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.