Sudbury

Sudbury: a case study in foreign ownership

/ andyveilleux / 4 Comments

I came across an interesting article today concerning Canadian management statistics, and the oft-discussed (in Sudbury, and nationally I imagine) debate over foreign ownership. The article is written by economist Stephen Gordon, and is a response to an opinion piece written by Jeffrey Simpson in the Globe and Mail. To summarize the post, let me quote the Stephen’s initial reaction to reading Simpson’s article: “Oh god. Economic nationalism will be an issue. Spare us. #budget2010”

I've been reading Dr. Stephen Gordon's work for many months now, and his blog has always been informative and well-written. Stephen is an economics professor working at Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. His thinking regarding the failings of economic nationalism would be widely unpopular in a mining town like Sudbury (yes, it is still a mining town, despite claims to the contrary). That being said, his thinking is not wrong on this issue.

In some of my history courses with Dr. Mark Kuhlberg regarding environmental history, and northern Ontario history, I was fortunate enough to learn some of the failings of the xenophobic policy that is economic nationalism. Many a time it was not the foreign companies raping and pillaging the landscape, but our own Canadian companies. It was the foreign companies who often invested capital into repairing damaged eco-systems and re-greening initiatives, especially in the pulp and paper industry. To be certain, Mark is an authority in the field of pulp and paper industry.

All that being said, I do see the local case studies regarding foreign ownership, primarily in the mining industry. Let's take two polarized examples; Xstrata, and Vale. When it came time to negotiate with workers in their Sudbury operations, Xstrata and the CAW agreed upon a new 3-year contract this year without a work stoppage. When it came time for Vale and the USW to negotiate a settlement, there was a long and bitter strike, which ended up lasting about a year. Cries of evil foreign ownership were rampant in the city, and still are, at least among many of the working class individuals in this city I've spoken with [Note: my father is a miner at Xstrata].

It's worth reading Stephen's posting about foreign ownership, for a few reasons. Pay close attention to the opinions of Canadian management regarding education, and their lower education than their American counter-parts. Also, look at the discussion of how foreign-controlled operations are run as compared to domestically-owned operations. There are many arguments on both sides of the coin, so don't just write off foreign-ownership as evil because it's a trendy view in the Nickel City.

Sudbury: the great youth brain drain continues

/ andyveilleux / 2 Comments

While it is not news that Sudbury has had a difficult time keeping young graduates in the city following their graduation, having southern Ontario newspapers cover it is relatively new (at least in this blogger's eyes). I am referring to an article in the Globe and Mail written by Adam Radwanski on Friday, which you can read here. I'm not going to go into the politics of having a southern newspaper write about the north, but it's a great thing that Laurentian Univeristy is finally getting more southern exposure. Time to discuss the article.

 

I'll begin with a quote that summarizes the article: "But ultimately, employers must have enough high-end jobs to keep graduates around permanently. And For all of Sudbury’s progress, that’s where the constraints typical for northern Ontario cities still fall leave it short." Beginning a sentence, much less a paragraph with 'but,' and some of the obvious grammar errors, may send some of our more grammar-savvy readers into a frenzy, but that's not the focus of the discussion.

Sudbury's exodus of educated youth is nothing new, nor is the discussion of it. I cannot count the amount of people who I've talked to about it, in both the private and public sector. The discussion is usually centered on my future, or the future of associates of mine, in Sudbury. I'm at the age now (23) where seeking a career is a priority and something I’ve been working on for quite some time. I’m not opposed to leaving town for work, in fact I’d welcome it some days, but in my heart I know I’d prefer Sudbury. Where does that leave me?

Well, I’ve applied to work at some of the typical, available options in town. These include Laurentian University, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, Cambrian College, the city itself, the provincial offices, and federal offices. Beyond that, there are a host of other public development corporations, several private institutions, local media, and community colleges I’ve applied to also. I’ve worked for some of them, and been interviewed by more of them, but in the end I have not found a career out of it. Once again, where does that leave me?

At the moment, I’m continuing my studies. I’ve already got my Honours Bachelor of Arts in History from Laurentian University, my diploma from Print Journalism from Cambrian College, and will be finishing up a BA in Political Science this year. At 23 years old (24 when I graduate PoliSci), that’s not too bad of a resume. Add in all of the local volunteering, my hefty work resume, the various sports teams and committees, and the internships I’ve completed, and it looks even nicer. The sad reality, however, is that it’s difficult to find entry-level careers in meaningful work in this city. That’s the reality of the situation.

