Greater Sudbury Development Corporation Appoints New Chair and Supports Clean Technologies

Jeff Portelance has been appointed as the chair of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC). Mr. Portelance joined the board in 2019 and brings experience in business development and sales as the Senior Manager of Corporate Development at Civiltek Limited. Service on the GSDC Board of Directors is an unpaid, volunteer position. The GSDC oversees a $1 million Community Economic Development Fund as well as the Arts Culture Grants and the Tourism Development Fund. These funds are received by the City of Greater Sudbury with Council approval to support the economic growth and sustainability of our community.

Recently, the GSDC Board of Directors announced its continued investment in local environmental research efforts through the Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology, a project being led by MIRARCO Mining Innovation. The financial support to the Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology will stimulate a robust environmental and clean technology cluster in Greater Sudbury. Support from the GSDC of $120,000 will support the Phase 3 Implementation Plan to advance the centre and help bridge the gap to the next stage of funding.
The GSDC Board of Directors is proud to have supported this exciting and innovative project since its earliest stages in 2015 when it was known as the Bioleaching Project, which has now evolved to the Centre for Mine Waster Biotechnology.

Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, Interim CEO and President at MIRARCO Mining Innovation, leads the research initiative and seeks to extract critical minerals from tailings in the surrounding area. Dr. Mykytczuk presented at the BEV In-Depth: Mines to Mobility Conference in May 2022, showcasing the innovation that Greater Sudbury is bringing to the evolving demands for critical minerals of the battery vehicle supply chain.

Greater Sudbury’s local expertise continues to grow with the support of research and innovative projects as well as the post-secondary training opportunities making our community like no other as we continue to attract talent and resources to our community.

Quotes:

“We continue to forge ahead as we become a world-class centre of excellence showcasing our expertise in mining and environmental stewardship. The support from the GSDC to the Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology is an opportunity to celebrate our local talent and expertise as we create sustainability for the future of our community."

Paul Lefebvre, Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury

“I am excited about this new opportunity, and I will continue to support the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation in our efforts to build a more vibrant community and attract new talent. I want to thank our previous chair Lisa Demmer for serving our community and the Board of Directors with passion and dedication. I look forward to working with our many community partners.”

Jeff Portelance, Chair of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation

“As we continue to advance critical mineral research and innovation, the Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology is just one of the many examples of how we are developing our clean technology in our community. I want to thank the GSDC board members as well as our City staff for their continued efforts to attract and expand business opportunities highlighting the future of clean technology.”

Ed Archer, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Greater Sudbury.

"I am very grateful for the support from GSDC for this next phase of development for the Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology. This Centre will help advance innovations to produce environmentally sustainable metals and help us meet critical minerals demands. As the global mining hub, Greater Sudbury is an ideal region to pilot and commercialize these technologies in partnership with our industry and service sector partners."   

Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, Interim CEO and President at MIRARCO Mining Innovation

About the GSDC:
The Greater Sudbury Development Corporation is the economic development arm of the City of Greater Sudbury. Consisting of an 18-member board of directors and supported by City staff, the GSDC acts as a catalyst for economic development initiatives and supports the attraction, development and retention of business in the community.