For years, I would bring my grandsons up from Toronto for a summer visit.
Each time we approached Sudbury, I would drum up excitement by making a game out of how many industrial chimneys each could spot in our skyline.
Soon after, ice cream cone in hand, I would literally bring them as close to the base of the Superstack as I could and invite them into a super-fun learning experience.
“Lean way back”, I would say, “this is the largest chimney in the world!”
I revelled in their curiosity: “ How tall is it? What’s it for? Is it hot in there? Anybody in there?”
And of course I would tell them about how the chimney swayed with men working inside when the tornado ripped through town! That never failed to impress them.
As proud as I was about our iconic symbol, I was much more proud to tell them about the land that was being reclaimed and all the trees that were being planted year after year. They are tweens now, and they understand the importance of clean air, clean water and clean land.
Next time they come visit, we will expand our talk to include the priceless value of Vale’s shrinking environmental footprint. I might even paraphrase MP Marc Serré: with these two new chimneys, Sudbury is becoming more innovative and environmentally friendly.
This conversation is getting better and better, so, yes, out with the old and in with the new...and thankfully, better.
Carole Lavallée
Chelmsford