GreenSudbury

Sudbury Longboarding

2011-11-06T10:33:00.000-05:00

Open Letter to City Ad-Hoc Sudbury Transit Committee

2011-11-04T10:33:00.001-04:00

Tuesday Nov .1 2011
Councillors:Jacques Barbeau Claude Berthiaume Joe Cimino ave Kilgour

A number of community groups, transit users and the general public have advocated for 2 years through the public input sessions for public transit improvements beginning with simple route signage and shelters.

As transit users studies have shown improvements in bus route signage, shelters, benches, employee u-passes and improvements in Transit Terminal design increases growth, ridership and transit branding and meets Sustainable Mobility Plans goals and Healthy Community Charters.

We will be holding our first public Sudbury Citizens Public Transit Advocacy Group meeting on Tuesday Nov. 8 at 6:30 at the Mackenzie St. library. Our goal is to be an informed, public voice for continued improvements in Sudbury Transit. The information we are requesting is to bring the group up to speed on what is planned in the 2012 budget.

Could you provide us with more detailed information from the 2012 Capitol Budget on the following items. We see no budgeted line items for essential Bus Map and schedule display units at bus stops.

Response from Roger Sauve Transit Manager
This would not be found in capital improvements. We did have an initial amount of funding dedicated to the improvement of the travel guide as the old guide was simply not user friendly. We have and continue to make several improvements to our travel maps and information. Most of the efforts are concentrated in the automated world. Placing the 1400 stops and 32 routes in every customer’s phone/Ipad or Iphone is much more powerful than on print at stops. We are currently working with Google to
import our maps and bus routes as they are one of the most referred to maps on the internet.

· Has Sudbury Transit decided on not providing route maps and signage? ?

Response from Roger Sauve Transit Manager
Transit is working on signage for major locations with scheduled and real time information. Route maps are currently being provided in the travel guide and on line. Route information on stops is a very expensive venture which requires substantial operating funds to maintain. Our system is constantly changing and growing. Printed signs are “wrong” almost right after they are printed. It would be hard to continually replace printed signs. In the automated world things can change and be update immediately since we are drawing our information from the same source

· Has the the ad-hoc Transit Committee reviewed the public input regarding route signage as Transit improvements.?

Response from Roger Sauve Transit Manager
All public input is reviewed by council for consideration during the budget process

· What is the cost of new route & schedule display units?

Response from Roger Sauve Transit Manager
The last units purchased were the tall clear cylinders. We attempted to maintain them for a while but it simply became too expensive and difficult to maintain. They were purchased some time ago at a cost per unit of $300 US

· Under transit is listed $26,000 for bus shelters. Is the $26,000 for repairs/maintenance/replacements or new shelters?

Response from Roger Sauve Transit Manager
There are two accounts – one for maintenance and the other for new shelters

· If no new shelters are budgeted – was this discussed or reviewed by the Ad-Hoc Transit Committee?

Response from Roger Sauve Transit Manager
New shelters are installed every year. Customer counts are used to determine locations

· What is the cost of a single new bus shelter unit?.

Response from Roger Sauve Transit Manager
Approximately $4,500 per shelter plus the cost of the cement pad, labour, electrical connections (in some cases). Total cost is from $5,000 to $8,000

speak up sudbury - school of architecture

2011-09-16T18:38:00.001-04:00

Working Bikes - Bicycles for Humanity

2011-05-04T10:00:00.000-04:00

Water Walk April 2011

2011-05-02T19:05:00.000-04:00

WATER WALK LAUNCH 2011 from Jeff Bear on Vimeo.

causerie | artist talk José Angel Rodriquez

2011-02-19T10:49:00.000-05:00

2011 Make it the Best !

2011-01-04T17:57:00.000-05:00

Monsterstäder | Cities on Speed - Bogotá Change (Part 5/6)

2011-01-03T21:36:00.000-05:00

Good Green Town Hall Meeting large

2010-12-15T20:03:00.000-05:00

A Festivus pole for the rest of us!

2010-12-12T23:03:00.000-05:00

EVO high-school rock band 5m30s Trailer Aug 2010

2010-11-25T23:14:00.000-05:00

RMR: Rick and the Mayor of Sudbury

2010-11-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

EarthCare Minute - Active Transportation

2010-11-14T22:18:00.000-05:00

Make Hope Visible

2010-11-02T23:45:00.000-04:00

Well it is a common situation, um, and I think that it is an absolutely critical political idea that if people don't understand whats happening in a positive way, they either assume that nothings happening, which is depressing, or that negative things are happening, which is even worse. So, umm, its a terrible challenge because, we have so much information, so much broadcast, about crisis, conflict, violence, you know, its a constantly negative portrayal of our behaviour; when in fact the dominant reality of our behaviour is collaboration. The dominant story of the 20th & 21st century is freedom, collaboration, success. Thats um, I mean its a really radically successful period. And, but people, the thing that they see the most, you know I went home and watched the news last night and they were talking about executing a mass murderer, and another mass murderer on a military base, in the United States. Now thats what dominates the, you know, thats what dominated my imagination by watching the news. There was nothing on the news about the extraordinary energy that we found here in Sudbury that 500 people in a small town like this came out to talk about the future of the city and how we could apply design, to think of this place as a park. To think of it as a park that we live in. Thats, thats way more important than the fact that somebody got killed. Sad thing, it is compelling, but its way over there, it has, I cant affect it, so Im disempowered, and it has really no relevance to me; but its in my imagination.

