Greater Sudbury’s regreening program is now 10-million trees strong, with the landmark plant installed at Bell Park this afternoon.
Joining local dignitaries for what Mayor Brian Bigger described as a “historic moment” was Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and world-renowned scientist Dr. Jane Goodall.
The foremost expert on chimpanzees is in Sudbury filming an IMAX movie called “Jane Goodall’s Reasons for Hope,” which includes the city’s 44-year regreening effort, which has been credited with turning around what was once considered a barren landscape.
“Science North is thrilled to partner with Dr. Goodall once again and bring inspiring stories of conservation to audiences around the world,” Science North interim CEO Jennifer Booth told Sudbury.com by emailed correspondence.
“The City of Greater Sudbury’s regreening efforts is a source of pride to those from the area and a model for other communities worldwide. Science North is grateful to be able to tell this important story on the largest screens in the world”
This is Goodall’s second film production with Science North, the first being “Jane Goodall’s Wild Chimpanzees,” which was released in 2002 and screened in nearly 100 theatres worldwide.
Goodall’s relationship with Greater Sudbury has been maintained since that time, with her latest visit to the city coming in October 2021, albeit virtually, to celebrate the grand opening of Laurentian University’s UN Garden and Restoration Trail.
The city’s regreening effort under which these 10 million trees have been planted since 1978 certainly qualifies as a reason for hope, Bigger told Sudbury.com.
“My god, you look at the pictures of the black rock with dead tree stumps and a pretty desolate environment,” Bigger told Sudbury.com earlier this week of the city prior to its regreening, adding that it would have been difficult at the time to imagine how greatly things would improve in only one generation.
“It’s not hopeless, things can be repaired, turned around in the environment, and look at what Sudbury has done.”
Sudbury.com attended today’s tree planting and will publish a more thorough report this afternoon.
Arriving Wednesday, the prime minister attended an event that night. On Thursday morning, he visited Maclean Engineering in Lively for a photo op before heading over to Fielding Memorial Park for another photo op where he met with and hiked alongside some local students. After the tree planting, Trudeau attended the Sudbury Market at Science North for a meet and greet.