Simply put, the city needs to refocus their strategy on the youth brain drain. I understand that career turn-over has become a bit more stagnant due to the “harsh economic times,” as my favourite professor likes the call it. I also understand that companies want to hire people with experience, because they don’t have to train them. The problem with this two factors is they are causing educated people of my generation to have to leave town for employment. What’s the solution?

I would suggest more internships as a start. With internships, recent graduates, and even students, are able to gather valuable work experience. The issue with these internships is that they are usually too short-term. Take my current internship as an example. As a summer contract, I’m working for the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce. My contract expires this Friday. In total, I’ll have spent about three months and change here. Was it valuable? Definitely. The issue is that while it’s been a positive experience, it hasn’t nearly been long enough.

Another fellow Chamber intern has been here for almost a year, and then will be departing because her contract is up as well. Without diving too far behind closed doors, the Chamber will be sad to see her go. She has become an integral part of events planning here. The Chamber has asked for an extension, but has been declined. It simply is not in the budget to offer a new contract without government funding (remember, we’re a non-profit organization.) It is probable a new intern will be brought in, which will not be as efficient as retraining is a must for any new intern.

I’m really not sure what the answers are for this problem. It seems Sudbury, and Northern communities in general, have struggled mightily to attract educated youth into the work-force. I want to hear from you. How can Sudbury work towards attracting more educated youth into the workforce? Will a new government help the situation? Will the municipal candidates positions on this matter in the October elections?

With great [influence] comes great responsibility

/ andyveilleux / 2 Comments

Over the past 36 hours, some interesting things have happened. I got to witness first-hand how influential some of my writing could be. I want to share it as a case-study for all of you to follow.

Recently, I have been reading a lot of articles concerning influence, so I guess it is fitting that I got a practical crash-course in it. Influence is not the amount of followers you have on Facebook, or Twitter. Influence is how many of those people listen to you, and heed what you're saying. There are a lot of sides to this story, and many opinions, and I will try to go over as many of them as I can without violating any of my sources' privacy.

Many of you will recall the ordeal I had with Bodyworks (which was not truthfully their fault at all, as the blog posts will inform you) yesterday. I was contacted by an individual advising me of a course at Bodyworks. They were not authorized to market on behalf of Bodyworks, but were running their class out of the gym. The text message I received seemed like the person was pretending to be a friend of mine, talking about how plans had changed, and they were going to be meeting me at the gym at a different time for the course (which they spoke at length about).

My realization of influence started with a phone call this afternoon, around 4:15pm. A friend filled me in on the course instructor's side of the story (who he is friends with, and had just met with at the time of his call). He warned me that my influence was greater than I thought, and I should wield it responsibly, as the instructor's course was now cancelled. I informed him that I would talk with the owner, and discuss the course being reinstated, due to the miscommunication. The question is: what set me off, and made me pursue this?

First, I should say that it has been mentioned several times that must people would have just ignored the text message. I am not most people, in this context, for a number of reasons. I am involved with social media consulting, strategy creation, etc. This certainly doesn't make me an expert marketer, but does make me an interested and active marketer. Also, I am a trained journalist, who still practices journalism, and pays particularly close attention to ethics of companies. Lastly, I am always interested in legal decisions as they pertain to companies' decisions, and i was certain text message marketing was illegal.

To address these concerns, let me explain chronologically. I was at work when I received the message. I was annoyed by it, and frustrated with it. I feel text-message marketing is unethical, because texts should be used for personal communication only. I have been informed the text message was meant as a personal message rather than a marketing message, but there were definitely elements of marketing in it regardless.

Upon receiving the text, I fired my own back. I included the fact that it was illegal to text message market someone without their consent, and asked the identity of the person messaging me. I asked if they were Bodyworks, or a company representing Bodyworks. In their reply, they did not address my questions, and told me to take a 'chill pill,' 'learn how to breathe,' and etc in a rather snarky way.

I sent an email to Bodyworks, demanding an explanation. I was commited to uncovering who was at fault, and why they were getting in touch with me. I was never a member of the gym, and they couldn't have gotten my number that way (was my line of thinking at the time). As it turns out, it was meant for the previous owner of this phone number, and he gave consent for it (which would not become fully clear until a bit later yesterday). Bodyworks replied to me, and was quite unimpressed with the message I had received, and how it made their company look. 