And its not that we shouldnt understand what is going on in the negative, but weve allowed the negative to dominate our reality, when our reality of our reality is positive. So one of the important things that needs to be done as part of this, as part of the process of this Centre for Massive Change in Sudbury is that we need to show people the heroes of our own community. We need to understand that these people are extraordinary people who are making personal commitments to change and development for their community, for their children, for their childrens children. And those people are way more interesting ultimately, well, lets say that they may not be more interesting to us, they are more relevant to us, we may not realise it.And part of what we need to do is actually is make them interesting. We have to make the heroic accomplishments that are being done here, interesting to ourselves and one another, so that people really see wow these people, the work that Imagine Sudbury is doing, um, you know, thats going to shape the future of this place.

You know, the work that the university is doing, the things that the city is doing, these things are going to shape the future, and I think for me one of the most important effects that weve been involved in, and the most important experiences that we have are around people discovering their own power to shape the world. People discovering their own capacity, that the city doesnt happen to them. You know, their life doesnt happen to them. And that transformation its very tough one to errr, it a difficult one for people to get in a world that is, you know, is very much re-enforcing the idea that you are a consumer, youre powerless, youll be manipulated and youll leave within the category that we have imagined for you. Ah, in a, when in fact were living in an era where you can re-invent that category, ah, you can re-invent consumption, you can be a producer not only a consumer, ah, and collectively you have the power to shape the world.

So that transformation I think is such a, such an exciting time to be living in a world where those tools are becoming available where people can get into their hands, especially kids, you know, kids have a natural, they hit a natural point in their development where they reject their parents. They reject the existing structure, they reject the status quo, and they want to make something. And they discover their own voice. And they discover their own power. And now they have tools that amplify their power on such a scale that they can really become um, world changers, and they can do it from anywhere in the world. Unlike um, even a few decades ago, there is nothing preventing a kid from Sudbury ah, changing the world, from Sudbury. You no longer have to leave to do that.

BARAKA -1-

2010-10-31T10:59:00.000-04:00

Sudbury Halloween Chocolate and Confections Show Radio Spot

2010-10-24T20:58:00.000-04:00

Joscelyne Landry Altmann Ward 12 Sudbury

2010-10-22T12:23:00.000-04:00

My Miami with Laurinda Spear: Ballet Valet Parking Garage & Retail Center

2010-09-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

The Dark Side of Chocolate -Sudbury Premiere

2010-09-25T16:44:00.000-04:00

Join us Sat. Oct 30 for a GreenSudbury Halloween Salon du Chocolat Fundraiser at the YMCA from 7:30 - 10:30 featuring the screening of this important Fair Trade documentary. Tickets are $20 and include a Chocolate Fondue, Wine-tasting and Prizes

Strategic communities

2010-09-23T12:37:00.001-04:00

Why some communities achieve their visions, and most do not.
A presentation for Sudbury Earth Care Annual Meeting by:Jeb Brugmann

Strategic Communities from Demers Photo & Video Productions on Vimeo.

Mayor John Rodriquez Responds

2010-09-08T22:08:00.003-04:00

Thanks Green Sudbury. I'm really excited that the issue of cycling lanes - and sustainable mobility in general - is gaining momentum. Every week, more and more people bring up the issue, directly to me as well as through the media.

When I me...t with Eleanor McMahon (of Share the Road) and Devon Kershaw this week, before the Share the Road ride, Eleanor told me she felt that citizens were way ahead of the politicians on these questions. And she is absolutely right. We need organizations like Rainbow Routes, the Bicycle Advisory Panel, the Cyclists' Union and others to keep the pressure on, but we also need a plan.

When I became Mayor, the Number 1 priority for a majority of residents was for us to fix the roads. Over that past four years, we've been investing significant dollars toward this goal. Much has been accomplished, but much remains to be done before we are caught up and our investment in roads can level off to a maintenance level. We will get there, but only because we have a plan.

The same goes for cycling infrastructure. The Rainbow Routes Association has done phenomenal work with a number of new and re-developed trails throughout the community, but we don't yet have a comprehensive network of trails that would satisfy recreational cyclists. And as for commuter cyclists - the ones who want to bike on the road to get to work, to school, to the store, etc. as efficiently as possible, without getting in their car - we are nowhere near where we need to be to meet their needs. Howey Drive is an excellent example of what can be done, and the widening of the outside lanes on Regent Street where we are doing work this summer is a good start.

Our roads' engineers tell me they are working on some proposals to put before the traffic committee with respect to cyclists' uses of our resurfaced arterial roads, their boulevards (the space between the curb and the sidewalk), and the sidewalks. I’m really looking forward to some creative solutions.

As far as a commitment from me, I support the need for a plan to develop bike lanes and paths along major commuter routes in a strategic and cost effective manner. Furthermore, I would like to have this plan ready for the review of our Official Plan in 2012.

