The richest resource any city has to offer is its people.
Greater Sudbury’s beauty doesn’t just come from its stunning natural surroundings. Just as important is the cultural diversity of its community members.
The city’s restaurants, small businesses and festivals were created so residents could share part of someone else’s story, passion and heritage. The opportunity to live together and learn from one another is what makes a vibrant community.
Sudbury looks forward to welcoming even more newcomers in the years to come, to continuing to embrace multiculturalism, and to celebrating all of life’s milestones together—whether it’s festivals, days of celebration or clubs that keep the traditions and foods of all ethnicities alive.
The city’s proud history
Greater Sudbury is situated within traditional Ojibwe lands.
Before it was incorporated as a town in 1893, immigration was already playing a role in population growth, thanks to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the job opportunities available.
Soon after the railway section was completed in November 1884, rich minerals were discovered, embedded in the geological formation known as the Sudbury Basin. This served as the impetus for a sustained period of unparalleled growth.
Over the next 70 years, Sudbury would become home to the third-largest Francophone population in Canada outside of Quebec, and to people of many different ethnic backgrounds. Large populations of residents with Italian, Finnish, Polish, Chinese, Greek and Ukrainian ancestry make the city one of the most diverse, multilingual and multicultural communities in Canada.
Greater Sudbury’s future
As many people know, the demographics in Sudbury are challenged by many factors currently. These include an aging population, youth-out migration and low fertility rates.
While immigration is not the only solution to the challenges the city is currently facing, it is definitely necessary to support the economy and address workforce challenges. It will also greatly enrich the social fabric by increasing diversity and multiculturalism.
Immigration is key to a healthy, thriving community, as newcomers bring fresh perspectives and a wealth of experience. They share their talents, credentials and knowledge, making the city a more diverse and inclusive place to live.
The Sudbury Local Immigration Partnership (SLIP) was created in 2010 and features a 12- member board of directors. Board members come from a variety of community and business organizations, include municipal representatives, and are supported by City staff. It has engaged with a number of stakeholders in the community to discuss issues related to the needs of newcomers, as well as solutions that can help.
The group is proud to be embarking on a project called Greater Together. The objective? To showcase to Greater Sudburians the importance immigration plays in the local economy.
Greater Together is a series of stories that will run monthly over the coming year. It will feature the success stories of newcomers that have made Greater Sudbury their home and who have contributed so much to the city. It will showcase those who arrived decades ago, as well as more recently.
The aim is to tell the story of the people who live here, who have chosen to make this city their home, and the gifts they have brought with them. It will be a celebration of everyone and every culture that makes Greater Sudbury such a captivating community. Please share your story or write about why Sudbury’s multiculturalism matters to you.
Greater Sudbury is Greater Together.
SLIP works with stakeholders to support the retention and proper settlement of newcomers in the community. The program is funded by the Government of Canada and falls within the City of Greater Sudbury’s Economic Development Division.