The Central Canada Resource Expo is over and organizers are calling it a rousing success.

Canadian Trade Ex President Glen Dredhart says record attendance has guaranteed a year three of the event.

“It’s fairly new, this type of event to Thunder Bay, we want it to grow. I’ve worked in communities similar to Thunder Bay, like up in Timmins where they host the Canadian Mining Expo. That event started with a one arena trade show and has built to Canada’s largest mining show, and we want Thunder Bay to be a competitive mark to that Timmins show.”

More than 3000 visitors attended the event to explore the 300 vendors representing all aspects of mining and mining adjacent companies.

Ontario Mines Minister George Pirie inspects a rock sample at a booth during the Central Canada Resource Expo in Thunder Bay (Adam Riley / Acadia Broadcasting)

Among those visiting was Ontario Mines Minister George Pirie, who has high hopes for the mining sector in Northwestern Ontario, noting it will benefit thousands of people and dozens of communities.

He considers his attendance at CCRE an important one for him to meet face to face with the industry representatives and notes his role as a Minister is to open up opportunities from a legislative perspective.

“We create the environment to ensure to people that Northwestern Ontario is the number one mining jurisdiction in Canada. Capital is mobile so we’ve got to create the tables that the investment company wants to invest in Northwestern Ontario and Northern Ontario.”

Pirie says the region is ripe with potential from critical minerals to precious metals, which will give an advantage to both the province and the country in the global market.