Following delays, the City of Greater Sudbury is still organizing a series of public meetings to educate the public and receive feedback on proposed changes to fire/paramedic stations.
These proposed changes include amalgamating several volunteer fire/paramedic stations, which will include the construction of a few new stations in ideal locations. The Minnow Lake career fire hall would shift north to The Kingsway.
The organization of a series of in-person meetings and other public feedback components was prompted earlier this year by a successful motion from Ward 7 Coun. Natalie Labbée, who decried the city’s lack of consultation at the time as being “irresponsible.”
Originally slated to begin by the end of February, a city spokesperson clarified this week that scheduling had taken “a bit longer than originally anticipated, but in-person meetings will begin early next month.”
The city is currently finalizing dates and will release information through a public service announcement “soon.”
The meetings will largely take place at fire stations affected by the proposed consolidations, and will include those at Falconbridge, Val Caron, Hanmer, Beaver Lake, Wahnapitae, Coniston and Copper Cliff.
A location in Minnow Lake will also be organized, while a combined open house to cover Lively and Waters will be held in Waters, and the Skead Community Centre will fill in for the closed Skead station, and the Dowling Leisure Centre will fill in for the closed Vermillion Lake station.
Those unable to attend an in-person location can weigh in via an online engagement the city plans on setting up at overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca.
A printed consultation option will be available at the city’s Citizen Service Centres, and feedback will also be able to be provided by phoning the city’s customer service line at 311.
