MINDEMOYA—Based on the large crowd and many exhibitors representing Manitoulin businesses, organizations and agencies, and the positive comments from those in attendance, the business resource showcase held last Thursday at the Mindemoya community hall was a huge success.
“This is wonderful,” stated Dawn Graham, research intern and event planner with the Sudbury and Manitoulin workforce planning group, which shared a vendor table at the event with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA).
“The turnout and interest has been very encouraging,” said Ms. Graham, noting, “I attended a similar event held in Espanola this past October.” Although her agency office is in Sudbury, “our area of responsibility includes Manitoulin Island and it is great to see this kind of response to this event.”
“I think this event is awesome,” stated Brian Bell, Manitoulin representative with OMAFRA. “There have been people here from a lot of areas on Manitoulin and off-Island. It provides a great place for businesses, agencies and communities to network on what each provides in regards to services.”
“I was asked if OMAFRA would like to be part of the (Manitoulin Island business resources) map being distributed to everyone here today; I think it’s a wonderful way to list services that are available on and off the Island from the many businesses-organizations here today.”
“Sometimes it’s difficult to be aware of all the businesses and services provided on the Island,” said Mr. Bell. “This event is a little more specific to business resources, but it is like a mini-trade fair, where people can see what is out there for them in terms of resources and services.”
Anna Best, community development assistant for LAMBAC, told the Recorder, “in the fall a group economic development staff event was held like this in Espanola and it was decided to try it on the Island as well.”
The project partners included LAMBAC, Waubetek Business Development Corporation, Central Manitoulin, Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands, Assiginack, the Wikwemikong Development Commission and the Town of Gore Bay “who helped plan, organize, advertise and budget for the event. Everyone contributed,” said Ms. Best.
“The idea for this business showcase originated from conversations between several economic development related staff in the area,” said Ms. Best. “They perceived a disconnect between the resources available for business people and what the business people are aware of. There are a number of local non-profits or government agencies that can help people with their business, but they are often not well known.”
Ms. Best explained, “the purpose of this event was to get staff from these organizations and business people together, face to face, where people can get specific information about the business supports they need.”
There were 19 businesses-organizations that attended as exhibitors. All of them have a presence on Manitoulin whether they are physically located here, or whether they have staff that visits the Island as needed to interact with local people.
The goal of the event was to allow businesses connect with what they need to continue operating, expand, or hire new staff; improve awareness of the non-profit groups/agencies in the community, and provide for new connections and relationships between the local business community and the groups, as well as between the groups.
Eric Morphet, community placement officer with the Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board, told the Recorder, “the event today has been excellent. We have been asked lots of questions and there has been a lot of good interest. I’ve been very impressed.”
Stacey Kerr, small business consultant with the Regional Business Centre, said, “this event has been spectacular. It’s all about creating awareness of what is out there in term of services-resources.”