The texter messaged me today to apologize for the miscommunication, and I accepted their apology. The issue is this: Bodyworks has stopped them from being able to teach their course out of the gym. I understand Bodyworks' decision in the case, but have asked them to reconsider. I like to support athletics and fitness whenever possible, and I felt this was a great avenue for both. I expressed this concern to the representative of Bodyworks, and he understood my concerns. He informed me he was not pleased with the situation in general, but would reconsider allowing the course to operate out of Bodyworks. When he visits Sudbury in a few weeks, he plans to discuss it with his staff before making a decision.

It is important to say that Bodyworks' response to my concerns was swift, and helpful. They never tried to brush me off, or leave me hanging. They treated all inquiries and concerns seriously, and respected my perseverance in getting to the bottom of the situation. The gentleman I dealt with, who I believe owns the company, can not be blamed for their decision to close the course. They were looking after what could have become a legal issue, which all companies must take seriously in this day and age. That being said, he is reasonable, and I'm sure he will fully consider allowing the course to use his facility. 

The lessons to be learned:

– Let marketing professionals handle the marketing, and always consult with the company who is helping you out when launching any sort of campaign. (I was told it was a personal text message, but I've had the phone number for over a year, and this is the first time they contact me. How many friends do you have that don't text you in over a year?)

– One needs to be careful of how much influence they wield, and how they choose to use it. It is possible that I was hasty in reporting on the entire issue. I did not report any inaccuracies or misinformation, and have nothing to apologize for factually, but my friend suggested I should consider how much influence I have before reporting on such issues so quickly. On the other hand, I consulted with some friends who felt the reporting was justified, and that I was soft on the people who sent me a message. Some people felt my response was unnecessary, but not quite uncalled for. The spectrum ranges greatly on this issue.

– Text-message marketing is a difficult path to tread. With the frequency of number changes and lost phones, it is vital to double-check (or 'vet' as journalists say) your contacts, to ensure they are still the people you think they are. Not sending out a message in over a year, and then sending out a  marketing message is treacherous legal territory to walk on.

– In communications, always work fast and efficiently to clear up any miscommunication and answer queries. A simple text message response to my initial questions would have prevented all of this mess from happening. An explanation of who was texting me, what their purpose was, and who they were representing was all that was required. Ignoring a situation does not make it go away. Unfortunately, I think they got more than they bargained for when they accidentally fired that text to a journalist/marketing professional, and then encouraged me.

All things considered, I have no ill will towards the course instructor or gym. I have offered to consult the instructor regarding his marketing strategy next time, to ensure it goes smoothly, and hopefully help build his following. I think the program sounds rather interesting, and you can look into what was going to be taught (Systema – a Russian martial art) here.

If only I would have tripped that burglar, Uncle Ben… er… wait… 😉

UPDATE: Bodyworks not responsible for text-message marketing

/ andyveilleux / 8 Comments

UPDATE (6:39PM): A friend called me and informed me how the process works. The martial arts program is being run out of Bodyworks, but not directly tied to them. The previous owned of this phone number had signed up for the course, and was therefore texted about it. However, the approach taken by the marketer who contacted me quite strange.

Also, I have owned this phone number for well over a year, so the information of this marketer was terribly outdated. It makes sense that Ray from Bodyworks was confused about the message. That being said, he was not aware of Systema being run out of his gym tonight it appears, or was at least not wanting to be involved with it officially.

To be clear, it is not the fault of Bodyworks in anyway. My journalistic curiousity is satisfied. Thanks to Mike for calling me and filling me in on their sign-up system.

I have received an email response from Bodyworks, concerning the text-message marketing I received earlier today.

I’m not sure what to think about the email response yet. I’m happy it didn’t take them long to get back to me, but it still seems odd that someone would message me to attend their gym, who was not hired by them.

“Dear Mr. Veilleux,

We have received your complaint and I have reviewed the link you sent me directing me to your personal website.

I can assure you that this was not directed from our facility.  We DO NOT, HAVE NOT and WILL NOT provide any of our membership information to any individual or organization without having a court order to do so.  We run generic advertising campaigns with TV, radio and print and never via email/text messaging.  The campaign that is referred to in the message that you received was run last year by a local radio station so it is not even current.  I have no clue who that number belongs to and have tried calling it a few times and receive a voicemail.

