Mini Magnetic North | Wawa, 4-5 November 2026

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The 2nd Mini Magnetic North of 2026

Wawa, ON
4-5 November 2026

Northern Policy Institute is pleased to invite you to its second Mini Magnetic North (MMN) gathering, taking place in Wawa on the 4th and 5th of November, during National Francophone Immigration Week.

MMN is a great opportunity to gather and learn about immigration and population growth in the Superior East catchment area that covers Wawa, Chapleau, Deubreville, Hornepayne and Manitouwadge. We look forward to hearing more about your experiences and thoughts on the future of Immigration in the districts of Algoma and Thunder Bay.

Proposed Agenda (subject to change)

November 4th – welcome reception (Legion 429 – 5pm to 7pm)

November 5^th – conference (Legion 429 – 7:30 am to 2:30pm)

7:30am – Registration opens

7:30-9am - Breakfast (hot buffet)

9-10am – Keynote speaker: Lara Dyer, Executive Director, Talent Beyond Boundaries Canada
How local employers and communities can benefit from Francophone and bilingual immigration

10-10:30am - Networking break (coffee and fruit)

10:30am-12pm - Round table discussions

Questions :

Tell us about YOUR experience with immigration at your workplace or in your community.
What programs or tools are working and should be expanded?
What programs or tools are not working?
If you were the minister responsible for immigration – what's the ONE thing you would fund or fix tomorrow?

12-1pm - Lunch

1-2:30pm – Panel: Francophone Immigration Benefits Everyone

2:30–2:45pm - Wrap up and closing words

Keynote Speaker: Lara Dyer, Executive Director, Talent Beyond Boundaries Canada

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Lara Dyer is the Executive Director of Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB) Canada. TBB is the premier global organization connecting skilled refugees with international job opportunities. In her role, Lara leads efforts to expand labour mobility opportunities for displaced talent across Canada.

With extensive expertise in global recruitment and inclusive workforce development, Lara offers practical strategies to help Canadian employers fill critical labour shortages with qualified displaced professionals. Prior to joining TBB, she served as a senior leader in the Canadian government, where she helped design and launch flagship immigration initiatives, including the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).

Panelists: Francophone Immigration Benefits Everyone

	Babeth Kagwe is a consultant with la Société économique de l'Ontario (SÉO), on the Recrute Nord team. Based in Thunder Bay, she helps support employers in Northern Ontario with their international recruitment strategies and facilitates the integration of Francophone and bilingual talent. With a background in the education sector and expertise in managing immigration cases, Babeth has a particular interest in economic immigration and workforce development in northern communities. Her community involvement is reflected in her three years of service on the board of directors of the Association des francophones du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario (AFNOO). She works to facilitate immigration projects for Francophones in minority communities and to strengthen ties between employers, professionals, and communities. Through her work and initiatives, Babeth hopes to contribute to economic development, Francophone vitality, and the creation of inclusive and welcoming northern communities.

Travel Logistics

Location:

Wawa is located 270 km (about 2.5 hours north by car) from Sault-Ste-Marie, and 470 km (about 5 hours by car) from Thunder Bay on Highway 17.

Wawa is known for its breathtaking natural landscapes, making it an ideal destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

https://www.wawa.cc/things-to-do/

Accommodation:

Northern Policy Institute has reserved a block of 14 rooms at Wawa Motor Inn for the 4th and 5th of November. The price is $150 for one person, per room, and $175 for double occupancy. The rooms will be reserved until Saturday 10 October 2026. Please mention that you are reserving under the Northern Policy Institute's block.

reservations@wawamotor.com
705.856.2278

Click here to register for Mini Magnetic North

Northern Policy Institute would like to thank its event partner, the Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation for sponsoring the reception and for supporting the organization of the gathering in Wawa.

Mini Magnetic North and Magnetic North are a part of Northern Policy Institute's Welcoming Communities project. We want to thank our project partners Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor), Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), and la Société économique de l'Ontario (SÉO) for their contributions to this initiative.