New abattoir on Manitoulin expected to open by June
 

by Neil Zacharjewicz

SPRING BAY - The closure of Manitoulin Meats several years ago impacted on more than just the local farming community.

It also impacted on Richard Williams, a licensed meat inspector who lived in the Spring Bay area, because it meant that he would have to take to the road to do his job. In fact, Mr. Williams had even operated Manitoulin Meats at one time, for a period of three years.

But after several years on the road, and 16 years in the meat inspection field, 13 of which were as a provincial inspector and the remaining three of which were as a federal inspector, the day came when Mr. Williams was told by his employer that his services were no longer needed. In need of work, Mr. Williams tried to think of a way to put his experience to good use, but it was Tom Baker who first suggested to him the idea of opening an abattoir. It struck Mr. Williams as a good idea.

"Manitoulin Meats and Bakery is a viable business that will be up and running by this year," Mr. Williams explained, at the recent annual general meeting of the Manitoulin Cattlemen's Association, held at the Spring Bay Community Centre. He explained that he has been working on the project for the last year and a half, getting a license and applying for all of the necessary funding to get a new facility constructed and ready for operation.

Mr. Williams noted his experience as a meat inspector has helped in the design of the new facility. Having visited a lot of other abattoirs in his role as an inspector, he discovered many things he liked and didn't like about certain facilities, and he has been able to apply that to his current project.

The current plan is to have Manitoulin Meats and Bakery up and running by May or June of 2004, and once the plant is up and running, Mr. Williams said local farmers are invited to bring their cattle in. He indicated he will be offering government services to inspect and grade beef that goes through his plant. Furthermore, he said he has been speaking with Island Foodland, and they are interested in taking 10 to 15 cows per week if Manitoulin Meats and Bakery can meet their demand.

"I appreciate the support I have received from the Cattlemen's Association," Mr. Williams said, who noted the information gathered in a study of the cattle numbers on the Island, in which the Cattlemen's Association was a major partner, proved invaluable in making his business case.

Mr. Williams indicated Manitoulin Meats and Bakery will be located in M'Chigeeng, approximately 500 feet from the West Bay General Store.

Swell of opposition against Fisher Harbour proposal

by Neil Zacharjewicz

NORTHEASTERN MANITOULIN and the ISLANDS - A total of 15 trucks per day carrying nickel concentrate bound for INCO in Copper Cliff could be on the road by July of 2006 if council for the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands passes a request to allow Alexander Centre Industries Limited to amend a zoning by-law to allow them to increase the size of their storage facility to over 12 metres in height.

This is just one of several reasons that a variety of affected communities and property owners attended a public meeting to discuss amending the zoning by-law for the property in question, held on January 20 at the Little Current - Howland Recreation Centre, to express their concern.

The meeting opened with a presentation by Alexander Centre Industries Limited (ACIL) President Mark McGoey and Mac Sinclair, legal representative for the company. Mr. McGoey explained that the process was initiated by a request for proposals from INCO for the transportation of nickel concentrate from a port on the St. Lawrence to Sudbury. The cargo would be loaded onto a regular Great Lakes ship which has serviced the lakes for many years, he indicated, then transferred to Fisher Harbour.

"There would be no additional work required at our facility," stated Mr. McGoey, who noted that Fisher Harbour is one of the deepest harbours in the Great Lakes. "What we have would suffice."

Once the vessel has arrived at the harbour, the cargo would be unloaded with a self-unloader with a covered boom approximately 285 feet in length, and transferred onto conveyors which would carry the cargo right into the building.

"The concentrate would never see the ground," Mr. McGoey said. The cargo will be completely enclosed, though he explained that the nickel concentrate must be screened and de-lumped on site. For this reason, ACIL will have dedicated vacuum trucks on-site full time to clean up immediately any nickel concentrate which might drop from conveyor to conveyor.

"INCO insists on this," he added.

All loading would be done inside the building with certified scales, and the cargo would be loaded onto the trucks in enclosed boxes. A total of 15 trucks per day would leave the site carrying the cargo bound for Copper Cliff.