I will work with you and other cycling enthusiasts, just as I have worked with arts and cultural groups, recreation groups, small business groups, developers, and non-profit groups to make our city a healthier, safer, and greener community.

There is a huge job that both you and I can embark on now - and that is educating all users of our streets on safe and respectful coexistence.

Sudbury News - Cyclist struck by car during bike safety event

2010-09-05T10:45:00.000-04:00

Tragedy Strikes "Share the Road" Ride in Greater Sudbury

2010-09-01T07:42:00.003-04:00

What was supposed to be a ride to promote cycling safety and awareness in Sudbury turned tragic when a cyclist was struck by an oncoming vehicle on Long Lake Road in front of about 200 cyclists. I was one of the cyclists in the front of the pack who saw the horrible accident take place, after looking up at the sound of screeching brakes. We were taking part in a ride organized by the Ontario-based Share the Road Cycling Coalition, on a beautiful evening in Sudbury. We had just stopped for a moment of silence to pay tribute to cyclists across Canada who have been injured or killed while taking part in an activity they enjoyed.

At this time, there is only a little news on the condition of the cyclist who was struck, although I heard from other cyclists that he was conscious. Emergency personal were on the scene immediately after the accident happened. Tonight's online edition of the Sudbury Star is reporting that the cyclist was injured, but not killed.

This was the second annual ride organized by Share the Road (http://www.sharetheroad.ca/). Eleanor McMahon, founder of Share the Road, gave a little speech before the ride began, and indicated her happiness to back in Sudbury again. McMahon's own story is a tragic one: her husband, OPP Sergeant Greg Stobbart, was killed while on a training ride in 2006. It was this terrible event which prompted McMahon to found Share the Road, which promotes grassroots cycling advocacy and attempts to influence cycling law at the provincial level of government.

When McMahon was in Sudbury for last year's ride, she challenged Sudburians to become cycling advocates. I took McMahon's challenge seriously, and this past Earth Day, with the considerable help of local cycling advocate Dan Barrette, the Sudbury Cyclists Union was born. Throughout the summer, Dan and I, along with a number of others (too numerous to mention here) have begun to build a truly grassroots advocacy organization. Local advocate Pete Paradis has been leading a Cyclists Union ride every Sunday afternoon, leaving from our downtown Farmer's Market at 1pm. The Cyclists Union, although in its infancy, worked with the Coalition for a Livable Sudbury to show support in front of our municipal council for the Sustainable Mobility Plan, prepared by Rainbow Routes. In the near future, we will be showing our support for the Bicycle Advisory Panel's plan, and we hope to be seriously involved in the 5-year review of the City's Official Plan, which should be commencing in a couple of years.

The seeds planted by Eleanor McMahon last year in Sudbury have indeed begun to take root. There is a heightened awareness of cycling issues now in our community, especially since local Sudbury Star staff writers have had their own near-death experiences while cycling on our municipal roads. Cycling has suddenly become a very topical issue, which can only be a good thing in an election year, although Sudbury Star editor Brian McLeod doesn't believe the issue is receiving the attention it deserves, given that Greater Sudbury has been labelled "Canada's Second Dirtiest City" when it comes to carbon emissions from personal vehicles (see: "Debate on Cycling Lanes has yet to take centre stage - Point of View", Friday August 27 2010). Tonight, Eleanor McMahon acknowledged the formation of our grassroots organization in her speech before the ride.

However, I was disappointed to see only one individual running for municipal council actually take part in tonight's ride. Ward 12 candidate Jeff MacIntyre walked the talk (or more correctly, “rode” the talk) tonight, completing the entire 15 km circuit of Sudbury's south end. I wish that I lived in Ward 12 so that I could vote for Jeff.

I rode tonight with the Green Party's nominated candidates, Fred Twilley (Sudbury) and Christine Guillot-Proulx (Nickel Belt). The Sudbury Cyclists Union also had a number of riders participating in tonight's event. What I was surprised and encouraged to see tonight, though, was the number of families who came out to ride together. Children under 12 were well-represented at tonight's ride.

I also saw one rider who was wearing a photograph of her deceased sister, Sudbury native Lyn Duhamel, who was killed this past May 14th while training for an Ironman competition south of Montreal, along with 2 other cyclists. In all, 6 cyclists were struck by a pick-up truck in that terrible tragedy on a rural road which didn't have marked lanes for cyclists or even a paved shoulder. It was good to see Duhamel's sister at the ride, although it would have been better to have seen her under different circumstances. I can imagine that the very act of biking now carries a completely different meaning for Duhamel's sister, and all who have been affected by a cycling tragedy.

And of course, the ride featured Canadian Olympian and Sudbury native, Devon Kershaw. Before the ride, Kershaw received a plaque from Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez, who took a few moments to acknowledge Kershaw for his outstanding achievements at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Rodriguez was also heard to remark that he was surprised that there were so many cyclists who are also voters in Sudbury. Rodriguez has, in my opinion, started to hear the voice of our cycling community, and I believe that he can be counted on as an ally on Council in the coming years, should he be returned to Council after this October's municipal election.

