Kapuskasing, Ontario

10 11 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 In addition, the airport now operates five flights north of the town. Also, being able to tap into these communities means a boost for the retail sector. Initially, the addition to the airport was estimated to create four to five full-time jobs, but it has actually created 22. This is because the base of operations, maintenance, and more are located at the airport. Another facility in the town is a General Motors (GM) weather test facility. GM tests its vehicles against the cold weather and has a freezer on the property. Having a presence in the town means locals can catch these camouflage vehicles being tested, but these are top secret, so locals know better than to snap a picture of them. The town is constantly improving its roads, with Kapuskasing situated on the Trans Canada Highway. Recent projects include a 0.6-mile (0.8km) road linking the town, which is in the last stages of stormwater drainage installation; the entire project cost CA$ 4 million. “We’re building roads in Northern Ontario, but the frost is an issue as it gets deep into the roads, and we need to dig the pipes deeper underground. This makes building roads in the area more expensive,” says Plourde. Kapuskasing offers high-speed internet, up to a gig in download speed, for residents, which is essential due to all the remote workers in the town. In collaboration with the local chamber of commerce, they’ve identified that there are now 150 home businesses in the town. In regards to green energy, the town has invested pretty heavily in solar, with the town incorporating Kapuskasing Energy. Under this corporation, the town has set up solar systems that generate a total of five megawatts of solar power. These sites are based throughout the local areas and within the town limits, there are another 30 solar projects. The company is all about collaboration and getting support from the locals. Since March, the company has received funding from the Ministry of Northern Development Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry, as well as the Ministry of Labor Training, Skill and Development, to the approximate total of CA$1.6 million. Green First Forest Projects has had to start an entirely new machine to handle a new grade of paper, what the industry calls Envirosmart paper, which is a standard paper for packing applications like food bags. This is where the 45 new employees will be working. “We believe there’s a good future in this grade of paper moving forward, with demands not being met in the USA,” says Champoux. This need for Envirosmart paper is because it is a natural alternative to plastics used in food packaging. And because Kapuskasing is dedicated to its partners, they have already started a local campaign to replace all the plastic bags in the town with locally produced paper bags. Green First Forest Projects also supplies the Toronto Star with their newsprint, along with timber products and more. Looking towards the future economically, the town would like to become the hub of Northern Ontario, attracting business and tourism to the town. While from a community standpoint, the town has truly diversified due to COVID, with individuals moving from all corners of the globe to call the town their home. And businesses like Green First Forest Projects would like to see their mill in operation for another 100 years and seize a market share of the Envirosmart paper industry. PREFERRED VENDORS/PARTNERS n Action Group Inc www.actiongroupinc.ca n EXP www.exp.com KAPUSKAS ING, ON Photo Credit: Jonathan Beausejour