We are very clear on our advertising policies and the rules and regulations that we are required to follow.  All of our material and methods are not only vetted by our legal counsel but also the groups we advertise with.  My guess is that someone has somehow sent you an old message.

We always give away prizes for charity events as well as marketing campaigns.  Any information captured by these agencies is kept and maintained by these associations.  We never receive this information as they have to comply with their privacy laws in the same manner that we do.

I have also reviewed your comments about the message you received and they are unjust and I would kindly request that you remove such unwarranted comments.

Trusting that I have satisfied your query.


Best Regards,

Ray”

In regards to Ray’s request concerning my comments: when I mention the marketer’s grammar, I assumed it was a third-party hired by them. The comments were not aimed at Bodyworks, but the third-party company I believed was working for them. The comments concerning it being illegal to text-market without customer consent is accurate, however. Ray has said it was not on his company’s behalf, but some questions still remain about it. To clarify, Bodyworks was apparently not responsible for the message, and it came from someone else. Who would message me concerning a company they aren’t reprenting? Questions abound. Any ideas?

Bodyworks fail: text-message marketing

/ andyveilleux / 2 Comments

I just received a text message (1:28pm), from a number I don’t recognize. The message is from 1-705-###-####. It reads:

“Hey, slight change. And an update. 1- the Systema is still at Bodyworks in the downtown mall. 2- starts at 7pm. Not 6pm. Oops. My bad. 3- Tonight is a FREE trial. I love free trials. 4-It is at our own intensity. EX: so push ourselves as it is suggested. 5- lets see how well you recognize me in casual clothing. Lol. Let me know if you can make it or not. ###-####.”

First, I have no plans tonight, and have never been a member of the above-mentioned gym. Second, when did text-message marketing start? Third, is it illegal for a company to text message someone, posing as a friend, in order to try and get you out to their event? Fourth, marketing professionals should use decent grammar and have a respectable grasp on the English language (in my opinion). This marketer clearly does not have either of these traits.

Is membership at this gym so bad they need to text message random people to come? Has anyone else been marketed at directly through text messages? What’s the legal policy on this?

12th Annual Sudbury Panhellenic Tournament

/ andyveilleux / Leave a comment

The 12th Annual Sudbury Panhellenic Soccer Tournament is set to kick off this weekend. Check out Randy Pascal's article about it here. It's a great youth soccer tournament, which brings together teams from all over Ontario. The highest age group participating is u-21. Action will take place at fields across the city, but Laurentian University is the headquarters. I encourage everyone to take in a few games this weekend, as the competition will be a great chance for youth to showcase their soccer talents, and the games should be quite exciting!

I want the storm to come

/ andyveilleux / Leave a comment

 

A random thought came to me today: I want a storm to come; a really big one. Seriously. 
It's been ridiculously hot in Sudbury the last few days, and the weather has teased us with the hint of a storm a few times. I just want the storm to happen.
I don't mind hot weather, but it has been ridiculously hot and humid for too long now. Also, how cool is it when a huge storm happens? It's awesome! I love watching the lightning fork through the sky, and having the thunder rumble the house. I like the sound that the torrential downpour makes against the rooftops. Mostly, I love the chilly, stormy air, as it invades the humidity like Napoleon invading Russia (oh wait, I guess that didn't go so well.) The analogy works though, because the stormy coolness comes on strong, and is eventually beaten back. It isn't quite the 'scorched earth' strategy, but it's close.
All history nerdiness aside, I'm still waiting for the weather to change. Waiting for change is a huge theme in human life, and maybe there's some subconscious and symbolic meaning for my excessive want of a storm. You get a couch and a big, comfy chair, I'll lay on the couch, you sit in the chair, and we'll figure it out.

Sudbury, Ontario: A Beginner's Guide to the Nickel City

/ andyveilleux / 3 Comments

I often hear complaints about there being "nothing to do in Sudbury." After becoming connected to some great individuals and organizations over the past few months, I'd like to take the time to highlight a few of them. For a great general resource on what to do in Sudbury, try checking out My Sudbury. If you're looking to keep up with the news in this city, I highly recommend joining the Sudbury Press Club's Facebook group. Links are posted frequently, and it serves as an aggregator of important news stories in the city. It is also an avenue for discussion on local topics.

