Municipality of Sioux Lookout

What is Economic Development?

Economic development is the effort that seeks to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating and retaining jobs and supporting or growing incomes.

Quick Links

• Sioux Lookout Community Profile - HTML & PDF
• PACE - Patricia Area Community Endeavours (Community Development Corporation)
• Province of Ontario Website - Sioux Lookout Economic Profile
• Click Here for information on current development projects.

The Sioux Lookout Economic Development Commission (EDC)

Mayor and Council of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout formed an Economic Development Commission in July 2007 with a specific mandate and Terms of Reference. The term of the Commission members runs concurrent with the term of Council.

The members of the Economic Development Commission are:

• Brad Hyslop, Chair
• Christine Hoey, Vice-Chair
• Donna Giles, Member
• Betty Lawrence, Member
• Doug Squires, Member
• David Gordon, Councillor
• Vacant, Councillor
• Kathy Poling, Mayor
• Merlin Dewing, Chief Adminstrative Officer
• Henry Wall, Deputy Treasurer
• Todd Tripp, Airport Manager
• Florence Bailey, Economic Development Officer
• Brian MacKinnon, Community Development Coordinator
• Peter Benz, MNDM Representative

The Economic Development Commission is structured in three sub-committees:

• The Urban Reserve Sub-Committee
• The Community Revitalization Sub-Committee
• The Planning & Promotions Sub-Committee

The Urban Reserve sub-committee has been working in partnership with the Sioux Lookout Area Chief's to investigate the establishment of an Urban Reserve within the Municipality. All orders of government have expressed interest in this initiative and will be approached to provide funding to undertake a feasibility study in the near future. Opportunities for public comment in the form of open houses will be made available throughout the process.

The EDC partnered with the 29 Sioux Lookout Area Chiefs and Lac Seul First Nation to host a three-day Economic Development Summit in Sioux Lookout on November 17 to 19, 2009. The Urban Reserve intiative was discussed as well as other opportunities for economic development including, mining, value-added forestry, and bio-energy. More information on the presentations made at the Summit are posted to the website under the heading "Economic Development Summit".

The Community Revitalization sub-committee has spearheaded Community Pitch-In and is involved in the Train Station and Centennial Park redevelopment, Municipal logo redesign, gateway signs and improvements to the CN Underpass.

The Planning & Promotions sub-committee is working on marketing Sioux Lookout locally, regionally and internationally; to identify, promote and cultivate our comminity and niche markets; and further enhance our image and quality of life.

The sub-committees are currently working on a number of capital projects, some of which include:

• Meno-Ya Win Health Centre
• Train Station Revitalization
• The Sioux Lookout Airport
• Cultural Centre for Youth and the Arts (former Sioux Hotel)

The Economic Development Commission has partnered with  PACE, the Northwest Business Enterprise Centre, the Canada Ontario Business Service Centre and the Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce to allow small business owners easy access to education and training opportunities via video-conference to the Canada Manitoba Business Service Centre. The video-conference site is located at the Sioux Lookout Public Library and is available at no cost and anyone in the community. For more information please click here.

The Economic Development Officer for the Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout is Florence Bailey. Her office is located on the second floor in the Municipal Office building located at 25 Fifth Avenue.

Assisting Florence during these busy economic times is Brian MacKinnon. Brian was hired on an six-month contract as the Community Development Coodinator. Brian's office is located in the Municipal Office building located at 25 Fifth Avenue.

Contact Information:

Tel: 807-737-2700 ext. 2228
Fax: 807-737-3436
Cell: 807-737-9767
email: edo@siouxlookout.ca