Terrace Bay's got a Good Thing Going!

Okay, so it may not be the centre of the universe; in fact, not many people may know where Terrace Bay can be found on the map. But Saturday April 24 was a special day for this town and the surrounding communities on Lake Superior's North shore.

Battered as these small communities have been and still are as a result of the declining forrest industry, they just refuse to roll over and die. On the contrary, many are determined to view this economic crisis as an opportunity to move forward instead of backwards.

Hustle and bustle in the hockey arena

One way to move forwards is by refocussing on the future rather than the past. And of course the one big issue that will very much determine our future for a long time to come is the unfolding environmental crisis, forcing us to re-think much of what we've considered "normal" so far.

Terrace Bay's Green Trade Show, organized by Sean Irwin and his happy, hard working team is a great example of this notion. Somehow, this small town of about 1500 souls manages to get just about anyone who is anyone in the green sector to its hockey arena for this one day in April. It's a great opportunity to meet folks in this isolated stretch of the province, to network, inform, inspire and get inspired.

Nolalu Eco Centre's booth

With 72 exhibitor booths and close to a 1000 visitors it's safe to say this year's (only 2nd!) edition was a resounding success. And because admission was only $1.00 (or a non-perishable item for the local Food Bank), the show was accessible for anyone, making it a community-building event rather than commercial event.

Terrace Bay's got a good thing going; kudos to Sean and his crew for making it happen. We're already looking forward to be back next year!