Since 1987, FedNor has administered a variety of programs to meet the changing economic needs of Northern Ontario communities. Below you can read about FedNor-supported projects that have helped strengthen businesses and communities across this great region.
From Northern Ontario to Global Opportunities: A PARO Trade Mission Success
When PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise began planning its most recent trade mission to Madrid and Paris, its objective was clear: to equip women‑led businesses from Northern and rural regions with the access, confidence, and connections needed to compete in global markets.
Mining for Growth: How the Northern Ontario Mining Showcase Became a Trade Show Powerhouse
The Northern Ontario Mining Showcase (NOMS) has a reputation for being a must-see pavilion within the larger Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention. But it wasn’t always that way.
Northern Medicine: How Two Brothers Turned a Wilderness Dream into a Thriving Destination
When brothers Leo and Nico de Ruiter grew up canoe tripping through Northern Ontario, they didn’t just learn how to paddle, they discovered something deeper. Those long, uninterrupted days in the Temagami backcountry shaped them, grounded them, and gave them what they now call Northern Medicine: the belief that time in nature heals, strengthens, and transforms.
Turning Blind Spots into Bright Ideas: LoopX’s Vision for Safer Mines
Chao Yu started with a bold vision: to make mining safer and smarter through advanced technology. Once a PhD student at the University of Waterloo, Yu had been researching autonomous driving on public roads. “I closely followed how public-road autonomy struggled with unpredictable real-world environments,” he explains.
Building the Future: How Dryden Is Strengthening Its Economic Development Capacity
When Tyler Peacock reflects on his role as Economic Development Manager for the City of Dryden, he views it as more than a traditional government position. Drawing on his background in sales, business leadership, and high-pressure corporate environments, he approaches municipal economic development with a results-driven mindset.
Redefining Healthcare Apparel
In 2021, while on maternity leave from her nursing career, Serena Orok found herself facing a familiar challenge among healthcare professionals in Northwestern Ontario: finding modern, comfortable, and affordable scrub uniforms. What began as a frustration soon sparked an idea. Drawing on her clinical experience and entrepreneurial drive, Orok launched LUX Scrubs.
Air Ivanhoe: Soaring to New Heights in Northern Ontario
For nearly a century, the Theriault family has been synonymous with Northern Ontario’s remote fly-in wilderness experiences. From the early days of George Theriault Sr., a bush pilot, Arctic mapper, and Canadian military veteran, to today’s third generation operator, Joel Theriault, Air Ivanhoe (formerly Theriault Aviation) has evolved into one of the best fly-in fishing operations in Northern Canada. But the company’s most recent leap forward isn’t just in aviation, it’s on the screen.
It’s all Hands on Deck as Connor Industries Expands Again
Connor Industries has developed an international reputation for its custom-welded aluminum boats. Government agencies in North America, Scandinavia, Africa, the Middle East and the Arctic use the company's trademarked Stanley boats for law enforcement and conservation patrol, fire and medical emergencies, marine distress calls and spill response.
Muskoka Brewery’s enhanced manufacturing capability will enable it to drink in success and take advantage of evolving market opportunities
Muskoka Brewery is hopping into the non-alcoholic segment of the beer market with both feet, thanks to the recent addition of a pasteurizer made possible with an investment from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor).
The Perfect Blend – An Innovative and Environmentally-friendly Company in Northern Ontario
Patricia Snell understands the importance of embracing innovation to drive business growth, stay relevant in changing times, and stand out from the competition.
Embertech Powers Up: Bracebridge Company Expands with Cutting-Edge Facility and Global Reach
Scaling up is not for the faint of heart. Just ask Tanya Neal, the general manager and co-owner of Embertech, a Bracebridge company specializing in millwrighting, machining and steel fabrication services. After 10 years in business, in 2020, Tanya and her husband Mike decided to take their operation to the next level by expanding into a full-service facility.
Multi-Use Trails for Every Ability
Recognizing the value of its existing boardwalk and trail system, the Town of Cochrane sought to expand this important community asset and applied for funding from FedNor under the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF).
Boosting Northern Ontario's Agri-Food Industry at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
For over two decades, the Northern Ontario Agri-Food Pavilion at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair has been a major highlight for agri-food businesses from Northern Ontario, showcasing their products and services to a global audience.
Beefing up Production
Penokean Hills Farms has been operating in Bruce Mines since 2005. It was originally established by a group of family farms to beef up the regional agricultural industry and preserve the traditional way of raising cattle.