Devon Kershaw, a true local hero, also has a tragic cycling story. Back in 2001, Kershaw's girlfriend, elite athlete Sophie Manarin, was killed in Sudbury while on a training ride. Tonight's Share the Road ride had just stopped at a memorial erected in her honour close to the Long Lake Road / Highway 17 interchange. It was in front of Sophie's memorial that cyclists paused for a moment of silent reflection, before resuming the ride. Our group of about 200 cyclists began to string itself out along Long Lake Road, heading north, back towards Science North, where the ride began and was to end.

Some of the cyclists got out in front of the police escort, including me. I stopped on the shoulder, along with several other cyclists, as we waited for the rest of the group, and the police escort, to catch up. The police had stopped traffic farther the south, allowing our group to cross Long Lake Road. This section of road wasn't particularly busy at the time, but traffic does move quite fast through the area.

Standing on the shoulder while still mounted on my bike, I noticed that there were some cyclists heading south on Long Lake Road, on the far shoulder. I wasn't sure whether they were part of our ride or not; they may have been riders who got too far out in front, and were circling back to join the larger group. Or perhaps they were just other cyclists just out to enjoy the beautiful evening. I looked back to watch the group still crossing Long Lake Road, and saw that most cyclists had made it across the road and were now heading towards me on the northbound shoulder.

It was then I heard the screeching of brakes. I turned in time to witness the impact: the cyclist, who was in the southbound lanes, had been struck by a vehicle. He was sent flying about 10 feet into the air, and came crashing down onto the front of the vehicle. His bike was mangled, and he came to rest on the asphalt. Immediately, some of the cyclists in the very front of the pack raced out onto the road. All southbound vehicles came to a stop, including a motorcyclist, who may have begun to administer CPR. Another cyclist and myself also ran onto the road and began waving our arms to attract the attention of the police escort who was working to get the last of our group across the road and onto the northbound shoulder. After a moment, the police escort on his motorcycle raced up the street, and he was joined by another police car.

We cyclists stood in horror, shocked in our disbelief. How did a ride, to promote cycling safety, turn tragic in the blink of an eye?. Eventually, we were told to move along and away from the accident. As I rode north past the horrific scene, I heard emergency workers ask the cyclist a question, and I was heartened to hear that he was able to make a verbal response. As I rode on, I passed other cyclists, some in tears. Everyone wanted to know what had happened. No one that I spoke to seemed to know all of the facts.

It's unclear to me where the cyclist had been coming from, or if he was even with our group. He was struck in the southbound lanes, while we were heading north. He may have been tempted to ride across Long Lake Road to join our group, seeing that the police had stopped traffic heading north. Southbound traffic, though, in this location, was still travelling towards where the police escort was located. The vehicle which struck the cyclist was likely going around 70 km/h or so. I can't speculate any further than that, and I'm not even sure in which direction the cyclist was travelling when he was hit. I only witnessed the impact. That was...too much.

The rest of the ride back to Science North was largely carried out in silence. We had all lost our enthusiasm. When we arrived back at Science North, we heard that ride organizers Devon Kershaw and Eleanor McMahon had stayed behind at the accident scene, so we cyclists began to disperse in a somber mood.

Every day cyclists venture out onto the streets of Sudbury, we are taking our lives in our hands. Sudbury has almost no cycling infrastructure (less than 12 km of bike lanes...and this for a City of over 150,000 people). At the first few meetings of the Sudbury Cyclists Union, I heard the horror stories shared by other cyclists, who came out to support and take part in our new grassroots organization. The stories, each unique, resonated with everyone. Far too often, cyclists are in danger just riding around our City, whether it's on their way to school or work, or just out to enjoy a beautiful day on their bikes. Due to the dangerous conditions of our roads, many cyclists in Sudbury use the sidewalks instead, which often puts them into conflict with pedestrians, or with motorists at crossings where the sidewalk enters an intersection or runs along a driveway. The long and short of it is that there are very few safe places for cyclists to ride in this City, and that's yet another tragedy.

Our municipal Council and staff must start taking the needs of cyclists seriously. When repairing roads (which is a cottage industry here in Sudbury), the addition of cycling infrastructure, such as bike lanes or even just painted signs alerting motorists to the presence of cyclists, must be taken into consideration. Rather than build faster roads for more cars, we need to build safer streets for all users: motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The concept of the “complete street” isn't new, but there is a long way to go yet before it becomes the accepted norm in Greater Sudbury. In the meantime, how many more cyclists and pedestrians will be injured in my community?
Posted by Sudbury Steve at 11:58 PM
1 comments:

Nico said...

This is so unfortunate.

As an avid cyclist, I am disgusted to hear about another accident. Every day we struggle to find a clear path to ride(dodging potholes, parked cars and drivers on the road who simply do not care to yield at all)and every day we choose to ride, we think about the potential risks.

Cycling should NOT be a risk. Cycling is a healthy alternative to driving and should be taken seriously in order to help our community become more healthy, unclog our main traffic arteries, and most of all, to lower our carbon emissions.

At this point in human history, there should be no skepticism or debate about the importance of cycling and public transportation. It is a clean and healthy form of transportation that will ultimately lead the future of urban transportation.

Editors Blog | Tell city council you care about Bell Park!

