THUNDER BAY — There are over 40 “major exploration projects” listed on a mining map updated yearly by local economic development officials.
And one in particular, over 500 kilometres northwest of Thunder Bay, is capturing people’s attention, said Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission CEO Jamie Taylor.
“We’re really tracking Kinross, the Great Bear (gold) project, just outside of Red Lake,” she said. “That’s what we feel is probably the next big one.”
“As you know, gold is high, right? So, I don’t think they can develop that mine fast enough right now.”
On its website, the company says land preparation activities for construction “are well advanced,” and selected equipment was being installed as of the third quarter of 2025. It also expects the manufacturing of certain equipment that requires long lead-in times to start in 2026.
A 2024 preliminary economic assessment called for a combined open pit and underground operation with an initial planned lifespan of roughly 12 years. It’s expected to produce over 500,000 ounces per year.
The map covers territory from the Manitoba boundary in the west, to just north of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Bearskin Lake and Sachigo Lake, east to Hearst and as far south as Wawa and the Canada-U.S. border. It currently shows 43 advanced exploration projects throughout the region, as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines, Taylor said, as well as 13 producing mines.
The CEDC’s map dates back over five years, Taylor said, from when John Mason was the organization’s project manager of mining services, and came out of a study about how the commission should better position itself.
“It’s been a great tool for us,” she said. “All the companies, especially when we’re looking at mining supply and service, it’s an attraction tool for us when we do shows like (the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada).”
“That’s the backdrop for our booth, and it really brings everybody into it because they’re interested,” Taylor continued. “When you look at it, there’s so much activity on there.”
“So, it really paints the picture of what’s going on in the Northwest region and why supply and service should be located in Thunder Bay to be able to service all of that activity.”
Supply and service companies are those who provide equipment and other operational support for mining. Pushing Thunder Bay as a hub for these companies to set up is high on the CEDC’s priority list, Taylor said.
“We want those companies to be located in Thunder Bay,” she said. “There’s a lot of opportunity for companies to be closer in proximity, and that saves companies time and money.”
“That really is our value proposition, and those companies contribute to our tax base and they employ people within our community.”
