Award-winning designer Bruce Mau to speak in Sudbury

A world-renowned native son of the city, Bruce Mau, will return home Nov. 10 to share his insights on how to make Sudbury greater.

Mau, a proponent of designing massive change in society to address pressing problems, will deliver a keynote speech at Cambrian College's Student Centre at 7 p.m, said organizers with the non-profit group, Imagine Sudbury, Oct. 27 at a press conference at Fromagerie Elgin.

Mau will also meet with community leaders during his stay.

“I am excited to come home. Change in Sudbury is not only possible..it's already happening. It's in the city's DNA. We just need to strap a rocket engine on and accelerate its potential,” said Mau in a video presentation.

Imagine Sudbury is seeking bold ideas to help transform the city, starting with the downtown area. Envisioning the relocation of the rail lands to free up space for housing and commercial development is one of their projects.

Mau lived in various parts of the city, including the Flour Mill, Wahnapitae and Markstay, before he left to pursue his career.

Based in Chicago and now Toronto, Mau promotes the concept that innovation and proper design can help solve problems at every level of society. He was honoured in September at the 2009 Global Creative Leadership Summit gala Dinner and Award Ceremony in New York.

“Imagine Sudbury is thrilled to announce that Bruce will be in Sudbury to conduct a speaker and workshop series. The events are designed to inspire and engage the citizens in re-imagining the future of our great city,” said Angela Gilmore, volunteer co-ordinator of Imagine Sudbury.

Vale Inco will be one of the sponsors of the event.

“Sudbury has come a long way in the past decades. We will take part in the workshops,” said Vale Inco spokesperson Steve Ball.

He said Mau may have some ideas on how to continue to reduce the city's dependence on major industrial employers.

“It is our belief that with the guidance and inspiration of Sudbury native and visionary Bruce Mau at the workshops in November, we will start to understand what will be truly possible in the long term to transform our city into a world class destination that will be a magnet for people far and wide,” said Ball.

Four years ago, the Downtown Village Development Corporation (DVDC) struck up a relationship with Mau and invited him to speak at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

“His inspiring visionary words to think of our city as a park and to make beauty as part of every decision resonated with the audience and sparked a major shift of consciousness around the importance of the city's image,” said Sue Thompson, managing director of DVDC in a release.

Downtown Sudbury board chair Bob Wygant said when he attends meetings and conferences outside of Sudbury, 30-year-old images of the city as a blasted moonscape are presented as being the current reality.

“I think Sudbury is one of the best kept secrets. With the ideas of Bruce Mau we will get even better,” he added.

Two years ago Mau received an honourary degree at Laurentian University. The newly formed group, Imagine Sudbury, made contact with him regarding the potential relocation of the rail yards in the centre of the city.

According to Thompson, Mau told the group to think even bigger than the rail lands and to consider how the city could be imagined in the next 10, 20 or even 50 years in the future.

The public lecture is free, but seating is limited. Register for tickets by phoning
670-0963 or by e-mailing [email protected]. Visit www.imaginesudbury.com for more information.

For information on Bruce Mau, visit www.brucemaudesign.com.