Put on your Packsack!

March 31, 2022

The Packsack Project

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New podcast focuses on the journey of community leaders, entrepreneurs and people who make Northern Ontario a great place to live


Today a new podcast launched that explores the resilience of Northerners in a rapidly changing world, The Packsack Project. It brings together people, businesses, and organizations who are adapting to change in ways that are reflective of Northern Ontario’s culture and geography.


The podcast is a collaboration between NORDIK Institute, a community-based research hub affiliated with Algoma University, and the Rural Agri-Innovation Network (RAIN), an initiative of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre.


David Thompson, RAIN Manager shares, “we want to share stories from northern farmers, entrepreneurs, researchers and community leaders because they are the innovators that northern Ontario needs to overcome its challenges”.  


"Communities large and small across the North face unique challenges, but often the people of this region have come together to build made-in-the-North solutions to these challenges,” explains Sean Meades, Director of NORDIK Institute. “Too often these efforts get overlooked, while they have so much to share with other communities in the North and around the globe."


The first episode gives a preview for what’s in store for the first season with guests:

-      Chief Dean Sayers, Batchewana First Nation

-      Gerry Brandon, CEO of L’Autochtone Hospitality

-      Dr. Catherine Cervin, Vice Dean Academic with Northern Ontario School of Medicine


To listen to The Packsack Project, you can tune in at http://packsackproject.buzzsprout.com, on Apple iTunes and Spotify. 

You can also follow progress on Facebook and Instagram. 


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Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program Launches

October 11, 2024
The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre (SSMIC) has launched the Northern Ontario Value-Added Agriculture (NOVA) Program to empower agri-food entrepreneurs across Northern Ontario to develop new food products. By offering workshops, training sessions, networking events, and a mentorship program, NOVA aims to equip Northern entrepreneurs with the essential skills and knowledge needed for long-term business growth and sustainability. Supported by $42,080 in funding from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, NOVA will address the critical need for professional development in the agri-food sector. It focuses on enhancing entrepreneurial skills, improving safety and risk management practices, and providing strategies to expand market presence at home and abroad. “The agri-food promise and potential of Northern Ontario is immense, and our government will continue to work with Northern partners like the SSMIC to help seize it,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness. “NOVA will help unlock more of the huge untapped entrepreneurial energy and ambition of Northern agri-food entrepreneurs to build strong local businesses, create good-paying jobs and strengthen Northern Ontario’s economy.” Program goals include strengthened business capabilities, job creation, and increased economic activity, leading to a more vibrant and sustainable agri-food sector in Northern Ontario. By fostering public engagement with agriculture and local food, NOVA will also contribute to rural development and enhanced community well-being. "Through the NOVA Program, we are excited to provide agri-food entrepreneurs with the tools and networks they need to thrive," said Peter Bruijns, Executive Director of the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. "This initiative not only supports individual businesses but also strengthens our entire region's agricultural ecosystem." For more information visit: https://rainalgoma.ca/programs/the-northern-ontario-value-added-agriculture-nova-training-program/ SSMIC would also like to thank FedNor the Government of Canada, and the Sault Ste Marie Community Development Corporation for their support in this exciting program. 

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