2010-07-27T10:23:00.000-04:00

Editors Blog | Tell city council you care about Bell Park!

Draft Bike Master Plan

2010-07-13T17:50:00.001-04:00

Bicycle Master Plan Writeup Draft 2010-06-29

NLFB_2010_DEMO.mov

2010-06-07T12:59:00.000-04:00

Bruce Mau Incomplete Manifesto

2010-06-03T09:36:00.002-04:00

javascript:void(0)

Sudbury Bicycles

2010-05-24T14:06:00.001-04:00

Sudbury News - Ocean activist speaks a

2010-04-28T23:38:00.000-04:00

Paul Watson Interview - Sea Shepherd Sept 08

2010-04-22T23:54:00.000-04:00

THE STRUGGLE

2010-04-20T21:11:00.000-04:00

Northen Ontario Green Earth Expo

2010-04-03T12:55:00.001-04:00

president of Vale, Roger Agnelli,

2010-02-28T15:34:00.002-05:00

The president of Vale, Roger Agnelli, highlights the size of the market and its construction on a democratic basis

Bruce Mau Lecture

2010-02-18T17:48:00.001-05:00

Open Screen Wednesdays at S.R.O.

2010-02-06T13:41:00.000-05:00

Wednesday February 17th at 8:00 p.m.
4 Photographers
S.R.O. Lounge

Levi van Veluw, Landscape video, 2008

2010-01-18T16:30:00.001-05:00

New York's Creative Economy

2010-01-17T12:13:00.001-05:00

Bruce Mau Challenges Sudbury

2010-01-16T18:12:00.003-05:00

Downtown Master Plan

2009-12-28T14:43:00.001-05:00

Downtown Master Plan

Ward 1 community workshop

2009-12-23T18:11:00.000-05:00

Sudbury Urban Forest

2009-12-22T22:35:00.001-05:00

Guerrilla Handbell Strikeforce

2009-12-19T18:38:00.001-05:00

Crazy Canadian Ice Fisherman

2009-12-18T09:31:00.001-05:00

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Ojibwa Grandmother recounts walk around the Great Lakes

2009-12-16T19:08:00.001-05:00

Google Streetview: The Finger outside the Mission

2009-12-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

View Larger Map

2009-12-03T11:04:00.000-05:00

Visit the watertower web site

Sudbury Deportation.wmv

2009-11-28T18:41:00.001-05:00

We're all in this together

2009-11-19T22:45:00.001-05:00

Bruce Mau's northern exposure

2009-11-14T15:44:00.001-05:00

High design meets nickel mines as Sudbury's prodigal son comes home. Read the full Globe article

Bruce Mau at Cambrian College Sudbury

2009-11-11T12:52:00.004-05:00

.The theme of leaving a small City is a personal one for Bruce Mau that still resonates true today. He spoke Thursday Nov 10 at Cambrian College on the possibility of opening an Institute without borders/ center for massive change in his old hometown Sudbury.

The slide shown is typical of the 5000 annual graduates from the cities 3 colleges and university. It also is typical of the 120 Canadian cities of similar population (100- 200,000) across the country

Douglas Cardinal - Imagine Greater Sudbury's Future!

2009-11-06T18:22:00.001-05:00

Moms Against Climate Change

2009-10-30T12:01:00.001-04:00

Sudbury Climate Change Day

2009-10-24T08:55:00.001-04:00

Join us for a group photo today at Noon on the Paris St. Bridge of Nations as part
of International Climate Change Day. Come on it only takes 5 minutes and then music and stenciling at the Buddha

Interview with Colin Krasnozon of the Good Food Box Program in Sudbury, Ontario

2009-10-19T19:05:00.001-04:00

City Hall Sudbury Community Board

2009-10-18T11:46:00.001-04:00

City Hall Sudbury Community Board, originally uploaded by Ideanorth.

This is the board that the City of Sudbury makes available for community posters, announcements and flyers in City Hall.
No other postering is allowed in the building. Population 165,000.
And they wonder why they have low citizen engagement? Maybe that's what they want?

Video:Beds Are Burning - TckTckTck Campaign (time4climatejustice)

2009-10-16T09:47:00.001-04:00

Elm Street Cabs Sudbury

2009-10-15T07:56:00.001-04:00

Elm Street Cabs Sudbury, originally uploaded by Ideanorth.

Cambrian College - Graphic Design Jiggly - Stereoscopic Animation

2009-10-13T18:47:00.001-04:00

Donovan Heritage Park Bulldozed by City

2009-10-09T08:47:00.007-04:00

It is with deep regret and frustration that we submit this letter to the City of Greater Sudbury. For the past two and a half years, Myths and Mirrors Community Arts has been actively involved in the Donovan Elm West Community Action Network, which has seen an impressive increase in the participation of residents, business owners, and youth in our neighborhoods. We are involved because we believe in the importance of the Community Action Network and of the need for the community to engage in community decision-making around issues that affect the neighborhood.

For the past year, we have also worked actively with other members of the Community Action Network to increase youth participation and address some of the issues of concern to the residents, particularly in the area of Heritage Park. We have come to understand that the issues there are complex and will require an extensive commitment from all involved to address them in ways that build community rather than destroy it.

