Thirty years ago, Darryl Lake was out of step with politicians and economic forecasters who had lost faith in mining and saw it as a sunset industry. Not only did Lake see past the negativity of massive layoffs and low nickel prices, he saw opportunities.

As founding CEO and general manager for the past 13 years, Lake has been instrumental in the Northern Centre for Advanced Technology’s (NORCAT) growth, reach and influence.

Lake turned non-believers into ardent supporters. He brought together community partners to build a unique organization dedicated to economic development in Sudbury and Northern Ontario. He turned ideas into jobs. He turned whining into “why not?”

After 13 years as chief executive officer, he could retire, but he is having too much fun enjoying NORCAT’s success and an unprecedented mining boom. And he hints about having a few new tricks up his sleeve.

This year revenues are expected to surpass $6 million.

NORCAT has worked with more than 80 companies, and is currently pioneering drilling technology to use in space exploration.

It has helped to develop 300 new technologies and 150 new products. Those products range from kitty litter technology to million dollar drills for space exploration.
Of the 41 companies NORCAT has helped to establish, more than half are still in business, and some of those that aren’t have been purchased by larger companies.
Its underground centre in Onaping Falls is a leader in Canada for mine safety testing and training.

Later this year, with financial support from the government and private investors, NORCAT’s 60,000 square foot Innovation and Commercialization Park will open on Maley Dr.
Lake’s reputation, his ability to network and his passion for technology and innovation helped secure the $10 million needed for the expansion.

With the additional space, NORCAT will be able to accommodate up to 28 residents and fledgling enterprises working on product
innovation and commercialization.

“Greater Sudbury is a better place because of the work and dedication Darryl has done at NORCAT,” says his colleague Norm Lavalee. “His vision is to create economic growth through innovation that will permit the individuals who have grown up in Sudbury, or who choose this community as home to prosper and have opportunities for employment for themselves, and the generations to follow.”

Lake moved to Sudbury in 1968 to teach chemistry at Cambrian College, and later he became dean of science, trades and technology. He worked with bright young people, but he worried when they couldn’t find jobs after graduation.

Community leaders such as Cambrian president Glenn Crombie, former Sudbury development corporation director Spike Hennessey and Lake were determined to try to establish a product development and innovation centre that built on the city’s expertise in mining.

Inspired by Finland’s success with technology centres, Lake came to the conclusion that with a little bit of help, small- and medium-sized mining suppliers in the Sudbury area could expand to serve a wider market and this could kick start the economy.

But prototype development is risky. To pay the bills, NORCAT took over Cambrian College’s revenue-generating occupational health and safety training and the Ontario Centre for Ground Control.

In his search for funding, Lake wrote 17 versions of the proposal, attended countless meetings, and twisted a few arms.

The Northern Centre for Advanced Technology opened in the basement of Cambrian College in 1995 with performance loans from Ontario’s Sector Partnership Fund and FedNor.

In 1997, the NORCAT Underground Training Centre opened in Onaping Falls. In 1998, NORCAT moved into a 32,000 square foot building at Cambrian College (which it has outgrown).

Lake is most proud of NORCAT’s work with The Canadian Space Agency and NASA. NORCAT and several Sudbury area mining supply businesses have won millions of dollars worth of contracts to build prototypes of drills and other mining equipment for use on future missions to the moon and Mars.

The no-nonsense, mild-mannered Lake is one of the mining’s and Sudbury’s biggest supporters.

He would like to see mining designated as one of the key drivers for the Canadian economy. And he would like to see Sudbury designated as THE centre for mining excellence.

“We (Sudbury) are the best guys in mining in the world. Come to us, and see what we can do with you or for you. If you look at what we have in the Sudbury Basin, there is nowhere else in the world that can touch us...Let’s look at what we are best at, and expand what we do, and make it better,” Lake says.