MS Society finds new home in Sudbury

BY JASON THOMPSON

The city's planning committee unanimously approved the re-zoning of a property on Bancroft Dr. that will serve as a home for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, and will be purchased using funds raised during the 2006 Dragon Boat Festival capital campaign.

Laurel Ireland, committee chair for MS and the Dragon Boat Festival, said the new location is for MS sufferers and their families and will help raise the organization's profile in Sudbury.

"Anything to do with MS, they'll be able to access it here. Instead of having to go to Toronto or Ottawa, they can find these services in Sudbury," said Ireland.

With a workload of 350 patients locally, at an office that's staffed with part-time workers and isn't accessible to clients, Ireland said the current facility "doesn't do the job we need it to do."

Ireland said the approximately $92,000 raised during the 2006 Dragon Boat Festival capital campaign is helping the MS Society purchase the building. To help with some of their costs, the MS Society will be renting storage space and a small commercial space also located on the property.

City staff said the MS Society would need to erect an opaque fence between their property and neighbouring residents to the west. Since the ground will soon be frozen, staff said the fence could wait until spring.

The application for re-zoning was filed by current owners Grace and Gilles Marcotte and Pat and Loretta Micelotta,  which features 1,000 square feet of office or institutional space.

Ireland said the Marcottes and Micelottas have been fantastic corporate citizens.

"They've allowed us time and allowed us terms that has made this whole project do able for us," she said.

Ireland said the MS Society would start preparing the new facility in the new year.