Civil Municipal - May 2024

our region,” Emon shares. The event showcased Renfrew County’s capacity to host large events and had a significant economic impact, with a budget of approximately $3 million, supported by provincial funding and generated revenues. David Wybou, the County business development officer, then takes the conversation further, detailing ongoing support for the tourism sector. “The Ottawa Valley Tourist Association plays a crucial role in promoting tourism activities across the region and is a key partner in tourism promotion and development,” he says. This partnership is vital as it helps unify and amplify the efforts of various tourism-oriented businesses. Renfrew County’s natural and recreational assets are critical to its tourism strategy. “Our offerings range from whitewater rafting and skiing to hiking trails that have seen a surge in popularity post-COVID,” Wybou points out. He highlights the transformation of the Algonquin Trail, a significant infrastructure project that has converted an old rail line into a thriving 300km recreational pathway, attracting more visitors each year. Moreover, the local racetrack has found a unique niche in the entertainment industry, serving as a versatile filming location.“It’s not just about the races. The track has been featured in movies and TV shows occasionally staged for high-speed chases, which adds to our allure as a filming destination,”Wybou adds, illustrating the diverse ways tourism can spur economic activity. WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN RENFREW COUNTY As Renfrew County navigates the complexities of a labor shortage, the focus shifts to strategic workforce development. Collaborative efforts with educational institutions and technical training centers are crucial to preparing a skilled workforce that meets the evolving needs of the local economy. Emon discusses the county’s partnership with Algonquin College, highlighting specialized Steeped in over 70 years of history, the Haley division of Magellan Aerospace has been located in Renfrew County since 1952. As a manufacturer of precision aluminum and magnesium sand castings supplying the aerospace industry worldwide, our people, products, technical expertise, and continuous pursuit of improvement are the foundation of our industry reputation as a premier aerospace sand casting supplier. While holding AS 9100 and ISO 14001 certifications ensures that our management systems comply with industry requirements, our various NADCAP special processing certifications allow us to fully complete our products internally without need for external processing. Growth is certainly in the future of the Haley division as the aerospace sand casting industry is capacity constrained and Magellan has set a strategic initiative to expand on its sand casting capacity. We are charting a future growth path that potentially would result in an increase of our activities in Renfrew County by a factor of fifty percent. The associated required employment increase from our current level of 460 members will contribute in many ways towards the economic development of the area. If you are interested in contributing to our future growth, see our contact info. www.magellanaerospace.com COME GROW WITH US RENFREW COUNTY, ON