The eyes of the mining industry will be looking to Vanderhoof later this month as Minerals North takes place from May 21-23.
The annual conference, which moves around the region from year-to-year, brings community leaders together to learn about economic and policy issues impacting the minerals sector and ensures those in the industry are informed of local issues and community goals. Sue Clark, one of the organizers of the conference, said 2014 is the perfect time for Vanderhoof to step into the mineral spotlight.
"Vanderhoof is at the centre of exciting developments in mining and mineral exploration with a long-term molybdenum mine that just expanded west of us, a new copper/gold mine in production north of us and significant gold, silver and molybdenum exploration activity to the south of us," she explained.
This year's conference, which carries the theme "The core of it all", has over 260 delegates already registered and over 200 exhibitors attending. The program not only includes speakers as diverse as planning strategist Jim Bottomly and Osoyoos Band Chief Clarence Louie but a trade show with over 100 businesses involved.
Part of linking the community to the industry, said Clark, is a two-hour window on May 22 when anyone who wants to can take in the otherwise closed-off trade show.
"It is important that the community understands the industry and the focus of Minerals North. They have opened their community to our delegates. The two-hour window will allow us to open our conference to them," she said.
After being hosted in Terrace in 2013, Minerals North will move even further east when it is hosted in Mackenzie in 2015.