Sault to host Northern Ontario conference
Friday, April 13, 2012 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
FEDERATION OF NORTHERN
ONTARIO MUNICIPALITIES
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FONOM board meets in Sault Ste. Marie; 2014 Conference awarded to City
The Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) held its board meeting in Sault Ste. Marie today.
The board also met with Mayor Debbie Amaroso and Councillor Susan Myers to announce that the 2014 FONOM-MMAH Conference has been awarded to the City.
Alan Spacek, president of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities said: “The City of Sault Ste. Marie last hosted our annual conference in 2008. That conference set record attendance rates that have yet to be beat. We are thrilled that the City expressed interest in hosting the 2014 conference and anticipate another excellent event.“
Mayor Amaroso remarked: “This major conference has been successful in our City because of the great partnerships we have between the City, Tourism Sault Ste. Marie and our neighbouring municipalities.”
She also remarked: “Awarding of this conference to our City is a major economic boost as it brings many northern leaders to our City and gives us an opportunity to showcase our many achievements.”
Conference committee members, Councillor Lou Turco and Councillor Susan Myers, were also on hand to meet with the FONOM board and give a verbal report on the highlights planned for the 2014 conference.
The FONOM board also heard about the extensive events being planned for the City’s 100th birthday celebrations over the coming year.
Councillor Turco, who is also a FONOM board member, remarked: “With the excellent array of tourism attractions in our City, the vast number of hotel rooms and conference facilities, our City has the perfect combination of features that a conference of this size and complexity requires. We are confident we will put on another record-breaking meeting for northern municipal leaders.”
The FONOM board dealt with an extensive agenda at its meeting that included resolutions dealing with the price of gasoline in Northern Ontario, the impending sale of the Ontario Northland Transportation Commission, and the proposed reduction in federal ridings.
The next board meeting will be held in conjunction with the annual conference taking place May 9 to 11, at the Clarion Resort Pinewood Park in North Bay.
FONOM’s membership is made up of 110 municipalities, towns and cities in Northeastern Ontario.
FONOM acts in an advocacy role in relation to political and economic issues of concern in Northern Ontario.
Its board of directors consists of 11 municipal leaders from the seven Northeastern districts and four cities.
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