Northern Policy Institute has announced it will host the State of the North Conference in Timmins on Sept. 27 and 28.
The annual conference brings together members of the general public, decision-makers, community leaders, experts, and innovators to explore the state of Northern Ontario from economic, social, and environmental perspectives.
“Each year, Northern Policy Institute will provide an annual update on the state of the North by offering reporting on a set of environmental, social and economic indicators that we will define and select in partnership with our communities,” said Charles Cirtwill, president-CEO of Northern Policy Institute.
“It’s time to take what we have learned and step forward into solution based discussions.”
This year’s theme is ‘Responding to Northern Ontario’s Demographic Shift.’ Northern Ontario is facing a combination of a declining and aging population. At the same time, the Indigenous population is young and growing, representing important opportunities for the Northern regions of the province. These demographic shifts will have significant implications on Northern Ontario’s economy and society, impacting the long-term sustainability of all 11 districts in the region.
This conference will explore evidence-based solutions to address these challenges by exploring the roles that migration, cross-cultural engagement with Indigenous communities, and local governance can have on improving the sustainability of Northern Ontario.
This non-partisan day-and-a-half event will feature multidisciplinary researchers and authors recognized in their fields of study. The conference will also include opportunities for networking and interactive tools to facilitate conversation across Northern Ontario and beyond.
Registration is now open at www.stateofthenorth.ca. Participants are also encouraged to attend the Northern Ontario Business Awards (a Northern Ontario Business event) on Sept. 28. Anyone attending the NOBAs will receive a discounted ticket price for the conference.
