Churchill: Canada’s Newest Critical Minerals Gateway
Date/Time: Day 1, November 3 | (10:00 – 11:00 am)
Location: Centennial Room
With growing uncertainty in U.S. trade relations, Canadians are looking north for secure and reliable export routes. The Port of Churchill and the Hudson Bay Railway have emerged as critical infrastructure at the center of this shift – diversifying Canada’s trade, opening new access to global markets, and connecting Canadian resources with trusted jurisdictions.
After years of reinvestment and repair, the railway is in stronger shape than it has been in decades, and the Port of Churchill has re-established itself as a northern export hub with national significance.
In this session, Arctic Gateway Group CEO Chris Avery will share how the Port of Churchill has been prepared for this moment: the unique Indigenous and northern ownership group driving this work, the restoration of the railway after decades of neglect, the successful re-establishment of northern shipping, and the milestone of critical minerals now moving through Churchill to international markets. Looking ahead, he will outline the vision of Churchill as truly nation building infrastructure project, with year-round operations, expanded capabilities, and the ability diversify trade routes and serve as a central gateway for critical minerals, energy, agriculture and more.
Speakers
Chris Avery, Arctic Gateway Group President
Chris Avery is President & CEO of the Arctic Gateway Group (AGG), the Indigenous- and community-owned organization that operates the Hudson Bay Railway and the Port of Churchill. With over 25 years of leadership experience in Canada’s transportation sector, he has championed the Port of Churchill as critical national infrastructure that diversifies supply chains, opens new economic opportunities in northern Manitoba, and furthers Canada as a global critical minerals, energy and agriculture leader.
Chris brings to AGG strong leadership experience working in northern transportation. Before joining AGG in July 2024, Chris was President & CEO of Canadian North and First Air, where they earned recognition as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies and Regional Airline of the Year (2022). He also held senior roles at WestJet, Alaska Airlines, and Canadian Airlines.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Economics from Western University and an MBA from Concordia’s John Molson School of Business and serves on the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Board.
Chair: Tafa Kennedy, Director of Manitoba Geological Survey
Dr. Tafa Kennedy is the Director of Manitoba Geological Survey, with over 20 years’ experience in the exploration and mining industry, in South Africa, Tanzania, Quebec and Ontario. Tafa obtained her B.Sc from Rhodes University, M.Sc from Pretoria University and Ph.D. from the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi.
She has worked as a Nickel and PGE deposit geologist in Raglan and Kabanga for Xstrata Nickel and as a consultant geologist in Quebec, roaming in and around the Abitibi greenstone belt dealing with gold and base metal deposits. After a time in the industry, her call to the public service began in 2017 with the Resident Geologist Program and the Mining Lands Division in Ontario.