Sudbury is filled with many great restaurants, and I want to take the time to highlight a few of the local ones. My personal favourites are Bella Vita Cucina, Respect is Burning, and Eddie's Restaurant. I recommend trying these three, because they showcase some of the variety available when dining in Sudbury.

After dining out, there is also plenty of entertainment available. If you fancy a chill place to have a drink, and also eat some great food (you'll be hungry again at some point!) I strongly recommend the Laughing Buddha, which offers both. The Buddha (as we refer to it) is currently featuring some great art by Sudbury's (and Cambrian's) Tennille Heinonen, who is a phenomenal artist. If you're looking for great music, I strongly recommend the Townehouse, which features great talent every night!

Speaking of music and art, I want to draw your attention to someone who is deeply devoted to both in this community. Frank Chartrand is a graphic designer by day who, along with Nico Taus, successfully runs Bureau Group. These guys are extremely talented, and local. They are also incredibly involved in the local music community, and their hardcore/punk/experimental band, Vicious Cycle, just completed a month-long tour of Europe! Aside from playing in the band, Frank also promotes several local acts, and puts on shows throughout the community. If you're looking for local shows, I encourage you to contact Frank through his Facebook (linked above), as he broadcasts local shows though that.

In terms of education in this community, we have some great institutions that are worth looking into. Having spent time at two of the three major post-secondary education institutions in this city, I can vouch for them first-hand. Those looking for information on Cambrian College (which I attended this past year) and College Boreal are encouraged to do so through my links. I want to take the time to discuss Laurentian University (which I attended for four years) in a bit more length. Laurentian's President, Dominic Giroux, is a man who is very in-touch with the community. He focuses more on Laurentian specifically, but with Laurentian being such an important part of our community, it is worth reading his blog. Laurentian often hosts interesting speakers, and wonderful events, and it is worth keeping tabs on what is going on at the University.

If you're reading this, and you're interested in sports, you're also quite fortunate. Although I am not familiar with every sport being played in this city (sorry folks, I try my best!), you should check out Randy Pascal, who runs the website Sudburysports. His extensive coverage will help you identify which sports are being played in this city, and hopefully help you join your sport of interest. I specialize in soccer in this city, and ball hockey. For soccer, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Regional Competitive Soccer League during the summer months (full disclosure: I sit on the executive as a Director-at-Large), and the S.C.C. Sudbury Indoor Soccer Club during the winter. For ball hockey, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Ball Hockey League (full disclosure: I am the Director of many things with this league).

If you're looking to get involved in the community, there are numerous opportunities to do so. I want to take the time to highlight a few organizations that will help you get involved in the community, for many of my friend that have the desire, but may not now how, to get involved. First off, there is Green Sudbury. Green Sudbury is an organization that is focused on improving Sudbury at a very grass-roots level (quite literally). They focus on environmental issues, and other issues of advocacy for the community. They also help promote local events.

 

Volunteer Sudbury is another group that is doing great work in this city. They are also always looking for volunteers. They help volunteers find meaningful volunteer work, and also help events find volunteers. Anyone who is looking for a place to start volunteering in this community is encouraged to contact either one of these organizations.

In closing, I want to make a few general comments about our community. My current job, as the Community Development Officer for the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, has me focused extensively on our community in the last couple weeks. It has been an eye-opening experience. Not only are there several businesses around the city that are looking to help improve the community, but there are tonnes of volunteers looking to do the same. The amount of passion some of these people show in improving their community, is in a word, heroic. They're not doing all of these great things because it will lead to wealth. They're doing it, because they care. I hope their integrity will spread throughout the community, and light a fire of passion and empathy in Sudbury! That being said, I strongly encourage everybody to get involved and help shape our community for the better.

Sudbury, Ontario: A Beginner's Guide to the Nickel City

/ andyveilleux / Leave a comment

I often hear complaints about there being "nothing to do in Sudbury." After becoming connected to some great individuals and organizations over the past few months, I'd like to take the time to highlight a few of them. For a great general resource on what to do in Sudbury, try checking out My Sudbury. If you're looking to keep up with the news in this city, I highly recommend joining the Sudbury Press Club's Facebook group. Links are posted frequently, and it serves as an aggregator of important news stories in the city. It is also an avenue for discussion on local topics.

Sudbury is filled with many great restaurants, and I want to take the time to highlight a few of the local ones. My personal favourites are Bella Vita Cucina, Respect is Burning, and Eddie's Restaurant. I recommend trying these three, because they showcase some of the variety available when dining in Sudbury.

