gs2025: Your Community from the Ground Up

What is an economic development strategic plan?

An economic development strategy is a “living” document designed to meet evolving community needs. It’s a strategy to build on the collective strengths of a community by fostering alliances and partnerships between economic sectors, industries and institutions. It’s a means to cultivate the growth and diversification of a local economy and to gauge and celebrate our successes.

What is the goal of the community consultation process?

We want to engage people and encourage them to brainstorm the possibilities for Greater Sudbury’s growth over the next 10 years. Our goal is a city with significantly more employment; a city that is attractive to newcomers with know-how and talent; a city that provides a high quality of life and a higher than average standard of living.

What are the plans for community consultation?

Community engagement for the Greater Sudbury Economic Development Strategic Plan will start immediately. A calendar of events will be published early in the New Year.

gs2015 MEETS gs2025 is a fast-paced series of presentations and networking opportunities to ignite creative thinking, ideas and a public passion for the future of Greater Sudbury. Stay tuned for details of this kick-off to community engagement scheduled for Thursday, January 22, at Oscar’s Grill, 86 Durham Street.

Geographical Consultation will take “Kitchen Table Conversations” – informal opportunities to speak openly and to share ideas – to communities throughout Greater Sudbury.

Community Hijacks will piggyback on scheduled events throughout the city to provide citizens an opportunity to help shape Greater Sudbury “From the Ground Up”.

Community Pop-Ups will appear wherever and whenever citizens assemble for culture and recreation. Watch for opportunities at outdoor rinks and at local malls.

Youth engagement teams will travel to post secondary institutions to ask students to imagine their city 10 years from now.

Hashtag #gs2025 will connect citizens on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to share ideas in words, photos and videos.

Who sits on the Economic Development Strategic Plan Steering Committee?

The Steering Committee is representative of every economic and demographic sector in this community – from our established business leaders and educational custodians to the youth who are Greater Sudbury’s bright new entrepreneurial stars.

Co-Chairs:

Dr. Darren Stinson – Chair, Greater Sudbury Development Corporation Board of Directors

Jim Marchbank – Community Volunteer

Members:

• Alicia Woods, Owner of Covergalls, VP of SAMSSA  (Northern Ontario Mining Supply and Services Association)
• Bill Lautenbach, Retired City of Greater Sudbury Planner
• Brian Vaillancourt, VP Collège Boréal, GSDC Board
• Debbi Nicholson, President and CEO of Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce
• Don Duval, CEO of NORCAT (Northern Centre for Advanced Technology Inc.)
• Dr. Bruce Jago, Founding Director, Goodman School of Mines
• Gisèle Chrétien, Retired Educator, GSDC Board
• Guy Labine, CEO of Science North
• Helen Mulc, Director of MNDM Regional Economic Development Branch
• Jennifer Witty, Superintendent of HR Systems at Vale Inc., GSDC Board
• Justin Lemieux, Laurentian International
• Kathy Dokis-Ranney, First Nations Metis and Inuit Principal, Rainbow District School Board
• Kelly Scott, Co-Owner, Barrydowne Paint
• Leonard Kim, local lawyer, former Chair of Diversity Panel
• Luc Roy, Co-Owner of Old Rock Roastery and Director of IT for Laurentian University
• Marc Piquette, VP of Sudbury & District Health Unit
• Mark Gregorini, Co-Owner of Verdicchio Ristorante
• Peggy Baillie, Executive Director of Eat Local Sudbury
• Richard Paquin, Lead Negotiator for UNIFOR
• Ron Sarazin, Special Projects Coordinator at Gezhtoojig Employment and Training
• Sonia Del Missier, VP at Cambrian College
• Yves Doyon, Independent Consultant and Local Artist

The Economic Development Strategic Plan Steering Committee term will expire on June 30, 2015 unless extended by resolution of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation Board.

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