SafeSight Exploration: Transforming safety in the mining industry
North Bay's SafeSight Exploration Inc. is making waves in the mining industry with its ground-breaking technologies. The company employs an array of cutting-edge tools—including drones, robots, and ground-based vehicles—to gather high-risk data from underground environments, minimizing the need for human intervention in potentially hazardous conditions.
Atikokan Revitalization Initiative
Resolute Forest Products in Atikokan, Ontario, is crediting Atikokan Economic Development Corporation with helping the company grow its sawmill operations in the small community west of Thunder Bay.
Building Momentum in Apitipi Anicinapek Nation
Jason Wong understands the essential role momentum plays in economic and community development. As the economic development officer for Apitipi Anicinapek Nation (AAN), situated north of Matheson in northeastern Ontario, he has hit the ground running to push this momentum forward in the community.
Business is Soaring for Muskoka Aircraft Refinishing Inc.
Muskoka Aircraft Refinishing Incorporated has been painting aircraft since 2005. In the beginning, it focused on small airplanes and that business has grown over the past 20 years to include commercial, corporate and private aircraft from all over the world.
Empowering People and Communities in South River
Employment North in South River is more than just a place to find a job, as local resident Ed Klassen will attest. Due to insufficient internet access at home, Klassen has been using the organization's facilities to complete his online paramedic course.
Women in Business – Powering Northern Ontario's Economy
Donna Nordstrom recalls the game-changing moment that helped transform her one-woman operation into a successful company that now counts 34 employees in Northern Ontario. Five years ago, as the Chief Executive Officer of Northstream Safety and Rehab, Nordstrom was looking to take her fledgling business to the next level when she decided to take part in the first trade mission organized by the PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise.
Building a Storied Business in Northern Ontario
For nearly 30 years, Maria Story has focused on improving her community and the lives of those she works with. Along the way, Story, a proud northern Ontarian and the president and founder of Story Environmental, has built a successful business dedicated to providing expert environmental engineering and geomatics services to companies in the mining, industrial and agricultural sectors, as well as to municipalities and other private sector businesses in northern Ontario.
Drilling for success at PDAC 2024
Sylvain Brisson is on a mission to change the mining industry. With nearly 40 years of experience in the industry, Brisson, president and founder of North Bay-based Drillco Mining and Exploration, has spent the last decade looking to shake it up. His knowledge, expertise and ambition has helped garner international attention for Drillco's diamond core clean-tech modular drilling system.
FedNor at PDAC 2024
The Northern Ontario Mining Showcase (NOMS) was once again a must-see destination for attendees at the 2024 edition of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada's (PDAC) convention, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world.
Bucky's BBQ Blend spices up the Royal
Every year in November, 300,000 people visit the Royal Winter Agricultural Fair in Toronto to celebrate the very best food, livestock and horsemanship this country has to offer.
Beaming with Pride
In four short years since Anong Beam opened her business on Manitoulin Island in 2020, it has grown exponentially. The Indigenous businesswoman is manufacturing artist-quality watercolour paints that are available in more than 170 stores around the world.
Supporting Northern College's Evolution
With the grand opening of Northern College's "3D Evolutions: Futures Printing Lab" earlier this summer, the Timmins-based institution took a significant step forward in bolstering its technology and innovation-based class offerings.
The Drive to Succeed
Dan Meneray opened his towing and automotive business in 2016 on Manitoulin Island. The young entrepreneur worked around the clock to make his dream a reality after purchasing property and building a small one-bay garage that summer.
Canadore College leading the way for positive change
The line, "Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink," from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, is a grim reality for some rural and remote Indigenous communities in Northern Ontario dealing with a contaminated water supply.
Sault company ramps up production with new equipment
Sherry Berlinghoff has been in the clothing and apparel printing business for 29 years. With her sights set on being a one-stop shop for all forms of apparel, as well as signs and promotional items, the owner of SK Group in Sault Ste. Marie is excited about the growth potential that her new direct-to-garment machine presents for her primary line of business.
FSET Inc. – "For the North by the North"
Since 1999 FSET Inc. has understood the unique opportunity presented by establishing their business in Northwestern Ontario. Founder David Brown was sure that computers would be the future and started off with intentions to provide Kenora's neighbouring First Nations with cost-effective technology solutions.