After dining out, there is also plenty of entertainment available. If you fancy a chill place to have a drink, and also eat some great food (you'll be hungry again at some point!) I strongly recommend the Laughing Buddha, which offers both. The Buddha (as we refer to it) is currently featuring some great art by Sudbury's (and Cambrian's) Tennille Heinonen, who is a phenomenal artist. If you're looking for great music, I strongly recommend the Townehouse, which features great talent every night!

Speaking of music and art, I want to draw your attention to someone who is deeply devoted to both in this community. Frank Chartrand is a graphic designer by day who, along with Nico Taus, successfully runs Bureau Group. These guys are extremely talented, and local. They are also incredibly involved in the local music community, and their hardcore/punk/experimental band, Vicious Cycle, just completed a month-long tour of Europe! Aside from playing in the band, Frank also promotes several local acts, and puts on shows throughout the community. If you're looking for local shows, I encourage you to contact Frank through his Facebook (linked above), as he broadcasts local shows though that.

In terms of education in this community, we have some great institutions that are worth looking into. Having spent time at two of the three major post-secondary education institutions in this city, I can vouch for them first-hand. Those looking for information on Cambrian College (which I attended this past year) and College Boreal are encouraged to do so through my links. I want to take the time to discuss Laurentian University (which I attended for four years) in a bit more length. Laurentian's President, Dominic Giroux, is a man who is very in-touch with the community. He focuses more on Laurentian specifically, but with Laurentian being such an important part of our community, it is worth reading his blog. Laurentian often hosts interesting speakers, and wonderful events, and it is worth keeping tabs on what is going on at the University.

If you're reading this, and you're interested in sports, you're also quite fortunate. Although I am not familiar with every sport being played in this city (sorry folks, I try my best!), you should check out Randy Pascal, who runs the website Sudburysports. His extensive coverage will help you identify which sports are being played in this city, and hopefully help you join your sport of interest. I specialize in soccer in this city, and ball hockey. For soccer, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Regional Competitive Soccer League during the summer months (full disclosure: I sit on the executive as a Director-at-Large), and the S.C.C. Sudbury Indoor Soccer Club during the winter. For ball hockey, I recommend looking into the Sudbury Ball Hockey League (full disclosure: I am the Director of many things with this league).

If you're looking to get involved in the community, there are numerous opportunities to do so. I want to take the time to highlight a few organizations that will help you get involved in the community, for many of my friend that have the desire, but may not now how, to get involved. First off, there is Green Sudbury. Green Sudbury is an organization that is focused on improving Sudbury at a very grass-roots level (quite literally). They focus on environmental issues, and other issues of advocacy for the community. They also help promote local events.

 

Volunteer Sudbury is another group that is doing great work in this city. They are also always looking for volunteers. They help volunteers find meaningful volunteer work, and also help events find volunteers. Anyone who is looking for a place to start volunteering in this community is encouraged to contact either one of these organizations.

In closing, I want to make a few general comments about our community. My current job, as the Community Development Officer for the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, has me focused extensively on our community in the last couple weeks. It has been an eye-opening experience. Not only are there several businesses around the city that are looking to help improve the community, but there are tonnes of volunteers looking to do the same. The amount of passion some of these people show in improving their community, is in a word, heroic. They're not doing all of these great things because it will lead to wealth. They're doing it, because they care. I hope their integrity will spread throughout the community, and light a fire of passion and empathy in Sudbury! That being said, I strongly encourage everybody to get involved and help shape our community for the better.

Sudbury: An unfinished poem, for an unfinished city

/ andyveilleux / 2 Comments

 

 
The cold, frigid tempratures,
mix with the black, tailings-stained rocks,
which seperate the occasional sprinkling of vegetation,
to create the hard rock landscape we call home,
and the people are spread out just like the trees.
 
Who'd want to stay in a place like that?
I would, and apparently so would a lot of people.
 
Sudbury's not all bad,
and it's getting better,
There are a lot of people here,
who are trying, 
and are succeeding, 
at making a difference.
 
Trust me,
I can feel the pulse of the city,
and it's getting stronger.
 
The city needs a shake-up,
it needs new blood,
but what city doesn't?
 
There's so much potential here,
so much talent.
 
The city needs to listen,
and then accept the new generations,
who are feeling alienated,
and leaving en masse.
 
…..