Confidence beats in the golden heart of Timmins: construction activity, gold mining keeping community confident.

While many communities in the North struggle with the repercussions of the global economic crisis, one doesn't have to scratch Timmins' surface too hard to see a golden sheen of optimism.

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Despite the undercurrent of concern about world markets, spirits remain high among many in local business, academia and government, driven largely by the strength of gold and the flurry of projects underway.

"Everybody realizes there's a challenge out there, there's no doubt about that," says Mayor Tom Laughren.

"But I think the only way we're going to get out of this, to be honest, is by being positive and continuing to work towards moving things forward."

This attitude will soon officially ring throughout the city as this year kicks off four straight years of centennial anniversaries, with 2009 marking the 100-year celebration of the discovery of the Dome, Hollinger and McIntyre Mines.

The following year will mark 100 years of the incorporation of the Township of Tisdale, which consists of South Porcupine and Schumacher, as well as the Township of Whitney, which includes Porcupine, Pottsville-and Golden City.

In 2011, the city will commemorate the great Porcupine Fire, while 2012 will mark the 100-year anniversary of the city itself.

The city's history of gold mining has given some rise to celebrate, but it's the future which is driving the strongest cheers.

Exploration activity has changed over the last year as juniors struggle to access the necessary capital for their programs, but activity for mining firms new and old is helping to propel continued positivity.

Local suppliers have drawn strength not only from the De Beers Canada Victor Mine, which began full production in 2008, but also from the fact that gold prices continue to remain high.

This has sparked the imminent creation of hundreds of jobs, which will bring new employment when production begins in the coming months at new mines for both Lake Shore Gold and Apollo Gold.

It has also led Goldcorp Inc. to recently announce its intention to build a series of open pits on its former Hollinger mine sites in the downtown area. Exploration findings have also led to the potential for mining below its former McIntyre site.

Gold may be key to its economic strength, but Laughren also emphasizes the city's need to diversify and react more quickly to the changing economy. He points to the growth of the local educational sector, which recently kicked off a pair of significant construction projects.

The shell has already been completed on College Boreal's new Timmins campus, where some winter construction is underway. The site, which will also collaboratively include space for the Universite de Hearst, is part of a $15-million project which will quadruple student capacity to nearly 450.

On the other end of town, Northern College is moving forward on its plans for a $10-million expansion to its trade centre.

Rob Galloway, president of the Timmins Chamber of Commerce, says these kinds of changes are helping the city to become a more modern place, the evidence of which can be seen sprouting up all over.

The city's own end-of-year figures agree, as the value of construction permits rose through 2008, reaching from $46.5 million in 2007 to $51.6 million.

This includes a $7-million expansion to the existing Wal-Mart site, which will involve the addition of a 38,000-square-foot space for a grocery outlet and 2,300-square-feet for a garden centre. Equipment has been delivered to the site, and workers have begun to clear the construction area.

A new 6,200-square-foot Boston Pizza was built in the fall. It was brought to Timmins by owner Mark Torchia, who opened a similar outlet in Sudbury nearly three years ago. It now employs more than 100.

Other important developments include the new 20,000-square-foot Future Shop, which opened its doors in late 2008.

"I think there's every reason for the optimism the community is feeling, not withstanding what we're reading about in the paper and the impact that's being felt in other communities," says Fred Gibbons, interim president of Northern College.

"We've waited a long time, and we've seen this kind of development happening in Sudbury and North Bay and wondering when it might make its way this way. But (the investment community) is reading all the signals we see here, which is the growth, the optimism."

portal.timmins.ca

www.timminschamber.on.ca

www.northernc.on.ca

By NICK STEWART

Northern Ontario Business