We are writing this letter on behalf of the doctors of Health Sciences North in Sudbury.
We have been intently following the news regarding the financial challenges of Laurentian University and how this may impact the future utilization of the Laurentian greenspace.
As physicians, we strongly encourage and promote a healthy lifestyle and diet for our patients, including regular exercise and outdoor activity. There are few places in the heart of Sudbury as appealing as the Laurentian greenspace to engage in healthy activities such as walking, jogging, cross-country skiing, hiking, cycling and snowshoeing. The thought of this naturally occurring, pristine area being sold off for the purpose of land development and monetization is deeply concerning to our medical staff.
The Laurentian greenspace is an integral part of the City of Sudbury and our once vibrant
University. It is a safe and inviting place of nature that promotes the health of Sudburians on many levels: i) it helps to reduce air pollution and noise, both of which are well-established risk
factors for heart disease and stroke. ii) the long hiking trails and lakes offer a space for the various physical activities mentioned above and a refuge from the stress and rigor of our daily lives.
Furthermore, exposure to nature, fresh air and the outdoors has a well-documented positive effect on mental health. The greenspace also helps purify the air in our city which helps reduce the risk of lung and airway disease.
To summarize, the positive impacts of this 200-hectare greenspace on our health are
innumerable. The Laurentian greenspace represents the healthy lungs of Sudbury and it needs
to stay. As physicians, we advocate in the strongest terms that the LU greenspace be preserved
in its current form as a pristine, safe and accessible natural park.
Sincerely,
On behalf of the HSN medical staff :
Dr. Stephen Morris, President, HSN Medical Staff Association
Dr. Andreas Kumar, HSN Cardiologist
Dr. Mark Henderson, Chief of Cardiology, HSN