As a result of our work with other members of the Donovan, and with the support of the Community Action Network and of Councilor Evelyn Dutrisac, our four summer students mobilized the youth at Heritage Park to paint a mural on the façade wall, a façade which in the past had been a focal point of contention among the neighbors. Our summer students observed all kinds of problems in the neighborhood, but despite these, were able to facilitate a discussion with the youth about the park and what it meant to them, and led them through a collective process to identify the theme of the mural. The youth painted images of peace and respect, and dedicated the mural to Adam Dickey, a youth who drowned in Junction Creek, but who also saw Heritage Park as a space to hang out with his friends.

Overall, the time of five of our staff, plus a considerable amount of our financial resources went into the production of the mural at Heritage Park. ( Here is a link to our online photo gallery of the summer project:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mythsandmirrors/sets/72157619963722202/show

It is therefore with shock and disappointment that we write this letter. We found out that the façade was destroyed on Monday, September 28th in the afternoon, from one of our volunteers who lives close to Heritage Park and happened to go by it on her way to work. No one from the City informed us that this was going to take place, nor did they consult with us as to what to do with the artwork that was dismantled. And finally, no one seemed to care that it was a group of youth, who face all kinds of barriers to community engagement, who worked so hard on painting that mural.

While we understand that Heritage Park is City property, the fact remains that Myths and Mirrors and dozens of neighborhood youth were partners with the City in this initiative, and at the very least, we all should have been consulted about how to dispose of their artwork. But we have other questions:

1. Why would the City provide financial and in-kind support to a project if it was going to be dismantled two months later?
2. What is the point of engaging marginalized youth in a community engagement process that will only serve to disempower them even more?
3. Is this how the City plans to address social problems in all areas of Greater Sudbury, or is destroying parks a tactic reserved only for the Donovan?

Derek Young
Dear Editor..

This letter is in response to the Heritage Park Razing. Firstly, I would like to congratulate Tanya Ball and the youth at Myths and Mirrors who work tirelessly to promote youth events and civic engagement in the community. Having worked with Tanya and Myths and Mirrors on previous projects I know the good they do in the community and the importance of engaging youth in their communities.

I must say that having read that Councillor Evelyn Dutrisac ordered the city to destroy the buildings on site at Heritage Park is very disheartening and shocking. Destroying these buildings does not deal with the real issues that have been raised such as drinking, drug use etc. It is important that these youth be supported in their efforts and have meaningful projects that they can be engaged in and have a place to hang out which indirectly addresses the concerns that have been raised. By destroying these buildings we have destroyed the dreams and efforts of these youth who have worked hard to make inroads in the Donovan community through their participation in the Community Action Network.... Read more

When will our city deal with the real issues surrounding the use the drugs and alcohol in public spaces, lack of youth engagement, lack and recreational facilities etc? Tearing down buildings, putting up fences, creating roadblocks is not leadership and does not deal with the real issues which will still exist.

Its time some city councillors and staff take a step back and look at the big picture vision of what Sudbury can be by engaging youth in their community and not campaigning to win votes in the next election which is narrow minded and demonstrates a lack of vision and long term planning. We sit back and say youth don't vote and youth aren't engaged in their community but yet we continue to do things that force youth to become disengaged and have their dreams and efforts destroyed then wonder why they do not vote.

Councillor Dutrisac should take a lesson from Councillor Landry-Altmann whom I have had to pleasure to work with on many park projects. Landry-Altmann has faced similar challenges in her ward. During her term thus far Percy Park, Red Fern, and Ridgecrest have been revitalized and become community gathering spaces serving the unique characteristics of their respective neighbourhoods. Another great example is the green stairs at Ste. Anne Road which now has a park like atmosphere with new shrubs, sculptures, and green space. We did not tear down the green stairs and parks when there were similar issues.

Enough is enough. We must move forward as a city and address the real issues. Programs such as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) by Sudbury Police provide the tools and resources to deal with these issues in Heritage Park without destroying the park and hopes and dreams of the area's youth who will be our next leaders.

This Lawn is Your Lawn

2009-10-07T10:00:00.001-04:00

350.org: Because the world needs to know

2009-10-06T18:41:00.001-04:00

dj distance swarm

2009-10-05T16:48:00.001-04:00

Interview with Kristopher Stevens, Executive Director of the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association

2009-10-04T09:58:00.001-04:00

Transition Langport | The Great Unleashing

2009-09-28T10:39:00.001-04:00

New Beat Pictures Sin and Syntax - Alan Spider Asher

2009-09-25T10:56:00.001-04:00

Sin and Syntax from New Beat Pictures on Vimeo.

Foggy Septembers in Sudbury

2009-09-23T07:40:00.005-04:00

September turns out to be fairly foggy in Sudbury early in the morning and here are 2 shots from previous Septembers featuring the iconic Sudbury WaterTower and a foggy pathway at Cambrian College

Webcast #1a - "2008 playbill" with Antoni Cimolino

2009-09-20T20:03:00.001-04:00

Part 1 Fear of Cycling

2009-09-20T10:32:00.000-04:00

ideanorth's posterous - Home

City of Sudbury offers Free Transit on Car Free Day

2009-09-16T10:08:00.002-04:00

Mark your calendars! The City of Greater Sudbury will be offering FREE PUBLIC TRANSIT on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 in recognition of WORLD CAR FREE DAY!

