Ignace and Bending Lake Excited About Future

Another shot of economic life into Ignace.
Council has agreed to work with the Bending Lake Iron Group to move forward with a mine site southeast of the community.
Company CEO Henry Wetelainen says they plan to develop an industrial site at Bending Lake, building a private short-haul railway down from the CPR line and put out pellets into the North American market.
He adds they will likely truck concentrate from the site to a pilot pig iron plant in Atikokan.
The company expects construction to start in 2-years, estimating 700-jobs during construction and 300-full time jobs when operating over the next 40-years.
Chief Operating Officer Jay Mackie says there’s enough time for Ignace and area to develop a housing plan for the 700-workers, noting they don’t want to build a permanent housing facility at the site.
Ignace found out earlier this year that AbitibiBowater plans on reopening the idled Sawmill.