Land Reclamation Timeline

A 10 to 15 km-wide mineral-rich meteorite crashed into the Earth resulting in a huge crater (later known as the Sudbury Basin), making it the largest nickel ore deposit found anywhere in the world.

1879...

Forestry was the first major industry in the area, with major demands during the construction of the Canada Pacific Railway, then for the US lumber demand after a major fire that consumed many homes in Chicago.

 

Once densely forested, Sudbury was originally named "Ste-Anne of the Pines." James Worthington, superintendent of the CPR, renamed Sudbury in honour of his wife's birthplace in England. 

 

1883...

 Precious 
 metals were 
 discovered
 by CPR 
 employees 
 when the 
 rail was 
 being laid.

Mid 1880's...

Logging, forest fires and erosion had already destroyed much of the landscape.

The first smelting of Sudbury ores by roast yard occurred.

Mining took off when Samuel Ritchie, an American mining speculator consolidated the small mines to create the Canadian Copper Company and formed the International Nickel company (Inco).

Damages by Sulphur Fumes Arbitration Act was proclaimed.

1928...

                              Both INCO (International 
                              Nickel of Canada Ltd..) and Falconbridge
                              were formed.                                                            

Scientists and provincial government  correlated persistent barren lands with the presence of heavy metals.

The Ontario government issued environmental control orders to reduce emissions from area smelters.

1970...

Concerns of long-range atmospheric damage from Sudbury were first published.

---

1970...

Inco's "Superstack", the tallest free standing stack in the world, was built to help reduce emissions in the Sudbury area. It was the single most important factor in improving Sudbury's air quality.

---

2001...

 

      The City of Greater Sudbury came into effect on
     January 1st, when seven local municipalities 
     and the Regional Municipality of Sudbury joined 
     together to form one municipal government.

       In March, Healing the Landscape book 
     celebrated the regreening of the Sudbury Region
     and the beginning of the new millennium.  The
     purpose of creating this world class 'artistic
     photographic book' is to illustrate the marriage
     of science and art in a compelling story of
     revegetation and restoration of the devastated
     Sudbury area.

   The City of Greater Sudbury's Land Reclamation  
  Program celebrates its Silver Anniversary (25
  years).  Since 1978, the Program has planted
  almost 8 million tree seedlings on 16,000 
  hectares.