Mr. McGoey indicated that ACIL must bring in enough material to meet INCO's need for the winter, between the months of December and March. He noted there are no plans to bring in an ice breaker, which is why the nickel concentrate must be stored on-site. A total of 12 ships per year would unload at the site. Mr. McGoey indicated the proposal is for the period between July of 2006 and 2013.

Following the presentation, council heard from members of the public, such as Dr. Peter Bayly, a past president of the McGregor Bay Association whose family has been visiting the area since the early 1920s. He explained that, prior to the environmental hearing on the property in question, no federal or provincial regulations for land use were in effect. However, the residents were faced with a "severe industrial development, than a potential full cement plant and deep water port."

Once it was demonstrated that one spill could destroy McGregor Bay due to its unique weather system, created due to the LaCloche Mountains, the lease for the property was let with controls placed on the substances which could be shipped.

"We are all part of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) and we need to work together and understand what a precious heritage we have: the number two cruising area in the world, and the most uniquely beautiful fresh water island in the world," Dr. Bayly said. "Heavy industry as proposed, with the building of a huge, up to 100 foot high building, 300 feet by 75 feet, to house nickel, copper etc. from Voisey's Bay, plus the increase in road and shipping traffic with the chance of spills, possible noise, air and water pollution is not compatible with this unique area."

He expressed concern with the timing of the application, which was received by the town on December 23. He said that there was no way adequate representation from residents of the area could be there.

"We only heard from a friend who attended the last council meeting," he said. "Please vote this down or at least postpone it until all of the people in NEMI have a chance to assess and input for the proper decision."

Council also heard a deputation from Esther Osche, Lands Manager for the Whitefish River First Nation, and Chief Franklin Paibomsai, who presented council with a report outlining their concerns with the proposal due to its proximity to Dreamer's Rock.

"Our people - and other people, as well - come to Dreamer's Rock to fast, to pray, to dream and to give thanks. As custodians, we have kept the place as well as we can. It is our duty to protect the place, and to protect its peace," Ms. Osche stated. "The peace of Dreamer's Rock is essential to us."

She continued, "What is being proposed to you will shatter the peace of Dreamer's Rock."

The proposed building would be visible from Dreamer's Rock, she pointed out, and streams of heavy trucks would travel the highway below.

"The aboriginal rights of the aboriginal peoples of Canada are recognized and affirmed in the Constitution of Canada. The constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any law that is inconsistent with the constitution is of no force and effect. An aboriginal right has been defined by the courts as a practice that was integral to the distinctive aboriginal society at the time of that society's first contact with Europeans. That is, it was important to us when you arrived here," Ms. Osche stated. "The spiritual practices of our people at Dreamer's Rock are vital to Anishnabe spirituality, and our spirituality is at the core of who we are as people."

If council were to amend the zoning by-law, the Whitefish River First Nation would pursue every legal avenue to have the by-law set aside as unconstitutional, she said.

"As your neighbours, we would not want to have to fight with you over this," Ms. Osche stated. "We, the Anishinabek of Whitefish River, have taken care of Dreamer's Rock to the extent that we can, on the land that we control. We did not expect to be faced with a threat to the peace of Dreamer's Rock from a place that is not under our control."

In the package presented to council, the representatives from the Whitefish River First Nation also expressed a number of concerns they were unable to present at the meeting due to time constraints, including the impact the proposal may have on the indigenous lake trout population. The document notes that lake trout are a fragile species, affected by pollution and competition from introduced species. There are very few places on the Great Lakes where indigenous lakes do spawn, the report states.

"The proposed development will increase traffic on our local roads. The increase will be not only in the number of vehicles, but in the number of very heavy vehicles. This will affect both the condition of the roads and our safety on the roads," the document states. "There was been no adequate traffic impact study done. We should not wait for accidents: we should plan to avoid them."

