Ontario Strengthening Northern Forestry and Manufacturing Sectors

More than $460,000 provincial investment fosters job creation and business expansion in Sturgeon Falls

March 25, 2022

Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry

STURGEON FALLS – The Ontario government is providing more than $460,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to two forestry and manufacturing sector projects in Sturgeon Falls. This investment will go towards purchasing new equipment and upgrading facilities, and help to build a stronger Ontario by creating jobs, expanding business operations and boosting economic development in Northeastern Ontario.

“Promoting business expansion in our forestry and mining sectors helps these important industries and the companies that service them remain competitive, innovative and current,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. “These investments not only enable these companies to grow and thrive, but also bring good-paying jobs to the community.”

Sturgeon Falls Brush and Contracting Limited, a land clearing contractor and forestry service provider, will receive $400,000 to purchase new equipment to diversify its operations.

Best Blasting Mats Inc., a manufacturer of rubber blasting mats under Dynamat Inc., will receive $61,333 to upgrade its facility and purchase new equipment to allow the company to introduce three new product lines to serve new markets.

The NOHFC promotes economic prosperity across Northern Ontario by providing financial assistance to projects – big and small, rural and urban – that stimulate growth, job creation and skills development. Since June 2018, the NOHFC has invested more than $473 million in 4,244 projects in Northern Ontario, leveraging more than $1.5 billion in investment and creating or sustaining over 6,600 jobs.

Quick Facts

In 2021, the Ontario government launched new and improved NOHFC programs that support more projects in rural northern communities and make it easier for more people and businesses to apply. The programs target existing and emerging markets, provide more work opportunities for Indigenous people and address the skilled labour shortage in the North.

Quotes

“Sturgeon Falls Brush and Contracting Limited, primarily known for large scale land clearing projects, is transitioning to the third generation of the 50-year old family business. Realizing that a number of older operators had retired and left the forestry industry in dire need of new operators, our new CEO saw an opportunity to expand into conventional harvesting. With the assistance of NOHFC, we are in the process of acquiring the equipment needed to succeed and take advantage of these new opportunities in forestry and wood processing.”

– Jean-Pierre Martin
Senior Advisor, Sturgeon Falls Brush and Contracting Ltd.

“We acquired Best Blasting Mats in March 2020 and with the support from NOHFC, we were able to double our production, keep well paid jobs in Sturgeon Falls and better serve all our customers across North America.”

– Nicolas Pedneault
President of Dynamat Inc.

Additional Resources

The NOHFC, Northern Development Offices and Small Business Enterprise Centres are available to support northern communities, businesses and other stakeholders in identifying economic development opportunities and assist in accessing government funding programs.