Around the north.

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Province banking NOHFC money: Hampton

NDP Leader Howard Hampton isn't happy with the way the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is being used by the McGuinty Liberal government, pre- and post-election.

Hampton says in the eight months before the last election call, more than $105 million was announced by the McGuinty Liberal government.

In the eight months since the October 10 election, NOHFC has announced less than $29 million.

Hampton says at the current rate of money flowing, the government will bank $25 million.

Lakehead rockhound wins geology association award

Lakehead geology professor Peter Hollings is the 2008 recipient of the William Harvey Gross Award.

Considered a major honour in the field of geology, it was presented by the Mineral Deposits Division of the Geological Association of Canada at an annual luncheon held in Quebec City in May.

The award, bestowed to a geoscientist less than 40 years of age, recognizes those who have made significant contributions to a field generally referred to as economic geology.

Hollings, who recent returned from a sabbatical in Australia, has worked in his research to better understand the formation of mineral deposits in Chile, Mexico and the Phillipines. His research has also worked to develop better exploration models for companies working to locate major deposits of porphyry copper and gold.

Hollings is working with a number of local exploration companies including MetalCorp, Houston Lake Mining and the Musselwhite Mine.

Thunder Bay chamber member appointed to provincial board

Thunder Bay's Ian McCormack has been appointed to the Ontario Chamber of Commerce board. He's been active with the Thunder Bay chamber for more than 14 years and was named chairman in 2004.

He's also served on numerous municipal, provincial and federal advocacy groups.

McCormack is a senior shareholder of War-drop Engineering Inc. and is general manager of its Thunder...