The Whitefish River First Nation also questioned the impact of the proposal on air and water quality, and the potential for a spill which might have a serious environmental impact. It also raised concern that nothing should proceed until an unresolved land claim arising from the 1836 and 1862 treaties is resolved.

"For this proposed development to go ahead, the companies will have to get many small approvals. Our concern is that each agency they go to may look only at the small picture. We think each should consider the entire effect on our environment and our community," the document states. "This is not just about whether a building ought to be 95 feet high or 40 feet high. This is the municipal government's only opportunity, as a government, to have serious input into whether this development proceeds."

Council also had the opportunity to hear from Williams Wilkins, legal representative for the McGregor Bay Association, the Bay of Islands Association, and the Town of Espanola.

"I really think all that (Mr. McGoey) has presented tonight are a bunch of pictures," Mr. Wilkins stated. He said the presentation did not answer any of the concerns with regard to environmental impact or public safety. He noted the Town of Espanola has major concerns about the project proceeding, as the connecting link of Highway 6, through their community, is their responsibility to maintain.

"The road was not built to handle heavy trucks shipping nickel concentrate," Mr. Wilkins stated. He said the project could cost Espanola a lot of money, which could affect its financial stability. Furthermore, he said it is his opinion that the project should not continue until an Environmental Assessment has been conducted.

"If this is not done, God help us all!" Mr. Wilkins stated. "This matter should be deferred."

He said what ACIL is trying to do is put the cart before the horse, and he suggested the town should wait to see how the Ministry of Natural Resources renders its decision on the company's application to amend the commodities list for Fisher Harbour.

Judy Cantwell, a summer resident in the area, raised concern about the impact the project would have on the delicate eco-system in the area.

"Why put that at risk?" she asked. Ms. Cantwell noted that Fisher Harbour is located in the vicinity of Killarney Park, and questioned whether it made sense to locate heavy industry next to the park. This sentiment was echoed by area resident Ron Botan.

Mr. Botan also expressed concern with regard to the impact the proposal would have on tourism in the area, and questioned whether there would be as much gained as there was potential to lose.

Opposition against the proposal was also raised by a representative of the Birch Island Campers Association, who indicated that the association was in support of the views of the Whitefish River First Nation.

Northeast Manitoulin Property Owners Inc. also expressed concern with regard to the environmental impact, the effect on water quality, and danger of increased trucking on Highway 6.

"It is understood that no more than a handful of jobs would be generated on the Island from this expansion and it appears that this would be more than offset by those lost through lack of tourist activity," stated President Jim Strong in a letter to council.

Council also received a letter from area resident Ann McGregor, who pointed out that the area is included in the Ministry of Natural Resource's Living Legacy program, which is proposed to restrict such activity as timbering and mining on shorelines in selected areas around the Great Lakes.

"As a resident of the Whitefish River First Nation, an island owner in McGregor Bay and a taxpayer in the Town of NEMI, I would hate to see higher buildings tarnishing the landscape. There are presently huge piles of salt, houses and storage buildings at the site. If more buildings must be constructed, I would hope that they could be of a modest height," Ms. McGregor stated.

John Pepperell, president of the Georgian Bay Association, raised several concerns in his letter to council, including the suggestion that the size of the building is "out of character" for the Georgian Bay rural coastline.

The association also raised concern that the vessel used to transport the cargo would have to take on ballast water, and wished to have some assurance that the ballast water would be discharged somewhere in the middle lake basin, otherwise it would represent a permanent withdrawal from the basin and have a cumulative effect.

Another concern was raised by the association with regard to the timing of the public meeting, noting the fact that it was held during the middle of winter, which prevented several seasonal ratepayers or their representatives from attending the meeting.

"The timing of the application was not a nefarious thing," responded Mr. Sinclair.

Mr. McGoey explained that it was only in late November that INCO put out the request for proposals, which required ACIL to take fast action.

"We had no control over the timing," he stated. He added the company needs to have answers within the next two months or it will not be eligible for the project.

