GREATER SUDBURY’S COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER NORTHERN LIFE www.northernlife.ca WEDNESDAY EDITION June 25, 2003 75 cents, GST included Meet the folks at Micheal Atkins on Jim Gordon/8 Chilly Beach/3 Cycling Club does city proud/12 City asks province for recovery cash SARS may impact on tourism BY MICHAEL JAMES NORTHERN LIFE The City of Greater Sudbury has applied for its share of the Eves’ government’s two-year, $128 million Tourism Recovery Plan, which includes last Saturday’s Concert for Toronto and aggressive campaigns to rebuild global confi- dence in Toronto and Ontario as world- class tourism destinations. Ian Wood, co-ordinator of this city’s conventions and visitor services, said he isn’t sure how much money Sudbury is likely to receive, but he speculates it will be in the tens of thousands of dollars. SARS, West Nile Virus and Mad Cow Disease are very much on the minds of Sudbury’s tourism folks who know this area will be affected by a decline in visi- tors to Canada this summer. WOOD According to a recent Ipsos-Reid poll commissioned for the Canadian Tourism Commission, 34 per cent of Americans are less likely to visit Canada, and, especially Ontario, than they were six months ago. SARS was cited as the main reason for their reluctance to visit the province. “We saw, earlier in the season, some actual cancella- tions...of some smaller meetings,” Wood said. “We’re hoping we’re beyond that...but we’re not sure.” Another key indicator has to do with Science North. “Science North has revised their projections downward MARG SEREGELYI for the summer,” he said, adding it will impact on all their operations, including Dynamic Earth. School’s out! “I don’t think this summer is going to break any records,” This is the last day of school for most students in the city. Students at Redwood Acres Public School in Hanmer assembled he said. in the gym Tuesday for an awards ceremony. Many awards were handed out for accomplishments. Dakota Di Nardo and Wood said he believes residents can make a difference. Few realize the role they can play in attracting tourists to this Bryce Mead (both senior kindergarten students) and friends hope their names will be called. community. That’s one of the things people at city hall hope to address during Sudbury Tourism Week, June 22 through June 28. Sudburytourism.ca, a partnership of 30 tourism busi- Premature baby care affected at SRH nesses led by the City of Greater Sudbury, is encouraging local residents to mark tourism week by visiting Sudbury’s many attractions. The message they wish to impart is simple: BY TRACEY DUGUAY lance to either Toronto or Ottawa, with- preparation and flight. get out and enjoy the numerous attractions that exist right in [email protected] out their parents. “We always try to provide the ser- your own backyard, then spread the word to friends and fam- It is estimated that as many as 20 This may also apply to expectant vices as close to home as possible,” ily who live elsewhere. premature babies per year will need to mothers as well if there’s time to trans- Gardner says. According to Wood about 40 per cent of the tourists who seek medical treatment elsewhere fer them before the baby is born. She adds it’s just not possible at this come to Sudbury, visit friends or family. because of a change in the status of the Family/Child Program administra- time to continue to treat very prema- “It’s one thing for me to place an ad in an American news- neo-natal unit at the Sudbury Regional tor Diane Belanger-Gardner wants to ture babies. paper or magazine ...(but) that’s not going to do anything to Hospital. reassure all expectant mothers they The reason for the change in status allay people’s fears. Effective Monday, the unit will go won’t be turned away because of the is due to staffing problems, more specif- “On the other hand, if you have Uncle Mike and Aunt Joan from a modified Level 3 to an advanced change in status. ically in the area of recruiting qualified living in Wisconsin and you say to them, ‘Hey, this would be Level 2 standing. If a mother arrives at the hospital in neo-natologists. a great year for you to come and visit Sudbury; things are In essence this means babies who labour, the premature baby will be “We had one of our specialists leave great here‚’ – that’s a compelling invitation.” are born at less than 32-weeks-old delivered onsite, stabilized by a special- in the past year and we’ve had other The city’s tourism budget is between $350-$400,000 this (around seven months) will no longer be ized neo-natal hospital team, and flown medical changes that caused us to go to year, of which $100,000 has been contributed by industry part- treated at the Sudbury hospital. to a Level 3 or higher facility. In most ners. For more information, visit sudburytourism.ca. Instead, they will be flown by air ambu- cases, it takes about an hour for the See NO, Page 5.