Kapuskasing.

• Position: COMMUNITIES OF OPPORTUNITY

With its close proximity to the Ring of Fire, a multi-billion dollar mineral project in its backyard, to say that Kapuskasing is doing well is a understatement.

The construction of the Lower Matta-gami hydroelectric project is not only the largest power development in the province, but also one of the most expensive at $2.5 billion.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is almost entirely reconstructing one existing generating station at Smoky Falls and is upgrading three others in the area.

Currently in the first year of a five-year construction schedule, the project will add another 440 megawatts to the grid.

To accommodate the project, the Kapuskasing Airport has added an additional two flights from Thunder Bay and Hamilton, on top of its serviced three daily flights from Bearskin Airlines.

Its airport has also seen a major make-over this past year with an investment of $4.5 million towards improvements in water capacity, refuelling equipment and reconstruction of the aircraft apron.

Six acres of land Tare now available for industrial development.

In the last five years, the town has seen more than $50 million spent on local infrastructure, including a new water tower, water treatment plant, and upgrades to the existing waste-water treatment plant.

Early in 2012, the municipally-owned solar corporation has connected 30 microFIT...