Working together for a healthy and strong Greater Sudbury

 It was a busy and productive Friday in Greater Sudbury as Mayor Bigger hosted two important roundtable meetings that will help guide Council toward developing strategies and a plan to make our community stronger and more vibrant.

Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Michael Tibollo was invited by Mayor Bigger and visited Greater Sudbury to attend both meetings that saw local and provincial leaders address and confront key issues like mental health, addictions, opioids and the social determinants that may be barriers to success for many in the Greater Sudbury community.

“Today was a productive, eye-opening and at times difficult day,” said Mayor Brian Bigger. “Our community, like many others in Ontario, is faced with challenges. But today we were able to express those issues to Minister Tibollo and the Ontario government, and demonstrate that as a team that is focused on seeing our community succeed, we can all work together to take on even the most daunting of social inequities and issues.”

The first meeting hosted by Mayor Bigger and Minister Tibollo included approximately 50 members of the community including leaders from organizations like Health Sciences North, Public Health Sudbury and Districts, Greater Sudbury Police, The Canadian Mental Health Association, Children’s Aid and Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre. That meeting focused on many differing aspects of mental health throughout the community, addictions along with various gaps and opportunities to be addressed in Greater Sudbury
The second meeting included Councillor René Lapierre (Chair) and Dr. Penny Sutcliffe from Public Health Sudbury and Districts as well as the Chief of Police, Paul Pedersen and the Deputy Chief, Sheilah Weber and key city staff to discuss opioids and how Greater Sudbury can work with the province to handle this epidemic that is plaguing most parts of the province.

“As elected leaders, we have a duty to ensure those in need and those who are suffering the hard challenges of addiction have the support, tools and expertise behind them,” reiterated Mayor Bigger. “Our communities only get better when we all have a chance at a healthier, more fulfilling life. Today was a solid step toward that and I’m grateful to Minister Tibollo and for everyone who made the time to partake in this very important day for Greater Sudbury.”

Mayor Brian Bigger
City of Greater Sudbury

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Media contact: 
Melissa Zanette
Office of the Mayor
City of Greater Sudbury
Phone: 705-674-4455 ext. 2521
E-mail: melissa.zanette@greatersudbury.ca