Isabel Mosseler
Tribune
Northern Ontario, including West Nipissing, will be featured once again at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto thanks to support from FedNor and efforts by Economic Partners Sudbury East-West Nipissing (EPSEWN).
This was announced last Thursday, June 27 at the former WN Information Centre where EPSEWN General Manager Neil Fox welcomed Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré’s presentation of $716,800 from FedNor to assist northern agri-businesses market themselves at the Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion, a premier attraction at the world’s largest agricultural fair.
EPSEWN has been undertaking this venture for at least 8 years, and Fox invited local agricultural businesses to take part in the showcase of northern products. The northern pavilion has been a major attraction at the Royal Winter Fair for over two decades, with an estimated 300,000 visitors passing through. Over the years, close to 400 northern businesses and organizations have participated with the assistance of the FedNor funding and EPSEWN’s guidance. While a booth at the fair would be too costly for one small business, the Northern Ontario Pavilion gives them an opportunity to be present so that attendees can discover all the North has to offer, Fox pointed out.
Serré stressed the necessity of helping local business to expand their market. “It’s so important that we find ways to attract new businesses,” he said, “to help businesses in the north to find new markets so they can continue to grow.” He noted that Economic Partners is a FedNor funded Community Futures Development Corporation, formed to assist local businesses get established and grow, and he urged entrepreneurs to take advantage of their services.
Serré also lauded the record of Economic Partners and the recognitions they have received, including previous funding of $400K to establish the pavilion, and the increase to $716K as a result of their many success stories over the years. The extra funding will allow close to 50 regional businesses to attend the fair this year. “You as a company are able to go to the fair because of the investment of FedNor to Economic Partners. If not, it would cost you (…) a lot more dollars to go,” he told the assembled crowd, which included agri-businesses set to participate in the Nov. 1-10 fair.
Among them was a newly established Sturgeon Falls business, Jester’s Wonder Emporium (see related story next issue), a micro artisanal soda cannery that specializes in using local honey and maple syrup in their recipes. Serré noted that by bringing their product line to the fair, “They will be showcasing their product to the world! (…) There’s a whole slew of businesses that are home grown, family run businesses that are hiring people and showing their products.” He added that the Canadian government needs to provide even more support in uncertain times, assisting business start-ups to succeed.