There was never any intention to disrespect First Nations heritage, Mr. Sinclair said, and while the company realizes that traffic is a concern, they have met with a traffic consultant hired by the Town of Espanola. Furthermore, he noted that of the jobs the project would create, half would go to residents of NEMI and the other half would go to the First Nations.

"There are no question that things need to be fleshed out," Mr. Sinclair stated, but noted that at this time, the company has only applied to the town to have the zoning situation addressed.

Local resident Bill Caesar attended the public meeting. Following the meeting, he indicated that he was in favour of development, but not at an expense to the environment. He suggested he would like to see an Environmental Assessment study completed, and take a look at the potential negative impact on the road system. He indicated he has expressed his concerns to the Ministry of Natural Resources, and would hope that council would be cautious approving any sort of changes to their by-law.

"I'm in favour of employment. I like to see our young people get some jobs, but not at the expense of the environment," he said.

"I don't see why we wouldn't give them the by-law amendment," stated Wayne Whymark, president of the NEMI Community Development Corporation (CDC), after learning of the events of the meeting. "It doesn't make a lot of sense to me."

Mr. Whymark pointed out that INCO has an excellent record when it comes to environmental issues, and would require the same of anyone performing tasks for their company. Furthermore, he noted it is not even certain that ACIL will be awarded the contract to ship the nickel concentrate.

By having more trucks on the road, he said, it may actually help to address many of the concerns with regard to the state of Highway 6, and would provide Manitoulin with more leverage when raising the issue with higher levels of government.

"Maybe a lot of good could come out of it. We could use a better road," he said. "That road is promoting commerce."

On the issue of the sanctity of Dreamer's Rock, Mr. Whymark pointed out there is already a larger building located even closer to the sacred site on the Lafarge property.

"You have to look at these things on their merit," he stated. "I don't see any negatives."

However, he did express concern about what may happen if council does not proceed with the by-law amendment.

"If we keep sending out strong anti-development messages left, right and centre with every council meeting, we are quickly going to be seen as the anti-development capital of the North," Mr. Whymark stated.

One person who has been watching the Voisey's Bay development with interest is Bruce O'Hare, owner and operator of The Anchor Inn Bar and Grill and Lakeshore Excursions. He sees the project as offering significant tax revenue to the community.

"This could be a gift," Mr. O'Hare said. "I think we need to look at something like this."

He indicated that he is in the tourism business, and he sees zero impact on tourism and zero impact on the cruise ship industry.

He pointed out that the Business Improvement Association (BIA) is slated to consider a number of motions related to the project at a meeting to be held this evening. The association will consider a letter of support in favour of the proposal, and letter to the Minister of Transportation and the Minister of Northern Development and Mines with regard to hastening plans for further upgrades to Highway 6.

On the issue of the environmental concerns, Mr. O'Hare said he is confident the safeguards required by the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Natural Resources would ensure that the development was handled properly. He said he does not want to see his taxes increase, and unless there is investment in community expansion, that is not likely to occur.

"We (his companies) only see positives in terms of employment," Mr. O'Hare stated. "We are hopeful that council will support (ACIL's) amendment."

"I'm in support of any development in the community," stated Jim Bousquet, owner and operator of J. James Bousquet Realty Inc. He said the proposal would create jobs in the community as well as in the Whitefish River First Nation, and would be a clean and closed industry.

"Any development that will provide work in the area is a positive for the area," Mr. Bousquet said.

"We have received several bids for the shipment of concentrate to our Sudbury and Thompson operations," said INCO Media Relations Spokesperson Steve Mitchell. "We are currently evaluating the economics of all of the proposals."

INCO's own internal studies have shown the most economical route would involve a St. Lawrence port and shipment of the concentrate to Sudbury and Thompson, Manitoba by rail, but Mr. Mitchell insists the company is keeping "an open mind" while evaluating proposals.

"We haven't ruled anything out at this time," he said. "But at the end of the day, we will choose the method that makes the most economic sense to the company."

