd. (TSX: KL) announced a record annual and quarterly production for the full-year and fourth quarter of 2017, respectively. Comparative information for the full-year and fourth quarter of 2016 includes results for the Fosterville, Cosmo and Stawell mines prior to the merger between

First Mining Finance Corp. (TSX: FF) announced that after accumulating 25 properties over the past two years through eight transactions, it’s changing its strategy and name going forward, and will focus on advancing existing properties to maximize shareholder value.

Effective Dec. 1, 2017 Tolko Woodlands has officially received SFI Sustainable Forest Management and Fibre Sourcing certifications.

Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) supports the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

On Jan. 29, Mountain Province Diamonds Inc. (TXE: MPVD) and Kennady Diamonds Inc. (TSX-V: KDI) announced a definitive arrangement agreement by which Mountain Province will acquire all issued and outstanding common shares of Kennady Diamonds.

Healthy, vibrant and sustainable Canadian forests is the theme of a new youth-focused initiative announced today by Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC) and Earth Rangers, the kids’ conservation organization.

First Mining Gold Corp. (TSX: FF) has submitted a Project Description for the Springpole Gold Project to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, and it was accepted. Acceptance initiates the comment period for the screening process to determine whether a federal Environmental Assessment (“EA”) is required for Springpole.

Mineral production has increased significantly to over $2B in the Northwest Territories, and continues to increase to nearly $850M in Nunavut according to recently released Federal government statistics.

BluMetric Environmental Inc. (TSX-V: BLM) is pleased to announce that given further growth in its mining services, it is opening a Thunder Bay office to support existing and future clients in northwestern Ontario, an area that is showing strong growth potential.

Orefinders Resources Inc. (TSX-V: ORX) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 100% interest the McGarry Mine and Barber-Larder Properties from Kerr Mines Inc., formerly known as Armistice Resources Ltd.

BioPower Sustainable Energy Corporation (BioPower) has acquired the assets of the former Rentech pellet plant in Atikokan. BioPower is a subsidiary company of True North Timber (TNT) in Chapleau, Ontario.

Cobalt Blockchain Inc. (COBC) and DLT Labs Inc. have signed a Letter of Intent to establish a joint venture to provide secure, traceable and transparent methods for tracking and certifying the provenance of metals and minerals, through the entire supply chain from source to end-user. Leveraging the expertise of COBC and DLT’s supply chain and logistics product DL Asset Track, the joint venture will develop and deploy a new enterprise-grade platform based on international blockchain standards.

Manitoba’s Progressive Conservative government is shutting down operations at a 65-year-old provincially run tree nursery it says is losing money – but the province’s largest union says that’s a mistake. Pineland Forest Nursery near Hadashville, Man., has been growing seedlings for the province for reforestation since 1953, according to its website.

A public advisory committee working with Canadian Kraft Paper Industries Ltd. on sustainable forest management in north central Manitoba for over two decades has been recognized with the Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) Canada Stewardship Award for their leadership and personal commitment.