CEDC touts mining potential A local economic development group says there's plenty of business and job opportunities in the mining sector. This came at a presentation by The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission of the mining and exploration company Sage Gold. CEDC development officer Richard Pohler says there are currently about 1,500 people in this community employed directly or indirectly in the mining industry, and he says there's even more job potential. Sage Gold has been mining at a site near Beardmore for the past year and manager Mike O'Brien says there is business and investment potential with the project and he wanted to make the community aware of the opportunities available. ''Our ultimate goal is to take these into a production mode. Again, it's a bit premature, we're still proving up the resources and the properties, but in the future, there is a probability that could happen. And that's our mandate, to eventually prove up our resources and take them into a production model.'' Richard Pohler ''Well, initially, the focus of the opportunities will be in the research and the exploration stage. Down the road, there will be opportunities as the mine hopefully gets into production with respect to the supply of goods and services. Everything from food services, to the supply of heavy equipment, to the fabrication of metal products, conveyer systems, full range of opportunities for the business community.''