Sudbury Steelworkers Hall
Encyclopedia
The Sudbury Steelworkers Hall was a historic labour union hall in Sudbury, Ontario
, which was destroyed by a fire on September 19, 2008.
hall. Following several years of labour unrest in the city resulting from factional wars between Inco and Falconbridge
mining employees over representation by the United Steelworkers of America or the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, most workers eventually reconciled under the leadership of the Steelworkers. With the need to acquire a new home for the expanded union organization, representatives Don McNabb and Gib Gilchrist selected the hall, which the Legion had put up for sale due to declining membership. The union purchased the building, and moved into it on November 25, 1965.
The building was also considered a local institution by the wider community, often being rented out as a banquet and reception hall and as a meeting venue for community groups, political party nomination contests, fundraising events and other community functions. The building also housed some of Laurentian University
's classes prior to the construction of the university's current campus in 1964.
The Greater Sudbury Fire Service responded to the alarms, and the fire appeared to be under control by 6 a.m. However, an isolated pocket of the fire later erupted again, and by 9:30 a.m. the revived fire had reached the building's second floor offices. By 11:15 a.m., police ordered the evacuation of the nearby Sudbury Secondary School
and Lansdowne Public School. Lansdowne students were bussed to Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
in the city's south end, while Sudbury Secondary students were moved to Lockerby Composite School
. At the end of the school day, students who would ordinarily walk home from Lansdowne and Sudbury Secondary were bussed to St. David's Catholic Elementary School for vehicle pickup by their parents.
With the fire remaining out of control, late that afternoon the decision was made to begin pulling down the building's walls in an attempt to contain the fire's spread. Excavators began creating a platform at around 6 p.m., and around 7:15 p.m. the excavators began to pull down the walls.
The fire was not fully extinguished until approximately 4 a.m. on September 20, 26 hours after it began. Firefighters used more than one million gallons of water to douse the flames.
United Steelworkers regional director Wayne Fraser issued a statement calling the fire a tragedy both for the union and the city as a whole:
Ontario New Democratic Party
leader Howard Hampton
also issued a statement, speaking about the building's special place in the hearts of party members in the Sudbury area:
Mayor John Rodriguez
stated that "all my victories were celebrated in that hall and all my defeats." He called the building a "labour temple ... a repository of what people believe, what motivates people, what drives an economy, a community."
Many of the union's records, including active files and archives comprising a major part of the city's documented labour history, were destroyed in the fire. Leo Gerard
, a former leader of Local 6500 who has been the president of the Steelworkers International since 2001, returned to Sudbury on the weekend and spoke to the media, stating that "next to losing a family member, this is the most traumatic event in my life."
At the time of the fire, the hall had already been booked solid for events every weekend through 2010.
On September 22, the city's acting fire chief, Dan Stack, explained the fire department's findings regarding how the fire went back out of control after initially appearing to have been doused:
At the same press conference, the office of the Ontario Fire Marshal confirmed that the blaze was being investigated as a potential arson
. The Greater Sudbury Police Service
issued a request for information, offering a $1,000 reward for tips given to the city's CrimeStoppers
line. The Steelworkers locals in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie
, as well as the head office of United Steelworkers International, later made additional donations which resulted in the reward being increased to $15,000 on September 29.
After accepting many equipment and furniture donations from the community, the union moved into new temporary offices at 128 Pine Street on September 26.
The Greater Sudbury Police Service
announced on November 3, 2008 that two 12-year-old boys had been arrested in conjunction with the fire. The boys reportedly poured a flammable accelerant
into one of the building's outer ventilation ducts, which they then lit with a match. Under the provisions of Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act
, the two cannot be publicly identified in the media.
Full demolition of the building began in January 2009.
In June 2009, the Steelworkers chose not to build a new facility on the original site, but instead purchased a former grocery store, which was shut down by the Loeb
chain in February 2009, as the new hall. The new facility, located at 66 Brady Street, is 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²) in size.
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, which was destroyed by a fire on September 19, 2008.
History
Located at 92 Frood Road in Downtown Sudbury, on the northwest corner of the intersection with College Street, the building was originally built in 1947 as a Royal Canadian LegionRoyal Canadian Legion
The Royal Canadian Legion is a non-profit Canadian ex-service organization founded in 1925, with more than 400,000 members worldwide. Membership includes people who have served as current and former military, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, provincial and municipal police, direct relatives of...
hall. Following several years of labour unrest in the city resulting from factional wars between Inco and Falconbridge
Falconbridge Ltd.
Falconbridge Limited was a Toronto, Ontario-based natural resources company with operations in 18 countries, involved in the exploration, mining, processing, and marketing of metal and mineral products, including nickel, copper, cobalt, and platinum. It was listed on the TSX and NYSE , and had...
mining employees over representation by the United Steelworkers of America or the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers, most workers eventually reconciled under the leadership of the Steelworkers. With the need to acquire a new home for the expanded union organization, representatives Don McNabb and Gib Gilchrist selected the hall, which the Legion had put up for sale due to declining membership. The union purchased the building, and moved into it on November 25, 1965.
The building was also considered a local institution by the wider community, often being rented out as a banquet and reception hall and as a meeting venue for community groups, political party nomination contests, fundraising events and other community functions. The building also housed some of Laurentian University
Laurentian University
Laurentian University , was incorporated on March 28, 1960, is a mid-sized bilingual university in Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada....
's classes prior to the construction of the university's current campus in 1964.
