Sudbury Protocol conference reflects on city's regreening accomplishments

Morning North7:25The Sudbury Protocol Conference

The Sudbury Protocol Conference will examine how the city has managed to revitalize itself from an industrially damaged city to an environmentally sustainable city. Gillian Schultze of the conference organizing committee joined us in studio with more...

Laurentian University will host a conference that focuses on the regreening of Sudbury's damaged landscapes over the past 40 years, as well as what's in store for the northern Ontario city's future.

A member of the organizing committee for the event, called the Sudbury Protocol conference, told CBC News it's important to discuss how far Sudbury has come.

"We, as a communityof the city of greater Sudbury get asked, 'How did you get from having no trees to being an environmentally friendly, economically prosperous, culturally rich community?' There's a lot that has been done," Gillian Schultze said.

"We've been recognized internationally."

A regreening formula?

The event, which starts today and runs through Wednesday, will address aspects of Sudbury's success, with talks given by academics, government and First Nations.

"We're looking at developing approaches or a formula for the transfer of knowledge that we've acquired in Sudbury," Schultze continued.

"[And] on how environmental investments can contribute to revitalization of cities or towns throughout the world."

Once that formula is assembled, Shultze said "the opportunities are limitless in terms of economy, businesses, [and] the branding of the city."

At the conference there will be a booth set up where people can talk about what they remember about Sudbury over the last four decades.

"We Sudburians are proud of where we are," Schultze said. "Everyone has a different story."