Council was expected to rule on the application for an amendment to the by-law at its February 4 meeting of council. However, after discussing the matter at a special meeting of council held on Monday, January 26, it was decided that council felt it had not received answers to all of the concerns raised by the various groups. Council has opted instead to schedule a public meeting for Monday, February 16, at which time the applicant will be asked to address the concerns raised, before council makes its decision at its regularly scheduled council meeting the following evening.

Economic series, Part I: Economic Profile

 EDITOR'S NOTE: Manitoulin Island evokes visions of a pristine, unhurried and restful haven, an Island both literally and figuratively separate from the hurly burly and stress of life in the big leagues of commerce and industry. But the residents of Manitoulin must also live, raise their families and provide the necessities of life and the hope of a bright future for their children.

Recent events have highlighted the constant struggle between the pristine 'unspoiled' Manitoulin and the need for commerce and economic development to provide jobs and the tax base so necessary to maintaining services.

This article, the first in a three-part series, will profile the economy of Manitoulin as it stands today. Following articles will look at some of the challenges facing the Island's economy and what development experts think will be needed to stop the 'so-called' economic death spiral facing many Northern communities.

by Michael Erskine

MANITOULIN---If you were to ask anyone what the biggest industry on Manitoulin is, the answer most people will give you is invariably: tourism. But tourism, as Matthew Fischer, the consultant and author of 'Building on Our Strengths,' a strategic plan published by the Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands Community Development Corporation noted, tourism is a difficult industry to quantitatively pin down, as it straddles several 'industries,' defined by Statistics Canada.

"Obviously the 'Accommodation and Food Service' industry is a major component of the Tourism Industry," wrote Mr. Fischer in his final report, "but other industry sectors, namely Retail and Other Services benefit from tourist expenditures. In fact, the addition of tourist dollars to the money supply circulating in the community effects every sector of the local economy."

A drive through the Manitoulin countryside will quickly highlight agriculture as another major engine of Manitoulin Island's economy. Herds of cattle and the odd flock of sheep munch contentedly behind the zigzagging rail 'flying w' fences that help define the Manitoulin countryside. In the mid and late summer, the steady drone of harvesting equipment can be seen plodding methodically across the landscape, while huge bales of fodder lie waiting transport to the barn.

Over 178 cattle farmers call Manitoulin home. From small one-person operations with a handful of cattle, to a couple of large players with herds in the hundreds, cows are a big part of what defines Manitoulin's agricultural heritage, and it is still a major contributor to the economic mix.

While cattle dominate the farming scene, there are also fruit farmers, emu ranchers and garlic harvesters, albeit they play a much smaller role. There are some 355 people employed in farming and related operations in the District of Manitoulin.

Forestry was once the driving forces of industry on Manitoulin at the beginning of the last century, as early pictures of the Island communities of Little Current and Michael's Bay make plainly evident, with their teeming lumber mills and huge booms of floating timber.

Although the forestry industry still plays a part in Manitoulin's economy, the forestry industry continues to decline in relative importance. The forestry industry is often an adjunct to a farmer's income from other sources, although a number of very active and prosperous specialty sawmills still play a significant role. There were 85 people employed in logging and forestry here in 1996.

Mining, with the large Lafarge quarry operation in Meldrum Bay, a newer operation moving decorative stone to southern markets and the potential for a significant new operation suggested for the eastern end of the Island may yet prove to be a major player in the Island's economic milieu. There were 80 people employed in mining and quarrying in 1996.

When examined over the long term, most traditional resource-based industries are in a definite decline.

The commercial fishery, on the other hand, has been growing significantly, especially due to the advent of aquaculture operations in both the First Nations and non-Native communities. The number of people employed in both the cage operations and in the processing plants in Sucker Creek and Little Current are a significant facet of the Island's cash flow. While a number of smaller traditional commercial fisherman bring in a steady stream of employment cash.

Altogether, resource industries account for 12.1 percent of the Island's employment.

