Digging Deeper

Coming of Age in the 21st Century
Digging Deeper
ENTREPRENUERIAL SPIRIT:
We will harness and support the entrepreneurial spirit needed for economic diversification
October 2012
With support from the province’s Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC), Ferus Industrial Contracting Limited will establish a construction, repair and
renovation business for industrial plants in Northern Ontario in the pulp and paper and
mineral processing and smelting industries. The NOHFC awarded the business with
$234,000 which will help to create 31 new jobs in the City of Greater Sudbury. Source: Government of Ontario, August 22, 2012
The total number of businesses started in the third quarter has dropped to 19
compared to 43 in the same period last year. The centre has seen a number of
businesses registered on their new online Business Directory.
The number of business registrations completed in the centre has declined this
quarter. However, the total number of businesses registered year to date for
2012 is 229, which is above the number registered in the same period last year.
The total number of website inquiries continues to increase with 10,576 views in the
third quarter compared to 4,520 in the same period last year. Further, social media
following has steadily increased to over 850 followers. This trend is expected to
continue with the revitalization of their website.
Insolvencies
Consumer insolvencies for the first half of 2012 were 176, which is down
from 229 in the first half of 2011.
Business insolvencies for the first half of 2012 were 3, which is comparable
to the first half of 2011 with 2.
Source: Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada, Insolvency Statistics in
Canada, First and Second Quarter Report 2012
Source: Regional Business Centre Summary Report
Optimism among Canada’s small- and medium- sized businesses
rose in September for the first time since March according to the
Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB): the
Business Barometer® index increased two points
in September.
Market Square supported about 30 vendors this past season and had
approximately 13,000 visitors. This is down partly due to the uncertainty
related to the sale of Market Square to the School of Architecture. A
conditional agreement has now been signed between the City of Greater Sudbury and CP Rail for the purchase of the Rail Station on Elgin Street which is the proposed new site for the 2013 season.
COMMUNITY LEARNING:
We will have a culture of community learning as the
foundation for competing in the global economy
The Learning City Initiative has continued to make progress. Following a declaration of Greater Sudbury to be a learning city by Mayor
and Council, the Steering Committee has developed a work plan
with a number of initiatives and events which include supporting the
launch of the new Ontario Adult Literacy Framework, establishment
of a successful Book Exchange at city hall and preparations for Spark
in the Park – Play-based learning festival in Fall 2013. The group has
been working with Oracle Poll to determine local attitudes towards
learning. Further, a baseline report is expected to be completed by
the end of 2012.
Digging Deeper October 2012
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INFRASTRUCTURE:
We will improve infrastructure and ensure adequate facilities
The Net Total Value of Building Permits issued is down from $194.3 million year to
date to $153.4 million over the same period in 2012.
The net number of Building Permits issued year to date is 1,711 up
slightly when compared to 1,658 over the same period in 2011.
WORKFORCE:
We will build a strong and resilient workforce that is
central to strengthening our community
The Unemployment Rate for Sudbury has declined this quarter from 7.4%
in June to 6.9% at the end of September. It remains below Ontario’s
rate of 8.0% and Canada’s rate of 7.3%.
Source: Canada Labour Force Survey
The number of new residential permits year to date is 1,382, which is
up slightly compared to 1,312 in the same period in 2011.
Source: Chief Building Official, Building Permit Statements
Property values have increased by 19 per cent in Sudbury since 2008, compared to 17
per cent for the province as a whole. Carl Young, the president of the Sudbury Real Estate
Board, said Sudbury’s vacancy rate now stands at less than two per cent and is expected
to dip to one per cent by the end of 2012.
Source: Northern Life, July 25, 2012
At its annual general meeting on Aug. 13, the Sudbury
Airport Community Development Board (SACDB) heard
that 90 jobs have been added at the airport since 2000,
bringing total employment to about 200. Passenger
numbers increased to 250,000 in 2012, compared to less
than 145,000 in 2004. It expects that figure to increase to
350,000 by 2017. Operating profits were close to $1 million
last year. About $10 million in private-sector investment has been spent at the airport since
2000. Plans are in the works to spend $20 million on capital projects over the next five years.
TeleTech Holdings Inc. plans to phase out its Rainbow Centre call centre operations by
the end of 2012, and with it, more than 200 jobs. TeleTech started business in Sudbury
in 1999, creating hundreds of jobs at a time when the city was struggling economically.
At one time, TeleTech had 700- plus employees in Sudbury and its call centre occupied
more than 70,000 square feet on the second floor of the downtown Rainbow Centre.
Source: Northern Life, August 17, 2012
Source: Sudbury Star, July 25, 2012
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Digging Deeper October 2012
MINING, MINING SUPPLIES & SERVICES:
We will be the global leader in mining
and mining supply & services
Through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund
Corporation (NOHFC), the Canadian Mining
Industry Research Organization (CAMIRO) will
receive $300,000 to test a thin spray-on lining that helps keep broken rock safely in
place in deep underground mining. The new product could become an important
tool in ensuring the health and safety of underground workers.
Source: Ontario Government, August 9, 2012
ARTS & CULTURE:
Sudbury continues to live up to its “Hollywood North” moniker playing host to eight films
and television productions in the last six months including Hardrock Medical featuring
Patrick McKenna of Red Green fame; Be My Valentine starring William Baldwin; and Cas
& Dylan starring Richard Dreyfuss. Not only were these productions shot in and around
Sudbury, but many of them involved a number of locals as cast, crew and production
training positions.
