Boreal Resource Strategies has considerable experience working with communities. Mike has been an Executive member of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, a President of the Land of Nipigon Chamber of Commerce. In fact, Mike helped to ressurect the Chamber after years of dormancy. Along with the re-creation, Mike established a solution to the Chamber's difficulty achieving funding on a longterm basis. Mike established an office for the Chamber, and then rented out space to other community based organizations to assist funding the salary of a permanent Chamber Coordinator. The Chamber is still going strong, and making a difference for the Community.

Also in this community, Mike brought "Courage to Care", which has the ability to save a community's youth from repeating the cycle the town may have with substance abuse. This process continues today to reach out further into the entire community. Communities must be haelthy to face its future.

 Mike has completed a Study for another northwest community facing difficult times. The province of Ontario is determined to close one town's Fossil-fueled Power Generating Station, eliminating 100 jobs and removing $3 Million of the town's tax base. This is a crisis for a town of 3500!

Mike had solutions to the problem, and these solutions took advantage of the raw materials available in the Boreal Forest. Let's face it, forest dependant comunities have trees, rocks, and water, and a great community of people that live within this forest. The answers to the future of these communities lies with what the land provides. Opportunities exist, to keep our communities vibrant. 

An example of this, Mike proposed another solution to another community that is seeing its tax base eroding from out migration due to limited employment opportunities. Mike proposed a Community Forest concept to the Township of Dorion. Political changes took over the agenda of the town unfortunately, as this is still a concept that would of permitted the town's forestry workers to remain in their community, maintaining their way of life. A long term solution!

Another project that Mike is developing is a Non-Timber Forest Products Ctre for northwestern Ontario. This centre would be another resolution for forest dependant communities. 

Boreal Resource Strategies can supply solutions to your northwest community's struggle for a future.