Ed Huebert, executive vice-president of the Mining Association of Manitoba, said the mayor should be optimistic as scientific evidence points toward an extension of the ancient volcanic rock that is the basis of all the mines in the nearby Flin Flon and Snow Lake areas.
"It's a fairly rare occurrence in this country," he said. "It has very strong upside potential. It has the geological setting to be the next Snow Lake or Flin Flon mine. It's great news. Now we're trying to draw awareness to it and get some people drilling there and doing some exploration."
If what he believes to be there becomes reality, the need for a significant number of mining-related jobs will be immediate in the town of 5,500.
"The mining sector has the highest-paying jobs of any sector in the province. Most mines have fairly small footprints but they can have a considerable amount of employment," Huebert said. "We're early days but very optimistic days."
Centennial
The news will likely divert some attention away from the town's upcoming centennial celebration this year as well as the 65th anniversary of its Trapper's Festival, a February staple that features dog races, a beard-growing contest and a marathon snowshoe race. The town's name reflects its trapping past: The Pas was shortened from the trading post of Fort Paskoyac. The Pas was incorporated in 1912,but its trading history dates to around 1795.
Optimism about the future isn't based solely on industry. The local campus of the University College of the North is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar expansion, including the construction of family residences at the school. Enrolment, which currently sits at around 400 students, is expected to increase by 5 per cent next year, McLauchlan said.
"When you're looking at the development of a community, you have to have a strong educational component. That brings high-paying jobs and students and we certainly support that," he said.
Located about 630 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg near the Saskatchewan border, The Pas services a trading area between 15,000 and 20,000 people within a 100-kilometre radius.
Tight housing
But not everybody shares the mayor's optimism. Ed Klimchuk, owner of Re/Max in The Pas, said he'd love it if a couple of new mines were to suddenly spring up but he's worried that the town doesn't have the necessary infrastructure to support the growth.
"We wouldn't be prepared to handle it. There would have to be some pretty major development. We'd definitely need more housing," he said.
"Right now, the community is having a hard time [meeting the need] with what we've got. Our vacancy rate is near zero. It's tight, it's really tight."
He said The Pas lacks a serviced subdivision that could provide water and sewer for new homes. On top of that, there are no more than 15 business lots that are serviced and available.
"Everybody is investing their money in Winnipeg and Brandon," he said. "It's too bad we can't get some of that investment. It's pretty blue collar here."
The average house in The Pas is a 1,100-to-1,200-square-foot bungalow with three bedrooms, a full basement and a garage with a price tag of about $122,000. That's up from about $111,000 and $99,500 over the past two years, Klimchuk said. But supply is limited.
"If you were to come to town today, I'd have three homes to show you and they're all $200,000 plus. For young people in the $120,000 market, we have no product. Nobody is selling," he said.
The mayor said town officials are aware of the potental housing shortage and are currently negotiating with developers to build up the housing stock.
Klimchuk said things are very quiet on the commercial side of things, too. He's not surprised because Wal-Mart and Canadian Tire were interested in expanding to The Pas a few years ago but were stymied in their efforts.
"We turned them away. We wouldn't provide the land they wanted so they went to Flin Flon instead, which welcomed them with open arms. We get a lot of traffic headed to Flin Flon now," he said.
McLauchlan said the optimism about the town's future is rippling throughout the community in a way he hasn't seen in a long time.
"More than ever, people are starting to say, 'We need to work on things, get together as a group and do what's right for our town.' Even if I wasn't the mayor, I'd be pretty excited about what's going on right now," he said.
The town is also spending on infrastructure. A wellness centre, which shares the same roof as the town's hockey arena and curling club, was opened two years ago. The full-sized gymnasium features an indoor walking track, free weights and cardio equipment. There's also a new 15-kilometre lighted riverside walking path in town.
"All of this is what makes our community attractive to other people and retains our current residents," the mayor said.
from Western Investor March 2012