Northern Ontario Film Studio will officially open its doors in the former Barrydowne
Arena this fall, but productions have already used the facility. “The film industry really
makes an impact on a community it shoots in,” David Anselmo, Owner said. “Studies
have shown that for every dollar spent in a community, we see an economic multiplier
of three times. And it touches all facets of the community, from catering and food
to hotels to car rentals to building supplies.
Source: Northern Ontario Business, September 17, 2012
“
Sudbury’s Big Nickel was rated
#1 on Reader’s Digest’s list of
Canada’s 10 Biggest Things.
Source: Reader’s Digest, July 2012
We will be one of the best places to visit in Ontario
Science North Admissions: 112,971 visitors between January – August 2012,
up from 95,556 in the same period in 2011.
Dynamic Earth Admissions: 30,054 visitors between January – August 2012,
down from 34,920 in the same period in 2011.
Source: Science North & Dynamic Earth
Welcome Centres: The number of visitors to Sudbury Welcome Centres was
12,705 visitors between January and August 2012. This is slightly below the
13,226 visitors to the centres over the same period in 2011.
Source: Sudbury Tourism
We will have an expanded, thriving and sustainable
arts & culture community
“
TOURISM:
Hotel Occupancy: 64.5% in April 2012 up from 62.0% in April 2011. The average
daily room rate was $111.98 which is up from $110.70 in July 2011. These are
below the provincial average of 68.5% and $128.04.
Source: PFK Consulting National Market Report, April 2012
Festivals, Events & Conferences
An Ontario Cup Cross-Country Mountain Bike Event was hosted at the Walden Mountain
Bike Club in Naughton in July. The event attracted in excess of 600 participants, spectators and officials. More than 80% were from out of town, many visiting Sudbury for the
first time and participated in other local events such as Festival Boreal and the Italian
Festival. The course received rave reviews from many participants who look forward
to coming back in 2013 and 2014 for the Canada Cup Events. The resulting economic
impact on Greater Sudbury is in excess of $250,000 for this weekend event.
Source: Rob St. Marseille, Event Organizer
The Ontario Building Officials Association (OBOA) Conference was hosted in Greater
Sudbury and attracted over 500 participants. This conference had a huge economic impact on the community resulting in 2,140 room nights and over $450,000 in spending at
hotels alone. It is estimated that the conference resulted in over $1 million in spending
across city businesses and restaurant.
Source: OBOA Organizing Committee
Digging Deeper October 2012
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ADVANCED EDUCATION, RESEARCH & INNOVATION:
We will become a global leader in advanced
education, research and innovation
•
Preliminary enrollment is up1% over 2011 and is up 4%
over 2010. This marks the third year of growth in a row.
International enrollment is up 15% over 2011 and is up 45%
over 2010. Laurentian offers 175+ programs introduction of
modular program (140+ Undergraduate, 35 Graduate)
•
The Laurentian School of Architecture has received
all of it’s required funding, including an investment to
help fund the incorporation of cross-laminated timber technology in the construction of the school.
•
Four Laurentian University researchers received a total
of $199,504 from the Ontario Research Fund, which will
be used to buy state-of- the-art tools and invest in new
facilities for four ground-breaking research projects.
Source: Laurentian University
•
•
Cambrian has increased its total enrollment by 9% with 6,184
students enrolled in the 2012 fall semester. Cambrian offers
over 80 full time programs and 900 courses.
The college has received approval to offer three new graduate
certificate programs for 2013: Applied Learning Disability
Studies, I.T. Business Analysis, and Organization Management.
Source: Cambrian College
•
Collège Boréal has noted an increase of close to 11 in full time
registrations for the 2012 fall semester. The school offers 54
post secondary undergraduate programs.
•
Collège Boréal officially opened its new state-of-the-art 350seat concert hall. The facility brings together the technologies
that future graduates will be expected to use in their career as
stage technicians.
Source: College Boreal
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Digging Deeper October 2012
HEALTH SERVICES EXPERTISE:
We will be the regional centre for health services
expertise in Northeastern Ontario
Ten new family practitioners are scheduled to open practices in Greater Sudbury this
year. There are eight confirmed to start in 2013, four in 2014 and five in 2015. The city
has exhausted its budget for recruitment of new physicians for 2012, signing eight
doctors this year. The recruitment program, which offers financial incentives to keep
doctors in Greater Sudbury, started four years ago and has recruited 46 physicians.
On average, each doctor will accept 1,000 new patients.
Most Outstanding Regional Health Care Executive
Dr. Denis Roy, president and chief executive officer of HSN, has been named the 2012
Most Outstanding Regional Health Care Executive in Canada as well as Worldwide
Source: Sudbury Star, July 24th, 2012
New Surgery Procedure
Dr. Antonio Caycedo, a colorectal surgeon at Health Sciences North has successfully
performed a J-pouch reconstructive surgery for an ulcerative colitis patient. It is the first
time this procedure has been performed in Greater Sudbury. This is the second time
that Dr. Caycedo has introduced a new surgical procedure to Greater Sudbury. In May,
he performed Sudbury’s first trans-anal endoscopic microsurgery to remove a
malignant polyp from a patient. That operation marked the first use in Canada of
a medical instrument called a GelPOINT Path Transanal Access Platform.
Source: Health Sciences North, July 24th, 2012
Seniors’ Health Care
Health Sciences North has recruited Dr. Janet
McElhaney, one of Canada’s foremost
experts on seniors’ health care. She has
taken on the position of Medical Lead
for Seniors’ Care at the Greater Sudbury
hospital and has been named the Chair in
Geriatric Research. She will provide
front-line patient care and lead the
ongoing development of geriatric
medicine and seniors care.
Source: Health Sciences
North, August 2012