The truly big player when it comes to producing employment numbers on Manitoulin is the health care industry, it produces 14 percent of the jobs. Retail trade sits at 12 percent in the employment standings, while the accommodation and construction industries are tied at nine percent each.

The health and social services sector as the largest employer in the district, accounts for 750 jobs, 240 of which are in NEMI alone. Despite the well-publicized struggles with funding the health sector is undergoing, that struggle is at least partly driven by increasing demand, and as Manitoulin has a disproportionate number of older residents and retirees, demands for services in those areas will likely mean that sector will remain a strong player in the economic marketplace.

In the NEMI CDC Strategic Study, accommodation and food services, key indicators of the health of the tourism industry, have declined on Manitoulin overall in the five years between 1991 and 1996, albeit the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands itself actually saw an 18 percent rise in that sector over the same period.

One of the key elements of tourism, and its importance in a micro-economic system, is that tourist dollars are new dollars coming into the mix. They tend to have an impact many times the bare face value of the currency first passed over the counter in an Island store. Through the process of being spent, and re-spent by successive employees and businesses an economic law called 'the multiplier effect' swings into action. Each tourist dollar therefore has a magnified value to the economy.

It was a recognition of the need for an accommodation establishment capable of taking in a busload of tourists at one go that led to the strong impetus the CDC placed on supporting the recent hotel development proposal on Little Current's western waterfront, and why the defeat of the bylaw request to allow the development was such a devastating blow to them.

At present, establishments in the Little Current area are running at near full capacity during the high tourist season. Some 475 people are employed in the accommodation and food services industry.

Another area of the service sector identified as having strong growth during the last decade was the transportation industry. That essentially boils down to one company, Manitoulin Transport, a major North American transportation company based in western Manitoulin in the town of Gore Bay.

The importance of Manitoulin Transport to the Island economy, and especially the western end of the Island is comparable to the effect of tourism dollars, as much of the money generated by the enterprise, and hence that entering the economy as wages and demands for services, could be argued to also be 'new' dollars entering the system.

Because of those factors, the service Manitoulin Transport's owners have done for the economy of Manitoulin is hard to overstate. How much potential for growth of the local administrative centre of the corporation is uncertain to outside observers, but its continuing presence as a consumer of local services and a supplier of employment is incredible.

Transportation and warehousing as a sector employed 335 people in the entire district.

In 1996, the construction industry accounted for 470 jobs and the manufacturing industry employed 285 people. In the case of the manufacturing industry, a number of new players, such as Henley Boats in Manitowaning, the Manitoulin Soap Factory and The Candle Shop may well have accelerated Manitoulin's manufacturing, employment numbers.

Retail trade are the big employers in the services sector, accounting for 615 jobs, followed by the accommodation and food industry at 475.

On the downside, the services industry has taken a beating in recent years, so the 1996 numbers of 385 people in government, 350 in education and 90 listed as being employed in communications may well have declined significantly.

Wholesale trade stands at 125 people employed, while finance and insurance accounted for 85 jobs. Real estate and insurance brokerages employed 55 people and the catch-all category of 'other services' employed 300 people.

This then is the basic economic profile of Manitoulin Island.

However, Manitoulin has a number of factors that clearly give it a distinct flavour from other parts of Ontario. The large number of First Nation communities play a key role in the integrated economy of the Island, especially when it is considered that over 80 percent of government transfers to those communities tend to eventually flow into the non-native communities as part of the ongoing cycle of commerce.

The economic integration and convergence of interests of both communities play, and will likely continue to play a significant role in the quality of life of both. However, traditionally the First Nations have been a consumer of services and goods from the non-Native communities and as First Nation entrepreneurs become more prevalent, that one-sided dynamic can be expected to change dramatically.

Where the creation of wealth is through goods production, such as manufacturing, sustainable agriculture or the influx of tourist dollars through food and accommodation the overall economies of the two communities will complement and grow.

Where the creation of wealth is from a one-sided trade of goods and services for dollars generated through government transfers, the two communities are now coming into competition. The winners from that competition could be the consumer, as businesses compete for the same base dollars, or the loss of the critical mass needed to sustain a commercial operation may make some historic operations no longer economically viable, resulting in a transfer of jobs from one community to another.

