New developments in Kenora.

Mayor forecasting hundreds of jobs will be created

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield is predicting an abundance of job opportunities in the area over the next three years, and points to Weyerhaeuser's new $250-million Trus Joist laminated strand lumber plant as a major job creator.

The mill, which is slated open in 2002, will employ mill and bush workers, Canfield estimates. These figures do not take into account the 300 construction workers hired to build the multi-million-dollar facility.

Canfield says the Trus Joist mill is just one of several projects that will generate hundreds of job opportunities for the area.

In total, he's forecasting at least 1,000 jobs as a result of the new mill, a 100-seat call centre and a new mall complex.

"There are up to 200 jobs (available) for the new call centre, which I understand is just about a done deal," Canfield says. "We are also in the process of making available a piece of land that our public works yard is on right now, for a new mall complex to be setup. The estimate there is around 300 jobs. So we're in the neighbourhood of 900 (jobs)."

Canfield says he's hoping more employment opportunities arise as a result of the economic development activity occuring at present and in the coming months, and that the community can carry its promising employment outlook beyond its three-year projections.

"I'm hoping in the following five years we can double (our expectations)," Canfield says. "We're continually looking at and addressing other possibilities of economic development. We're not sitting back and relaxing because we've got some economic activity going on now. When the hype's up, we've got to keep it going and it will just keep on steamrolling.

"We are aggressively pursuing other businesses, especially spinoffs for the Trus Joist (mill). We are planning an industrial park area around the mill. So beyond the three years, we're looking at expanding the jobs even further."

Kenora's Jan. 1, 2000 amalgamation with the outlying communities of Keewatin and Jaffray Melick has definitely lent a hand to building a more prosperous community, he says, noting economic development decisions at the municipal level are now made faster.

"It's given us the opportunity to move quicker," Canfield says. "Now you deal with one mayor and one council. That mayor and council can make decisions relatively quickly as opposed to having three mayors and three councils trying to work collectively. It didn't always happen."

"I think from the business community side, seeing us as one working very well together as a new city has also opened their. eyes and (they) are keen on setting up business in the city of Kenora."

Canfield says the fact that Kenora is heading straight for an economic upswing illustrates just how successfufly the city and the business community have made the transition from three communities to one, and how effectively everyone has worked together to make a stronger economy.