Grade six and seven students take a turn in the driver's seat at Minerals North Conference    photo courtesy Clarke Action Photography

Vanderhoof, BC – For the past three days, Vanderhoof played host to hundreds of delegates and tradeshow participants in the community for the 2014 Minerals North Conference…

It was the largest such event ever held in the community and Organizing Committee Chair, Brian Frenkel, says he's thrilled with how well it went.

"I am proud of our community," says the Vanderhoof District Councillor.  "You see the dozens of volunteers behind the scenes – preparing food, security, and all those things – for a small town, it brings everybody together and I think we did a great job."

Among the highlights, says Frenkel, were keynote speakers, Jim Bottomley and Osoyoos Indian Band Chief, Clarence Louie.  Bottomley is an entrepreneur with businesses in software development, consulting and retail, who advises organizations in every sector on how to leverage social, economic, and demographic changes for future success.  Chief Clarence Louie (photo at right courtesy Clarke Action Photography) spoke to delegates about the Osoyoos Band's sustainable business development practises – the Band manages nine businesses and employs hundreds – and his belief First Nation communities must create their own jobs and revenue sources, not just administer government-funded programs.  Frenkel says the mainstage was packed with between 250 and 300 people for each presentation.

He notes that both Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, John Rustad, were in attendance.  And says an education component, involving grade six and seven students from School District 91, was a major part of this year's conference.

Frenkel says Vanderhoof managed to put its own stamp on the event.  "Because we're small, we allow camping out at the airport and a lot of the suppliers got together and they had a big bonfire and got out the guitars and they stayed up singing old CCR songs until three in the morning."

"It was good – it put our own little Vanderhoof 'twist' on it, which is unique and makes it special for everybody," he says.  "People were coming up to our organizing committee saying it was great, they really enjoyed that."

"From what I'm hearing, people are happy."  The Vanderhoof councillor adds," As long as people go away saying they've made a couple of those connections and partnerships, I think the event's a success."

The economic spin-offs of the conference were expected to be in the range of $600-thousand dollars for the local economy.