BY LIONEL RUDD

From its early beginnings as a lumber town and CPR railroad stop, Sudbury has matured into an ethnically and culturally diverse community. On the WOW factor scale of one to 10, Sudbury might score a five or six. But on the comfort scale we are a 10+.

It just didn’t happen. Those bingo players and hardy drinkers that Stompin’ Tom wrote about set down deep roots in Sudbury. As the community grew, so did the many amenities, institutions and organizations we enjoy and appreciate today.

We have a vibrant education sector: first-rate elementary and secondary schools (and teachers), a university and colleges that continue to produce leaders in the world of academia, medicine, business and the arts.

Sudbury Secondary School proudly boasts a memorial to students who died for Canada during the Second World War. Numerous Royal Canadian Legion branches honour the memory of our veterans while the 2nd Battalion, the Irish Regiment of Canada continues to serve our nation with distinction.

Our police service is the envy of most cities of North America. Under great and inspired leadership, our dedicated police officers are very visible, approachable and available for the protection and well being of their community.

Some have made the supreme sacrifice in that service.

Our firefighters and emergency medical personnel also make a tremendous contribution in keeping us safe and have established a formidable track record in responding in timely fashion to people in dire need.

Sudbury enjoys many service and community organizations. Among the most prominent of these is the Sudbury Multicultural Folk Arts Association. This is a representative group of the various ethnic communities that live in the city. They organize the Canada Day celebration each year held at Sudbury Arena. This dynamic and diverse organization is dedicated to assisting new Canadians who arrive to make Sudbury their home.

The India-Canada Friendship Association represents people from the Indian sub-continent. They are famous for their colourful concerts, rich and diverse heritage, and their unique Christmas celebrations complete with Santa Claus, gifts for the kids, carols, a nativity play and a dinner with traditional Indian cuisine.

Other groups, such as the United Way, Lions Club, Kiwanis, Rotarians, Knights of Columbus, Shriners and the various labour groups, enrich our community.

Sudbury enjoys a rich religious diversity. Our Islamic community plays a leading role in fundraising for international disasters and shares its beautiful mosque as a community centre.

My friend, Ernie Savard, and the Friends of the Lourdes Grotto provide a beautiful, peaceful refuge of religious and meditative solace in the heart of the city.

The Paris Street Bridge (Bridge of Nations) can be seen from this vantage point. Try counting the number different flags which represent the many homelands of Sudbury citizens.

The annual Greek Festival offers a taste of Greek cuisine and showcases one of the most attractive churches to be found anywhere.

The Ukrainian, Polish and Italian communities, as well as the numerous other ethnic groups, contribute their own magic to the city through music, art and, of course, food.

The Flour Mill is a “village” within the city and celebrates the French-Canadian flavour of our community. It also is a link to our past and the founding of the City of Sudbury.

The world of nature is our neighbour. Surrounded by hundreds of freshwater lakes and rivers, we are fortunate to be able to enjoy the vast wilderness in all four seasons.

Fall brings us the bounty of our farmers, market gardeners, and the fruits of our backyard labours. The autumn colours make our city a photographer’s paradise.

Winter brings with it snowmobile safaris, skiing, snowshoeing, curling and hockey. Some of the top hockey players emanate from Sudbury. I wonder why?

Spring harkens forth with the sweet delight of maple syrup and the burst of new vegetation.

Summer is for boating, fishing, swimming, golfing and cottage time. The area teams with wildlife from moose to deer, and raccoons, beaver, mink, squirrels and, yes, even our misunderstood black bears.

Bird lovers can observe the migration of our summer feathered visitors as they fly south to warmer climes.

About 40 years ago someone placed a sign on the eastern approaches near Coniston. It read, “Smile! Even the Rocks are Friendly.” The friendly rocks have long since been covered with trees and vegetation, and the once much publicized slag piles of mine waste are now green with grasses and clover.

The Northland Hotel that contributed to Stompin’ Tom Connors fame where he first used his stompin’ board remains to serve another generation of customers in Chelmsford, and the odd local still remembers him at the Brockdan.

The bingo players and the mine workers of Sudbury Saturday Night fame are now enjoying their golden years in a community where they so handily helped to craft the parks, recreation centres, hospitals, health clubs, housing complexes, apartments and shopping centres. They helped make the City of Greater Sudbury a comfortable place to be, but don’t tell anyone.

Lionel Rudd is a retired Laurentian University engineering technologist and is active with many community and volunteer groups.