World Car Free Day is an annual worldwide event that aims to reduce dependency on cars and is supported by the European Union, the United Nations, the Government of Canada and the leaders of over 1,500 cities around the world. This is a great opportunity to start doing something positive for the environment and your personal health, so leave your car at home and walk, bike or take the bus ... for FREE!

Simply cut out one of the CAR FREE DAY VOUCHERS appearing in the Northern Life, The Sudbury Star and Le Voyageur on September 16 and 17, and present it to the bus driver when boarding.

Kitsilano Corn Fields

2009-09-13T11:28:00.001-04:00

Wow . Wonderful variety and color in this heirloom corn

Park(ing) Day by mattt*

2009-09-11T16:06:00.001-04:00

Park(ing) Day from mattt* on Vimeo.

twtvite :: Thr Green Stairs Public Art Unveiling (via @ideanorth)

2009-09-10T11:23:00.001-04:00

twtvite :: Thr Green Stairs Public Art Unveiling (via @ideanorth)

Posted using ShareThis

Preventing crime on St. Anne\'s stairs

2009-09-08T12:31:00.001-04:00

Exclusive shots from the Jonas Brothers Disney Film Camp Rock 2 in French River

2009-09-07T11:02:00.005-04:00

Sudbury Joins National Cleanup Week: September 19-27, 2009

2009-09-03T12:46:00.001-04:00

Help out at a Sudbury Cleanup

Want to help out, but can’t find the time to schedule and organize a cleanup of your own?

Well you’re in luck. Many shoreline cleanups are looking for extra participants to help out at their event. If someone else has already registered to organize a cleanup in your community, and if their event is open to new participants, you can register to help out at their event.

Becoming a Participant

When you look through our searchable list of cleanups sites, keep an eye out for cleanup events in your area that are listed as "Open to new participants".

Once you find one that's convenient for you, you can register online as a Cleanup Participant. Your participation will help your group to cover even more shoreline and to remove even more harmful shoreline litter. You may also want to encourage some friends and family to register!

Make sure you record the date, time, and meeting place for the cleanup. On the day of your cleanup, remember to dress for the weather and be prepared to get your feet a little dirty.

It's all part of being an environmental steward for the day!

PARK(ing) Day How-To Video

2009-09-02T10:34:00.001-04:00

Ok so we have folks who say they will attend Sudbury Park(ing) Day Sept. 18. Get together to scout out some prime real estate and brainstorm this Saturday at 1:00 at the Buddha.Visit http://my.parkingday.orgl. Bring your brains!

Home farming unit

2009-08-27T16:16:00.001-04:00

Find more videos like this on Design Probes

Sudbury Rainbow Routes Nolin Creek Trail

2009-08-26T11:09:00.002-04:00

Sudbury is a Rat Looking For A Maze

2009-08-24T11:31:00.001-04:00

IMG_4875, originally uploaded by Ideanorth.

Slideshow - UrbanFarming Around the World

2009-08-23T10:28:00.001-04:00

Urban Farming Around The World

View more presentations from Power Point Slide Shows.

Bruce Mau - Selected interviews & TV Appearances

2009-08-22T11:17:00.000-04:00

Diana Thorneycroft, Winnipeg Artist, Double Double, Bobbie Orr, Tom Thompson

2009-08-13T11:50:00.001-04:00

Municipal Green Politics?

2009-08-11T14:02:00.001-04:00

Municipal Green Association

from http://ruralcanadian.blogspot.com/2009/02/municipal-green-association.html
Richard Murray recently posted a very interesting proposal on the Green Party Blog which I thought was worth giving a little more light of day. The only problem that I see would be keeping “politics” out of the municipal arena, not that in many cases it is not bubbling beneath the surface already.

His proposal is to create the Canadian Municipal Green Party Association (CMPGA), which would have five objectives:

To encourage Canadians to become involved in the Canadian political system,2. To educate members of the CMGPA in the workings of their local municipal government,3. To train members on how to campaign for office,4. To train members on how to hold office, and5. To provide a grassroots communications forum for those involved in municipal politics……….

This Association would not be a political party. The CMGPA would exist to encourage and support the involvement at the municipal level of individuals who believe the fundamentals of the Global Greens, The Green Party of Canada and their provincial Green Party……………..

There are two reasons why the Green Party at both the provincial and federal levels should support the CMPGA:
Participatory Democracy is one of our fundamental principles, and
Municipal politics serves as a training and recruiting ground for both provincial and federal politics…………..

There would be three functions the CMPGA would carry out;
Encouragement to the general public to learn about and be active in Canadian politics.1. “While we would naturally prefer you to be a member of the Green Party, we consider it a victory if you decide to become active in any way.”2. To be an information and training resource to our members. This would primarily be through the Internet.3. To encourage our members to share information and help each other. This would be through forums on the Internet and through meetings.

Do read the whole thing, we do need fresh blood in our political system and this may be one way to help those interested in getting involved.

Update – See the CMGPA website.

