FAQs

What is your history in Ward 2 and your history prior to joining council?

I originally moved to Ward 2 in grade 8. My Parents were from the Sudbury area, and we moved back here following my father’s retirement due to injury from the Armed Forces. I attended George Vanier Public School and Lively District Secondary School. During my time at Lively, I was an active member of the concert band, even before I was old enough to attend the school. I was also involved with the Soccer program and wrestling. Through those years, the school was threatened with closure, and my mother, Cindy Benoit, helped lead the charge to keep the school open. My mother was always active in the community and instilled in me the values of supporting your community. Unfortunately, when I was 15, my mother was killed in a collision on Highway 69 while working for the Victorian Order of Nurses. I continued to live in Lively while attending Cambrian College in the automotive program and CDI for the Police Foundations program. I briefly left in the early 2000s to pursue a career with the RCMP; however, a series of injuries derailed my law enforcement career.

I returned to Greater Sudbury and lived in Azilda and Chelmsford until I could afford to return to Lively. Upon returning to Lively I began to get involved with local groups to help support the activities in our community, including joining the Anderson Farm Museum Heritage Society, becoming the Vice President, and then President over COVID. I helped lead the charge to save the Farm from closing, worked to bring back events after the pandemic, and helped acquire Maple the cow, whom we all know and love. I even played Santa during a virtual tree lighting, a role I took very seriously, including bleaching my hair and beard. I have been involved in youth soccer, baseball, golf, and martial arts. I have done several fundraisers for the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer.

I was also an active realtor and member of the Sudbury Real Estate Board and member of the first group to look at Sudbury’s green future and how we can help reduce our impact on the environment. As my interest in local politics grew, I decided that someday I would like to become a city councillor. I spoke with Michael Vagnini about this desire and expressed my desire not to run against him but to take over when he was done. Unfortunately, Michael’s health took a negative turn prior to the 2022 municipal election, and I decided that I would run against him. Honestly, much of my hope was that, seeing there was another option, he would step aside and focus on his health. I focused on running a clean campaign, choosing to run on a platform of cooperation and participation.

After losing the election, I continued to stay engaged in the community. I joined the Museums and Heritage advisory panel to continue the efforts to protect our local heritage, and I was chosen as Vice Chair. After Michael’s disappearance and unfortunate passing, I was approached to see if I would be interested in being appointed to the position of Ward 2 councillor, an offer I gladly accepted, as it was the least expensive option for taxpayers and it was also the quickest way the ward would be given a voice in important decisions ahead.

I am married with 4 kids. My wife was born and raised in Whitefish, and we met while attending Lively High. My 4 kids attend Lively High, 2 at Walden Public, and I have 1 child with autism who attends the program at Copper Cliff Elementary. I am focused on building the best community for not just my family but all families in the area.

So that is my history in the community up to my appointment to city council.

1

Do you support the Downtown Arena?

2

This is a question I have answered a lot. Short answer: yes. But a very long answer to follow.

I have said to many people that the best solution to the arena is a time machine. This project should have been built 10 years ago for much less money. However, when I joined council, the KED had already been cancelled, the downtown businesses adjacent to the arena had already been purchased, and demolition had already begun.

One of the first big decisions I had on council was to build a new arena or fix the old arena. This decision was presented with a lot of reports and estimates. Those reports examined the condition of the current arena, the costs associated with both options, and the limitations of both options. I reviewed these extensive reports and reached out to independent experts to get their opinion on the validity of those reports. Once I was confident that the conclusions of the report I had to decide between really 3 options.

1) Build a new arena downtown that is more accessible, more efficient, and designed to better accommodate other uses. With a cost of around 130-140 million, plus contingencies, to a total potential cost of 200 million.

2) Repair the current arena. It would have limited accessibility improvements and no improvements to efficiency or multiple use cases. This had a similar cost but included more risk, since while we had a good assessment of the condition of the current arena, you never know the full extent of the repairs on an old structure like that until the work begins.

3) or wait until the arena is condemned and then not have an arena.

I chose to go with option 1. I have continued to support this option, and we as a city need to actually do what we commit to doing. The constant cancellations and delays of projects of the past have created a world where the city cannot be trusted to do what it says and we are working to fix that reputation.

Why don’t you speak up for the Ward?

3

There is a difference between being outspoken and being effective. I have always advocated for the ward, but often I have advocated in offices and in meetings that are not loud public shows of support. I choose to get things done through cooperation and compromise. This strategy has been effective in getting support for things in the ward like improved infrastructure spending, protecting the ski hill, protecting the farm, securing park upgrades, and advocating for the largest investment of public funds in the ward in the history of the area.

When I am presented with a concern from a resident, I am normally able to get them the results they desire without having to make a big, loud show of things.

There have been times I have had to loudly advocate for the community, and I will admit I was not successful in saving the Beaver Lake Fire Hall or preventing the early closure of the Copper Cliff hall. But both those decisions had been made prior to my appointment to the position, and no amount of advocacy would have changed the outcome.

What is happening with Meatbird Money? What is happening with Mikkola Road Closure?

4

Council voted to proceed with detailed design for enhancements to the field area around the Anderson Farm Museum. These enhancements include a water feature to cool down in, a public sauna, paved trails, public event space, and food trucks, just to name a few things. These features are designed to operate year-round and be accessible to all residents, mostly free or at little cost. This design was decided after years of public consultations and meetings and was supported by the great work of the Lively Recreation Panel, a group consisting of members of the community representing vastly different demographics and experience levels. The final decision on the construction of this project will take place during the budget deliberations this winter since the cost is more than the 4 million originally received for Meatbird, but staff are confident it will proceed, and they are looking at ways to cut the costs by partnering with the community. You can find more information at https://overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca/livelywalden

Mikkola Road was closed after spring flooding changed the profile of the river next to the road. Engineers were hired to assess the situation, and we are awaiting the results of that assessment.

I continue to post updates about all that is happening in the ward on my Facebook page, so make sure you follow it to stay informed.

https://www.facebook.com/EricBenoitHomeRun