Concerns about the future of Laurentian University's greenspace
The greenspace surrounding Laurentian University has long been a space where Sudburians hike, swim, ski, learn, and connect to nature and family.
But many people are concerned that the university's insolvency could put it at risk, as the school reviews its assets to pay off creditors.
On Thursday morning, more than 50 people took part in a walking exploration of the space to learn more about why it needs to be protected.
Peter Beckett, a restoration ecologist, was a guide on the walk.
Beckett said the LU greenspace is key to the community's well-being and could become the High Park or Central Park of Sudbury in years to come.
"These days, as we know during COVID, the importance of nature and being outside is very important to mental health to physical health," he said.
"And also over the years, this area has been much improved by the regreening program and so in … another 50 years, this is going to be a very lush green forest."
Sheilah Arena was also a guide on the walk, and is an avid trail user and volunteer.
"Thousands and thousands of hours of volunteer work and a lot of money has gone into making these trails what they are -- safe," said Arena.
Residents, environmentalists and Sudbury NDP MPP Jamie West walked the trails and said no price tag can be put on the value to keeping the greenspace accessible to the public.
"With the insolvency, we could lose some or all of this," said West. "And that may affect the pollution levels, that may affect quality of life and the other infrastructure here."
"I think it's important to help spread the word and raise the awareness about how important this is to many people in the community," he added.
Members of the Coalition for a Liveable Sudbury also took part.
"Sudbury has been amazing, showing up, writing letters to the editor, sending letters to the real estate company and the board of governors and to the city and we want to keep that momentum going," said Sharon Roy, co-chair of Coalition For a Liveable Sudbury.
The Coalition is urging people who want to protect the greenspace to join its call to action to keep the lands public.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
ByteDance prefers TikTok shutdown in U.S. if legal options fail, Reuters sources say
TikTok owner ByteDance would prefer to shut down its loss-making app rather than sell it if the Chinese company exhausts all legal options to fight legislation to ban the platform from app stores in the U.S., four sources said.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Here's why Harvey Weinstein's New York rape conviction was tossed and what happens next
Here's what you need to know about why movie mogul Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction was thrown out and what happens next.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.