New mining journal promotes cluster globally.

Michael Atkins, president of Laurentian Media Group, announced the launch of a new international mining magazine to showcase the mining expertise in North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins and surrounding areas.

With an initial press run of 6,000, the publication will be an international calling card for northeastern Ontario's mining products, services and research capabilities.

An editorial mandate for the publication, a product of Northern Ontario Business Ltd., has been developed in consultation with a team of top editorial board advisors led by Laurentian University economics professor David Robinson.

The editorial advisory board includes: Robinson, Dennis Shannon, manager, mines and training, Northern Centre for Advanced Technology (NORCAT); John Hood, dean, school of science, skills and technology, Cambrian College; David Pearson, professor of earth sciences, Laurentian University; Rachel Prudhomme, dean, technology, trades and business, College Boreal, Dick DeStefano, executive director of the Sudbury and Area Mining Supply and Service Association (SAMSSA); and Greg Baiden, director, school of engineering, Laurentian University.

Norm Tollinsky, a past editor of both Northern Ontario Business and Northern Life, has been hired to edit the quarterly magazine, which will publish its first issue in March 2004.

The idea for the publication came about through discussions between Robinson (a regular columnist with Northern Ontario Business), Atkins and Laurentian Media Group staff nearly a year ago.

The idea was to promote northeastern Ontario's fantastic mining skill sets to the country and to the world and broaden the region's reputation for mining expertise into an all-encompassing reputation for providing mining solutions globally.

A companion Web site, www.sudburyminingsolutions.com, to be launched at the same time as the magazine, will serve as a valuable source of information for the mining community.

According to Tollinsky, "the experience and expertise of the people who make up the region's mining cluster will provide us with a wealth of stories to share with the international mining community.

"Everybody in the international mining community already knows about our reputation. This publication will greatly expand their knowledge of our capabilities."

DeStefano said, "This is just what we need. We are in the process of organizing Sudbury suppliers and manufacturers into a powerful trade organization and this magazine is going to tell our story.

"It is tangible evidence of our power and will be a tool for many of our members in the region (which stretches from Timmins to North Bay and throughout Northern Ontario), who are already doing a lot of international business."

"The key for us," said Patricia Mills, publisher of Northern Ontario Business, "will be to capture the excitement and competence of our people.

"Not everyone is aware of our international mining solution skills and this trade publication will tell that story," she said.

Laurentian Media, which was founded in Sudbury nearly 30 years ago, and currently publishes, Northern Life, Northern Ontario Business, and the Parry Sound North Star in Northern Ontario, is also in the trade and consumer magazine business in Toronto with such titles as Computerworld Canada, CIO Canada and SCOREGolf Magazine.

For more information, or to submit a story idea, call 705-673-5667 and ask for Norm Tollinsky ([e-mail]).

For advertising information ask for Patricia Mills ([e-mail]).