Construction activity in Thunder Bay should boost the city's economy this year, according to the folks at city hall.

The optimistic prediction comes on the heels of what's believed to be the busiest year for construction in the city's history.

The city's chief building official said, from what he can tell, 2012 was a record year for construction in Thunder Bay.

Desmond Stolz said, the coming year should be just as strong for the building business.

"We're seeing a lot of activity next year,” he said.

“I think we're going to have comparable levels of activity … similar to the last couple of years. We know that the marina development is going to go, we [there will be] some hotel activity with the Marriott hotel."

Mining to offer bigger boost

Stolz said about $220 million worth of construction took place in the city in 2012 and he noted the building department may need to hire another employee to keep up with inspections and permits.

About half of that was tied to the work being done on the new courthouse.

The ongoing upswing in construction is a good indicator for the city's economy overall, according to Chamber of Commerce President Harold Wilson, adding he's looking forward to what the mining sector will bring.

"For employment, for goods and services, for lots, for housing, all of those things come with that,” he said.

“Mining will do that for us in the shorter term, in the medium term and definitely in the long term."

With that in mind, the city needs to ramp up its efforts in making sure it has the contractors and trades people needed for even more construction, Wilson added.