Township of Ignace and NWMO Dryden Satellite Office at 33 King Street. Staff Photo.
The Township of Ignace and Nuclear Waste Management Organization satellite office in downtown Dryden is officially open.
A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Thursday at 33 King Street.
The office, funded by the NWMO, will host a number of regional studies that Ignace is leading over the next two years for the proposed deep geological repository site to store used nuclear fuel in the Ignace-Wabigoon Lake area.
Ignace Mayor Penny Lucas says the opening of the Dryden office is an important step in the process of the project.
Dryden Mayor Greg Wilson and Ignace Mayor Penny Lucas. Staff Photo.
“We’re still learning about the project and reaching out to our neighbouring communities to help them learn too. Currently we’re talking about willingness, what does that mean and what does that look like. We the Ignace residents as a community, along with Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation peoples, will be making a decision sometime in 2023.”
Jeff Lederer, Manager of Planning, Development and Engagement Services with the Township of Ignace says studies will involve representatives and working groups from across the region.
“From a township perspective, we were very adamant that we wanted to get into the next phase to look at not only the impacts in the to the community of Ignace but also how that would impact the region, whether that’s Dryden, Sioux Lookout, Machin or unorganized areas.”
There’s two levels and outcomes to the ongoing studies, a base line related to Ignace and the entire region both with or without the NWMO.
“We are doing up to 60 studies that range from anywhere from environmental to the social aspects in terms of what type of jobs are needed, looking at what infrastructure (housing) will be needed, should this project come through and look at other things in terms of what does it mean from a cultural perspective as well,” says Lederer.
“Willingness (to host the site) is going to be a very big part and there has been some discussion of how that can also extend out to the region. Those are the kind of questions we would like to engage and have conversation about with our neighbours.”
Staff Photo.
Lederer stresses no matter the outcome, they want to keep the small town feel of Ignace but also allow for growth and opportunities in the community.
Area residents are encouraged to stop by the satellite office to have conversations and ask questions.
The Ignace-Wabigoon Lake and South Bruce areas are the last two sites in the running.