The situation is what it is however, and few systems economic or social remain static over the long term.

The questions to be determined are: What industries and fields of endeavor show promise for a turn around in Manitoulin's economic circumstances? and What can we do to make that happen?

In the next two installments of this series we will attempt to explore those two questions with the Economic Development Officers, the politicians, the developers and academics whose expertise is daily exercised to try and find some answers to those questions in the hope that exploration may lead to creating a public atmosphere conducive to increasing the general wealth of the community.

These are very important questions, the average income of workers 15 and over on Manitoulin in 2001 was $16, 412 compared to $24,816 for the province of Ontario as a whole. Plainly put, there is a lot of catching up to do.

Northern Ontario website launched

by Michael Erskine

SUDBURY---Over 350 visual artists from across Northern Ontario belong to local affiliates of the Northern Ontario Art Association, including 46 members of our own Manitoulin Fine Arts association.

In the past, collaboration and interaction between the 14 independent regional art clubs that make up the Northern Ontario Art Association (NOAA) have been limited by the vast physical distances between the member clubs.

No more.

The pervasiveness of the Internet and the January 26 launch of the NOAA website promise to usher in a whole new epoch of art in the North.

"This is all very exciting," said Manitoulin Fine Arts President Judy Martin. "It can't help but have a great impact on art on Manitoulin."

"The idea of developing a web site for similar groups, with comparable communication problems is certainly not new," said NOAA Website Project manager Richard B. Steward. "What is new is that www.noaa.ca goes way beyond that."

The site not only provides a mechanism for Northern Ontario artists to develop, display, discuss and distribute their work with each other, friends and family, but to do so to a much broader audience than ever before possible.

"While the communication facilities, such as the message board, calendar of events, and web-links provide a means for artists to share techniques, and other information, by far the most dynamic part of the site is the ability of the viewer to search artists and view artwork from the constantly changing database," said Mr. Steward. "The site currently contains over 1,300 pieces of two dimensional original Northern Ontario art. By using the search preferences, it is very simple to narrow down your selection to your own specific area of interest."

The site will prove an invaluable archival tool for art students and people interested in the development of art in Northern Ontario for the past 30 years.

"The site is currently part way through the process of uploading visual archives dating back to the 1970s," said Mr. Steward. "A task that will eventually see more than 1,000 pieces of historical artwork available to the public for research and reference."

Each regional club is also individually represented within their own area of the website, where they control the content, images and information that pertains to their own particular local activities. The public will also have access to this information, allowing them to keep abreast of programs, workshops and other activities of their member clubs.

On the club business side of the site, various publications, such as the NOAA annual 40-page newsletter, will now appear in colour.

"Documents that are vital to the running of the Association, and the Annual Exhibition, have been digitized and are available for user download within the administration area of the site," said Mr. Steward.

"Thanks goes out to the foresight of the Ministry of Citizenship, Volunteer@ctiononline Program that provided the funding," said Mr. Steward. "But also to the spirit of volunteerism from the artists themselves, who have been and continue to be, actively involved in the upgrading and improvement of this www.noaa.ca.

Each volunteer, he noted, has undergone as part of the project, a club training session and are now able to photograph, upload and modify their own profile and portfolio of works. Each volunteer will take an active role in keeping the site fresh and innovative, as they provide their own custom input into its development.

David Read is one of the volunteers who has helped other artists access the site to upload their works.

"I am just one of three or four volunteers who have volunteered their services," he said. "It is a very user-friendly site," he added with a chuckle. "I wouldn't want you touting me as some kind of web-guru."

The NOAA has boasted such celebrated names as A.Y. Jackson and A.J. Casson among their jurors in the past, and doubtless those icons of Canadian art would be proud of this latest expression of the organization's goal of "furthering art education within remote northern communities, as well as promoting the appreciation of their original artwork."