Mini Magnetic North | Kenora, 22-23 June 2026
Magnetic North is on the move!
Get ready to be part of the Mini Magnetic North conference in Kenora. It's a great opportunity to learn what's going on in immigration and population growth in the Kenora and Rainy River districts, and to share your experiences with other community leaders.
The event will start with a reception in the evening of June 22nd, graciously hosted by the City of Kenora's Economic Development and Tourism Department. It will be a great opportunity to connect and network before the conference begins.
On Tuesday June 23rd, we'll kick things off in the Cascade room of the Clairon with a breakfast keynote address by David Campbell of Jupia Consulting, called Immigration is about building communities - Rural and Small Urban Immigration in Canada - Similarities Between Atlantic Canada and Northern Ontario.
This will be followed by a discussion with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills. We will explore with them recent changes in federal and provincial immigration policy, current immigration goals for Ontario and Canada, and potential future directions. We will close with a roundtable session, where participants can share experiences, identify opportunities, and explore challenges they see with immigration to the Far Northwest region of the province.
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David is the President of Jupia Consultants Inc., an economic development consulting and research firm based in New Brunswick. He has more than 30 years' experience as a consultant working with industry, not-for-profit organizations and governments across Canada. Over a 15-year period, David has worked with over 70 clients in Ontario ranging from municipalities (e.g. Guelph, Windsor, North Bay and London) and economic development organizations to individual firms and immigrant settlement agencies. From 2015 to 2017, David was Chief Economist with the Government of New Brunswick. In that role, he led the development of economic policy, economic development strategy and people attraction efforts for the provincial government. In addition to co-authoring Towards Prosperity: The Transformation of Atlantic Canada's Economy (2025), David writes the It's the Economy, Stupid! Substack and co-hosts the Insights podcast with Don Mills and David Campbell. He was a long-time columnist with Brunswick News and has been a contributing writer to multiple other publications including the Globe and Mail. In 2026, he was appointed as a Fellow with the Ottawa-based Public Policy Forum. David is the Chair of the Board of the Multicultural Agency of the Greater Moncton Area (MAGMA), past Chair of the Board of the United Way of Greater Moncton and a member of the Crandall University Board of Governors. He has been involved with over a dozen other community organizations over a three-decade career. He lives in Cocagne, New Brunswick with his wife Adriana. |
If you are travelling to Kenora, we have reserved some accommodations in advance to make your travel arrangements a bit easier.
Blocks reserved:
Clarion Lakeside Inn and Conference Centre - 470 First Av S. Kenora, Ontario
There are two rooms available with single King-sized beds . They can be booked at 807-468-5521. Please indicate that you are with NPI's Mini Magnetic North when reserving the room.
Traveler's Inn - 700 8th Ave S, Kenora, ON
There are five rooms available. Rooms can be booked by email travelersinnkenora@gmail.com or by phone at (807) 468-5916. Please indicate that you are with NPI's Mini Magnetic North when reserving the room.
Rooms available as of 20 May
Nature's Inn - 1505 Erie St, Keewatin, Ontario.
There are 19 rooms available of varying configurations. Rooms can be booked online (https://naturesinnkenora.ca/) or by phone at 807-547-2888.
Timberland Inn - 805 Hwy 17 W. Kenora, Ontario
Rooms can be booked online at https://www.timberlandkenora.ca/ or by phone (Tuesday - Sunday) at 807-547-2739.
You can also try Kenora's centralized accommodation website. https://stayinkenora.com/
Spring 2026 – Developments in Regional Immigration
Kenora, Ontario
Day 1 – 22 June 2026 – Douglas Family Art Centre (224 Main Street South, Kenora, ON, P9N 1T2)
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 pm | Welcoming Reception
Opening remarks
Charles Cirtwill, President and CEO, NPI
His Worship Andrew Poirier, Mayor of Kenora
Day 2 – 23 June 2026 - Clarion Lakeside Inn and Conference Centre l Cascade Room
(470 1st Avenue South., Kenora, ON, P9N 1W5)
8:00 a.m. | Registration
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. | Continental Breakfast
8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Prayer and Teaching
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. |Immigration is About Building Communities - Rural and Small Urban Immigration in Canada – Similarities Between Atlantic Canada and Northern Ontario
David Campbell, Jupia Consulting
10:00 – 10:30 a.m. | Networking Break
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon | Magnetic North Roundtables
Gathering local perspectives on what is working, what isn't, and what changes should be considered in attracting, settling and retaining newcomers and their families
12:00 noon – 1:00 p.m. | Buffet Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Policy Panel – Immigration Priorities and Program Adjustments
Invited:
Morgan Owen, Director, Global Talent and Settlement Services, MLITSD
James McNamee, Acting Director General, Permanent Economic, IRCC
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 pm | Closing Comments
Paula Haapanen, VP - Community Engagement, NPI
Register for Mini Magnetic North
Northern Policy Institute would like to thank the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor) and the Economic Development and Tourism Office of the City of Kenora for their support of
Mini Magnetic North
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