Toller talks jobs at the Pontiac Conference Centre

October 10, 2017

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The Equity

Two guest speakers highlighted different industries and how they’ll bring jobs back to the Pontiac. Normand Champigny, president and CEO of Sphinx Resources Ltd., spoke on the potential for locating mines in the area.

Jane Toller, a candidate for warden, held a jobs forum and discussion at the Pontiac Conference Centre on the evening of Oct. 2. David Wybou, a Renfrew business development officer, was one of the guest speakers, tackling the potentials for success in bringing the forestry jobs back to the Pontiac.

Donald Teuma-Castelletti
FORT COULONGE Oct. 2, 2017
A conference on the future of jobs in the Pontiac was held at the Pontiac Conference Centre last week, highlighting two industries and announcing a warden candidate’s plans for success.
Featuring a Renfrew business development officer, plus the CEO of Sphinx, the forum on Monday, Oct. 2 was hosted by Jane Toller as she outlined what she plans to do if elected as warden for the MRC Pontiac.

“I felt it was important to have a night devoted to the most important issue in the Pontiac – jobs, jobs, jobs,” said Toller.
Referring to the talk as her job forum, Toller had two guests speak on where the potential for creating jobs lies in the Pontiac. After brief introductions, she invited David Wybou, the Renfrew business development officer, to the stage to speak about the local forestry industry.
“We share an awful lot between the two counties, most predominantly […] forestry and tourism,” said Wybou.
He delved into problems that the Ontario forestry industry currently faces, including the cost of hydro and the endangered species act, and that this helps the case for Quebec.
“One of the biggest challenges in recent years revolves around pulp wood and mills,” said Wybou.
He explored the benefits of the biomass project in the area, as well as a couple of different options for the forestry industry as well, including value-added wood production.
Wybou has experience in business banking, investment, and economic development, having worked in Renfrew since early 2011.
“Economic development works best when considering combined regional concerns and issues,” said Wybou.
The other guest speaker for the evening was Normand Champigny, the president and CEO of mineral exploration company Sphinx Resources Ltd. This company, based out of Montreal, searches out the potential for new mining projects in Quebec, with a focus on precious metals and zinc.
Champigny said the area is rich in zinc, pointing to his company’s Ziac project – combining zinc and Pontiac – as his hopes to develop a mine. He shared that there exists a 40-km long belt of the resource and showing a picture of his local team, told the audience that he’s already begun local hiring practices.
“We do employ local people as much as possible, we do train them,” said Champigny.
The evening was wrapped up with Toller reaffirming her dedication to these projects, and ensuring that the Pontiac’s resources are run by local jobs.
“The promise of tourism never replaced these jobs,” said Toller.

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