Superstack Kick It On Down

2009-08-11T10:52:00.001-04:00

Sudbury based southern sounding rockers SuperStacK kicking it out with a Band title that is a total salute to Sudbury

Neutrinos They Are Very Small:

2009-08-09T09:46:00.001-04:00

Neutrinos They Are Very Small: Render (UW Art Gallery)

Imagine That - Converting parking to planting

2009-08-08T11:37:00.001-04:00

Here's a post from ImagineSudbury suggesting some new productive uses for Sudbury's Downtown parking lots.

Did you know that Victory Gardens supplied more than 40% of American food production during the World War II. And with the current economic events, the Victory Garden is making a comeback.

The plan involves taking out wasteful lawned areas or wasted downtown land and getting the community involved in vegetable & food gardening. In 2008 San Francisco implemented this program on its beautiful lawns in front of the Town Hall building. The lawns were ripped up and donated to those who wanted it. Raised beds were built using burlap bags stuffed with straw, forming keyhole-round gardens that would allow gardeners to use the most space with minimal tools & absolutely no chemicals & pesticides.

see http://sfvictorygardens.org

The idea is fantastic, and we have a large mass of land in Sudbury's downtown that has been lying wasted for more than 2 years. In fact it has been used as a shopping cart dumping ground for quite some time.

We need to take that land back while nothing is getting done about it. Based on the lot size and a quick walk around, the lot could easily supply enough room for up to 100 families using raised beds starting in the mid spring 2010. The land is sealed by asphalt so it wouldn't be such a big deal to move the gardens once the season has changed, but I would suggest that bringing people especially needy families to grow their food downtown would open up a wide zone of possibility in our downtown. Call your local councillor & get hold of the Mayor at mayor@greatersudbury.ca

Video Drive into Sudbury with commentary on planning and transportation

2009-08-07T23:40:00.001-04:00

Driving Tour of Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

tower of power

2009-07-30T10:29:00.001-04:00

tower of power, originally uploaded by Ideanorth.

We need to think about our urban forest in Sudbury a little bit more

One Day You'll Look back and Laugh at This

2009-07-28T11:14:00.000-04:00

A hilarious dry reference to Sudbury on Billable Hours from Jane Eastwood.

Save it or Smash it - Sudbury Water Tower

2009-07-27T20:03:00.002-04:00

Save it or Smash it ? The Greater Sudbury Municipal Heritage Committee is evaluating the heritage value of the West End water tower (over Beatty, Pine, and Ash streets). The city has set aside $300,000 to have it demolished and removed. If you have an opinion to share about whether this prominent structure could be an important landmark or whther the money could be used for something more creative with the water tower , send it to the Municipal Heritage Committee, P.O. Box 5000, Station A, Sudbury P3A 5P3.

Sudbury Vale Strike Video

2009-07-25T11:34:00.002-04:00

EarthCare Local Action PLan Feedback

2009-07-23T09:19:00.001-04:00

Dear EarthCare Sudbury Partners:

EarthCare Sudbury is inviting Partners to comment on the full update to the EarthCare Sudbury Local Action Plan. The final draft (English only) is accessible to Partners via the following weblinik:
http://www.greatersudbury.ca/content/div_earthcare/documents/Final_Draft_LAP_Update.pdf.

This link will be live until 4:30pm, on Friday, July 31, 2009. Comments submitted after that will not necessarily be addressed. Please send all comments by email to victoria.morrow@greatersudbury.ca.

This will be the final opportunity to comment before the update is released. However, you may be contacted in the coming weeks about providing a few statements relating to the specific activities of your
organization.

Thank you for your participation.

Victoria Morrow
Co-ordinator of EarthCare Sudbury Initiatives City of Greater Sudbury

_____________________________________

Chers partenaires de Terre à coeur Sudbury,

Terre à coeur Sudbury invite ses partenaires à faire des commentaires sur la mise à jour complète du Plan d’action local de Terre à coeur Sudbury. La dernière version du document (en anglais seulement) est accessible aux partenaires en cliquant sur l’hyperlien suivant :
http://www.greatersudbury.ca/content/div_earthcare/documents/Final_Draft_LAP_Update.pdf.

Ce lien sera actif jusqu’à 16 h 30, le vendredi 31 juillet 2009. Les commentaires présentés après cette heure et cette date ne seront pas nécessairement abordés. Veuillez expédier tous vos commentaires par courriel à l’adresse victoria.morrow@grandsudbury.ca.

Ce sera la dernière occasion pour vous de faire des observations sur ce document mis à jour avant sa publication. Toutefois, il se peut que nous communiquions avec vous au cours des prochaines semaines au sujet de faire quelques déclarations relativement aux activités particulières de
votre organisme.

Merci de votre participation.

Victoria Morrow
Coordonnatrice des initiatives de Terre à coeur Sudbury Ville du Grand Sudbury

3 Canoes

2009-07-20T11:20:00.001-04:00

IMG_4956, originally uploaded by Ideanorth.

Snapped this at the Elgin St. heritage train station on Saturday as part of the WorldWide photo walk through the Downtown. While the train station is not the Via rail pick up it does link up to White River - home of sopme great canoeing and camping destinations. The rail station is currently home for the summer to visitor information