Laurentian University marks two years since significant layoffs
It was two years ago that close to 200 staff including tenured faculty at Greater Sudbury’s Laurentian University lost their jobs, as more than 60 programs were discontinued.
On April 12, 2021, 195 staff were informed via a prompt Zoom call that they no longer had jobs after the semester ended.
Two months prior, Laurentian had declared insolvency.
In November 2022, the university exited insolvency, and with a new interim president, it’s been looking to rebuild.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Sheila Embleton, interim university president, says she acknowledges it was a painful time for many.
“I think we look back on that no matter where we are, I think more so in the Laurentian community but even outside people are looking that this was two years ago,” said Embleton.
Eduardo Galiano-Riveros worked in the physics department at Laurentian for 18 years, and said it was a painful day for his colleagues.
He told CTV News he has since been fortunate to find work at another university, but some of his colleagues are still out of work.
“Most of my former colleagues, in particular, those in the humanities and the social sciences, have had a much, much tougher time resuming or somehow re-establishing or recovering their career,” he said.
He is a member of the Terminated Faculty Committee, which consists of most of the employees who were let go.
Galiano-Riveros said the group is calling to be paid their full severances, of which he adds they haven’t received a penny.
He said the group also wants to see the programs and jobs reinstated.
“It’s going to take generations to rebuild what was once there, and in the end, the north loses, students lose, parents lose out, businesses lose out, society in the north loses out,” said Galiano-Riveros.
Additionally, he said there should be a public inquiry to address unanswered questions.
“We’re calling for a public inquiry into the whole story, the whole fiasco, to answer once and for all the big question a lot of us have which is ‘is criminal conduct involved here or not?’” said Galiano-Riveros.
Officials with the Terminated Faculty Committee said it will likely take generations for the school to rebuild, with the loss of faculty and programs.
“Normally when something is broken, you still have pieces you can pick up and attempt to somehow apoxy or glue together,” said Galiano-Riveros.
“But in this case you don’t have the pieces of a broken asset. The pieces are gone. The physics department is gone. The mathematics department is gone.”
Embleton told CTV News the goal is not to rebuild the university to what it once was – rather, to see what the community needs from the university and move forward.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.