Mar 31, 2010- 3:45 PM
Shortly before his death, Risto Laamanen was contacted by a Northern Ontario Business reporter who was preparing articles for a special edition. Laamanen said he was honoured to be considered a northern icon, but he humbly declined to be interviewed. It is easy to imagine what his reaction might have been to being inducted into the Community Builders' Hall of Fame.
Laamanen, who died suddenly in July 2009 at the age of 61, was as successful as he was understated. Born in Finland, he was two when his family moved to Sudbury. He became a major force in commercial and industrial construction and mining, as well as an inspiring and dedicated volunteer and philanthropist. He served on the Science North board of directors for 14 years, and he was a faithful supporter of his alma mater, Cambrian College.
“True to his humble nature, he did all these things without fanfare or publicity,” John Dennis said. Dennis was Laamanen’s teacher at Cambrian, and became his close friend for more than 40 years.
Science North’s CEO Jim Marchbank, lauded Laamanen’s contributions to the community in his eulogy delivered July 11, 2009. "Look at his wonderful family. Look at the successful business ventures he developed. Look at our community and how much richer it is for having Risto Laamanen as one of its citizens.
“Next time you walk to the lake at the science centre, look at the beautiful stainless-steel sculpture that contains a float plane that appears to fly as you walk around. Risto led the Rusty Blakey Heritage Aviation group in commissioning the sculpture.
“Next time you’re at Laurentian University, look at the international-class athletic facilities that were developed under his leadership.
“Next time you’re at Cambrian look at the Laamanen Centre at the college that Risto graduated from and supported so strongly.
“Next time you go underground at Dynamic Earth, you’ll go through the Laamanen Dry.”
As a businessman, Laamanen created jobs and wealth for the Northern Ontario economy through his companies, which were committed to carrying out activities “in an ethical manner that prioritizes health and safety, preserves the natural environment, and recognizes the concerns of local stakeholders.” (2008 Wallbridge Mining Company Annual Report)
Laamanen had several successful business ventures on the go. The two he is most well -known for are Lively-based Laamanen Construction and Wallbridge Mining (TSX:WM). He served as president of Laamanen Construction, which focuses on industrial and commercial construction. The firm has worked on many area projects, including the Xstrata Nickel, Nickel Rim South project.
He was also the co-founder, chair and CEO of Wallbridge Mining. The established Canadian junior explores and develops nickel, copper and platinum group elements in the Sudbury Basin.
Laamanen received the 2007 Chair’s Award from the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce Bell Business Excellence Awards. He also served as a member of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation’s board of directors.
In addition to his years of service to Science North, Laamanen, a graduate of Cambrian’s civil engineering technology program, was a past member of the college board of governors and was the founding chair (and chair for 20 years) and longtime member of the Cambrian Foundation board.
In 2007, Laamanen was nominated by the college for a Premier’s Award for Ontario’s Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology for his social and economic contributions to Ontario and throughout the world.
Laamanen was also a key player in bringing the 1988 IAAF World Junior Championships to Sudbury.
Patricia Montpetit, executive director of the Alzheimer Society Sudbury-Manitoulin, remembers Laamanen as someone who, whenever he “saw an opportunity to improve our community, he took it.” He was involved in the group’s plans for a new Alzheimer Centre and waived his company’s project management consultant fees ($100,000).
His contributions outside of Sudbury were many. He served as a member of the Diabetes Campaign Cabinet since 2003. The Risto Laamanen Fund for Leadership in Diabetes Research/Toronto General and Western Hospital Foundation was established in his memory.
Like all good Canadian boys, his first love was hockey — something he passed on to his son, Kris. He also had a long list of interests, including flying, and he was an honourary member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
Kris Laamanen said his father was a good role model, who let his son and three daughters, Melissa, Karli and Sara, “find their own way,” and he didn’t impose his ambitions on them.
He would like his father to be remembered as selfless and generous, as well as hard-working — traits Laamanen got from his Finnish parents.
“His mother, Anna-Liisa, was very much like that ... very gentle and very kind. The extremely hard-working side (of my father) and the persistence, came from his father who was a very hard-working persistent guy.”
Kris said he is biased, but he believes his father’s generosity to others is unmatched. “I am unaware of some of the things he did because he never, ever spoke about them.”
