Smithers is throwing its hat in the ring to host the next Minerals North Conference.
While a few councillors raised concerns about staff time required to pull it off, council ultimately voted unanimously on Feb. 25 to apply to host in 2026
Anticipated staff time (excluding committee members or event planner’s time) will likely be about 400 hours between March 2025 and May 2026, involving Finance, Community Services, and Operations staff, which can be accommodated in those department’s operating budgets.
Chief Administrative Officer Michael Dewar said if there was a will, there is a way.
“Certainly this is a conversation we've had in a robust format at the staff level, as to whether we do or don't have capacity across the breadth of the organization to take this on in the upcoming year. I think it's one that, if we so choose to, certainly we can find that capacity to support that effort, and that's one that for the finance side as well, that we will find the capacity."
Minerals North is an annual conference hosted by communities across northern B.C. and is one of the largest mining conferences in western Canada.
According to a town staff report, this conference provides an opportunity for local communities to showcase their capacity to service the mineral industry, for community leaders to learn about economic and policy issues that affect the minerals sector, and for the industry to be informed of local issues and community goals.
Conference attendees are a mixture of residents from communities throughout northern BC, mining and exploration representatives, service providers, and local and provincial politicians.
It is held every spring with the host community being responsible for organizing and undertaking the conference.
Town staff reminded council that one of the goals of the town’s draft Economic Development Plan is to increase mining/exploration and related supply chain services in Smithers by hosting and supporting events that promote Smithers as a mining/exploration service centre, including hosting a Minerals North conference within the next three years.
The town will be responsible for all risks for hosting the conference, including financial losses and liabilities. However, Economic Development Officer Jill Barrowman said the conferences usually generate income if the budget is managed correctly.
Smithers was a host in 1990, 1995, 2004, 2008 and 2016.
Barrowman added that Smithers has been encouraged by the MNCA Board of Directors to submit a bid by March 15 2025 to host it in 2026, however, the board also advised that there are two other communities interested in hosting in 2026.
After no community stepped up to host this year, it was at risk of being cancelled. However at the last minute, C3 Alliance (who organizes the Natural Resource Forum) have stepped forward and will organize the Minerals North conference in Prince George at the end of April 2025.
