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Green Party names candidate for Nickel Belt

LU professor Bill Crumplin to carry party banner in June election
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The Nickel Belt Green Party of Ontario has named Bill Crumplin, a Laurentian University geography professor, as the party's candidate in the June 7 provincial election. (Supplied)

The Nickel Belt Green Party of Ontario has named Bill Crumplin, a Laurentian University geography professor, as the party's candidate in the June 7 provincial election. 

Crumplin will be at the Laughing Buddha on Saturday at noon to meet with Greens from Sudbury and Nickel Belt from noon to 1 p.m.

“A professor of geography for 26 years, Bill Crumplin has become very aware of human caused environmental problems,” says a biography released by the Greens. “He is extremely concerned about the negative impacts that our fossil fuel-dependent industrial agricultural system has had on the environment. 

“To Bill’s frustration, the other political parties appear to be paying only lip service to solving environmental issues. He feels we no longer have the luxury to delay solving critical problems and that the environment must be considered first and foremost in any new program or initiative.”

Crumplin has lived in Northern Ontario since 1994, first in Sault Ste. Marie and in Sudbury since 2003. 

“Bill feels strongly that citizens should make lifestyle changes so that the generations coming after us can enjoy a healthy life complete with a nourishing, natural environment,” the bio said.

“He believes in the indigenous concept of acting with the next seven generations in mind. To Bill, a major part of this philosophy is the concept of the precautionary principal: if there is no proof a development will be safe for people and the ecosystem, it then must be postponed until supporting evidence is available.”

In 2013, Crumplin received the Service to Ontario Geography Award from the Ontario Division of the Canadian Association of Geographers and served two terms as the group's president. In April, 2018 he was the Laurentian University winner of the Ontario University Students Alliance’s Teaching Excellence Award.

He is a past member of the Sudbury and District Obesity Prevention Panel (2005-09), the Greater Sudbury Food Advisory Panel (2015-16), and past member and vice-Chair of Board of Directors of re-Think Green (2014-16). He was also a member of the City of Greater Sudbury’s Downtown Community Improvement Plan Committee (2005-09). 

In 2014, Crumplin created “Earth Tracks,” on CKLU FM station, Wednesday afternoons between noon-2 p.m. In 2016, Crumplin lost his wife to a rare condition and he was also subsequently diagnosed with cancer. 

“These personal experiences have reinforced Bill’s concern that we must put the health of our environment first because human health is closely tied to that of our immediate ecosystems and the planet at large,” the bio said.

“Bill has been cancer-free for two years and consequently, he relishes time with his family, friends and students, writing poetry, drinking craft beer and values each sunrise and sunset, knowing that life is a precious gift.”

Crumplin has three adult stepchildren and five adult nieces and nephews and five young great-nieces and nephews. He is a pet owner and loves to experience nature. He has recently taken up acrylic painting and led a paint social for Laurentian University’s School of the Environment Student Association.

“Bill Crumplin has never sought public office before, and is looking forward to engaging with voters and the other candidates in the Nickel Belt,” the bio said.


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