Greater Sudbury, ON
The largest city in Northern Ontario, Greater Sudbury also happens to be the largest city by land area in the entire country. In terms of population, it is Canada’s 24th largest city, and completed its amalgamation in 2001. This is when Sudbury was joined by seven surrounding cities and towns to become one large city; Greater Sudbury. Today, the city has an urban core and numerous communities that are scattered around 300 lakes. Mining is still has a large economic factor in the city, which now also has the addition of finance, tourism, education, and science and technology research.
Due to its location, Greater Sudbury is a beautiful place to live, as it is filled with lakes and is home to six provincial parks. It is definitely an outdoor lover’s playground, offering up activities like snowmobiling, hiking, cycling, skiing and ice fishing. Plus, its lakes offer plenty of opportunities for water sports, as any Greater Sudbury local will be sure to point out. In terms of everyday living, what used to be just Sudbury is one of the most popular areas, as it is home to the city’s main shopping and dining areas and its nightlife. It is also where Laurentian University, Cambrian College and Collège Boréal are located.
Greater Sudbury is a bilingual city, which is great for parents that want their children to be fluent in both English and French. There are both English- and French- language public schools, as well as both English and French post-secondary institutions. The largest is Laurentian University, which is bilingual, and is home to the country’s first ever medical school. Still, as a whole, the city is less educated than the average Canadian, while the median age in the city is around 41 years old. The government sector is the largest employer in the city, followed by the mining industry.
Greater Sudbury has quite a vibrant art community, being home to two art galleries, two professional theatre companies and an award-winning documentary production company. Still, the one attraction that any Greater Sudbury guide will say not to miss is Science North, which is an interactive science museum in the Sudbury area of the city. This is actually where most attractions can be found, which is partly due to its transportation network. This area is home to Greater Sudbury’s main transportation hub, with all routes passing through it. However, buses do travel to all areas of the city, though they are much less frequent in more remote neighbourhoods.