FOR RELEASE     #05-215
August 16, 2005

WHITEHORSE - Opportunities North 2005, a pan-Northern business and investment conference, will take place in Whitehorse Sept. 20 to 22.

"Opportunities North 2005 will demonstrate the emergence of the North as a place of increasing importance and relevance as an economic engine, and a place of opportunity," Premier Dennis Fentie said. "The Yukon government continues to work with the business community in a new era of prosperity."

Opportunities North is the third northern business conference created in partnership among the chambers of commerce in Edmonton, Yellowknife and Whitehorse.

"We're very excited about this conference. We are expecting business and political leaders from the Yukon, Alaska, Northwest Territories, Alberta and British Columbia," conference chair Rob Harvey said. "This is a chance to showcase the North, our economic viability and to foster opportunities for partnership and investment."

The three chambers, the Yukon Chamber of Commerce, the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of the Northwest Territories, have agreed to coordinate a triennial rotation for conferences promoting business opportunities in the North.

The Yukon Chamber of Commerce is organizing the conference this year, along with a committee representing leading Yukon businesses. Financial support has been provided by both the government and the private sector.

The Yukon government is contributing trade fair booth sponsorships for the event, led by a $50,000 platinum sponsorship from the Department of Economic Development.

Conference speakers will address topics such as mining, oil and gas development, the 2007 Canada Winter Games, the Alaska Highway Pipeline Project, the Alaska-Canada rail link and potential port access.

"The timing of this conference couldn’t be better with projects such as pipelines, railways and mines on the Yukon horizon," Fentie added.

Northern businesses and governments will be setting up displays for the trade show portion of the conference, which will feature a core shack tent for mining and exploration companies.

For more information about the conference, visit www.opportunitiesnorth.com.

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