Vale resumes annual reseeding program, this time near Wahnapitae
Residents in the Greater Sudbury community of Wahnapitae might have noticed low-flying aircraft overhead, but it's nothing to be concerned about.
Mining giant Vale is reseeding an area near Highway 537 as part of its regreening efforts.
Watching it, onlookers will notice a delicate dance in the air between two helicopters that's carefully being choreographed by these specialists.
"We treat about 100 hectares over the course of about four days so as you can see, the helicopters cycle very, very quickly and they can complete this job in about four days," said Vale's Quentin Smith.
One at a time, a helicopter approaches the filling area where large buckets are filled with a mix of lime, grass seed and fertilizer.
Once airborne, payloads are dropped in a specific area.
The hope is once the city returns next season to plant pine seedlings, there will also be new grass and new growth.
"They do dozens of cycles over the course of the day so I'm not sure about a specific number, but it would be dozens ... for sure," said Smith.
Smith said they pick October because a lot of what they're doing is weather dependent. In the course of 30 years, officials said they've covered roughly 10,000 acres.
"We've stressed the land in and around our historic smelter sites, including our historic smelter in the Coniston area, so we undertake the reseeding program on an annual basis as a way of trying to correct the mistakes of the past," he said.
Charles Goggin has been flying the mission for a couple of years now, long enough to see the fruits of his labour.
"It's kinda' nice, you know, when you come around here the next few years and you see all the good that's been done," said Goggin. "You come here as a kid and everything's black rocks and (there's) lots of green now."
Remediation efforts continue, one scoop or bucket at a time, for the rest of the week.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Man convicted of involuntary manslaughter in father's drowning, told police he was baptizing him
A Massachusetts man who told police he was exorcising a demon and performing a baptism when he shoved his father's head under water multiple times has been convicted of involuntary manslaughter in his death.
New Norad commander calls Canada's defence policy update 'very encouraging'
American troops will be spending more time training in the Far North, the new commander of Norad says, a strategy that fits 'hand-in-glove' with Canada's renewed focus on Arctic defence.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.