Fire
Shortly after 2 a.m. on September 19, 2008, a fire broke out in the building's banquet room. Fire alarms first went off at 2:12 a.m.The Greater Sudbury Fire Service responded to the alarms, and the fire appeared to be under control by 6 a.m. However, an isolated pocket of the fire later erupted again, and by 9:30 a.m. the revived fire had reached the building's second floor offices. By 11:15 a.m., police ordered the evacuation of the nearby Sudbury Secondary School
Sudbury Secondary School
Sudbury Secondary School is a high school in the downtown of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, well known for its Arts Education Program, featuring theatre arts, dance, vocal music, instrumental music, keyboard, media arts and visual art...
and Lansdowne Public School. Lansdowne students were bussed to Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School
Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School is a high school located on Loach's Road in the South End of Greater Sudbury, Ontario. It is administered by the Rainbow District School Board, and the current principal is Craig Runciman.-Academics:...
in the city's south end, while Sudbury Secondary students were moved to Lockerby Composite School
Lockerby Composite School
Lockerby Composite School is a high school located in the Lockerby neighbourhood of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, a short distance from Science North and the Lily Creek watershed. Its motto is Scientia Nos Ducet...
. At the end of the school day, students who would ordinarily walk home from Lansdowne and Sudbury Secondary were bussed to St. David's Catholic Elementary School for vehicle pickup by their parents.
With the fire remaining out of control, late that afternoon the decision was made to begin pulling down the building's walls in an attempt to contain the fire's spread. Excavators began creating a platform at around 6 p.m., and around 7:15 p.m. the excavators began to pull down the walls.
The fire was not fully extinguished until approximately 4 a.m. on September 20, 26 hours after it began. Firefighters used more than one million gallons of water to douse the flames.
United Steelworkers regional director Wayne Fraser issued a statement calling the fire a tragedy both for the union and the city as a whole:
Ontario New Democratic Party
Ontario New Democratic Party
The Ontario New Democratic Party or , formally known as New Democratic Party of Ontario, is a social democratic political party in Ontario, Canada. It is a provincial section of the federal New Democratic Party. It was formed in October 1961, a few months after the federal party. The ONDP had its...
leader Howard Hampton
Howard Hampton
Howard George Hampton, MPP is a Canadian lawyer and politician. He has served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, Canada, since 1987 as the Member of Provincial Parliament from the northern riding of Kenora—Rainy River. A member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, he was also the party's...
also issued a statement, speaking about the building's special place in the hearts of party members in the Sudbury area:
Mayor John Rodriguez
John Rodriguez
John R. Rodriguez is a Canadian politician. He served as the mayor of Greater Sudbury, Ontario from 2006 to 2010, and previously represented the electoral district of Nickel Belt in the Canadian House of Commons from 1972 to 1980 and from 1984 to 1993 as a member of the New Democratic...
stated that "all my victories were celebrated in that hall and all my defeats." He called the building a "labour temple ... a repository of what people believe, what motivates people, what drives an economy, a community."
Many of the union's records, including active files and archives comprising a major part of the city's documented labour history, were destroyed in the fire. Leo Gerard
Leo Gerard
Leo W. Gerard is a steelworker and a Canadian and American labor leader. He was elected president of the United Steelworkers in 2001, and is the second Canadian to head the union. He is also a vice president of the AFL-CIO....
, a former leader of Local 6500 who has been the president of the Steelworkers International since 2001, returned to Sudbury on the weekend and spoke to the media, stating that "next to losing a family member, this is the most traumatic event in my life."
At the time of the fire, the hall had already been booked solid for events every weekend through 2010.
Aftermath
The intersection of Frood Road and College Street remained closed to traffic for most of the weekend as police investigated the fire.On September 22, the city's acting fire chief, Dan Stack, explained the fire department's findings regarding how the fire went back out of control after initially appearing to have been doused:
At the same press conference, the office of the Ontario Fire Marshal confirmed that the blaze was being investigated as a potential arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
. The Greater Sudbury Police Service
Greater Sudbury Police Service
The Greater Sudbury Police Service is the police force for Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The service is currently made up of 255 uniformed staff and 102 civilians. Two K-9 officers are included in the uniform staff....
issued a request for information, offering a $1,000 reward for tips given to the city's CrimeStoppers
Crimestoppers
Crime Stoppers or Crimestoppers is a program separate from the emergency telephone number system, that allows a member of the community to provide anonymous information about criminal activity. It thereby allows the person to provide crime solving assistance to the authorities without being...
line. The Steelworkers locals in Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Sault Ste. Marie is a city on the St. Marys River in Algoma District, Ontario, Canada. It is the third largest city in Northern Ontario, after Sudbury and Thunder Bay, with a population of 74,948. The community was founded as a French religious mission: Sault either means "jump" or "rapids" in...
, as well as the head office of United Steelworkers International, later made additional donations which resulted in the reward being increased to $15,000 on September 29.
After accepting many equipment and furniture donations from the community, the union moved into new temporary offices at 128 Pine Street on September 26.
The Greater Sudbury Police Service
Greater Sudbury Police Service
The Greater Sudbury Police Service is the police force for Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. The service is currently made up of 255 uniformed staff and 102 civilians. Two K-9 officers are included in the uniform staff....
announced on November 3, 2008 that two 12-year-old boys had been arrested in conjunction with the fire. The boys reportedly poured a flammable accelerant
Accelerant
Accelerants play a major role in chemistry. Most chemical reactions can be hastened with an accelerant. Accelerants alter a chemical bond, speed up a chemical process, or bring organisms back to homeostasis. Accelerants are not necessarily catalysts as they may be consumed by the process...
into one of the building's outer ventilation ducts, which they then lit with a match. Under the provisions of Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act
Youth Criminal Justice Act
Canada's Youth Criminal Justice Act is a Canadian statute, which came into effect on April 1, 2003. It covers the prosecution of youths for criminal offences...
, the two cannot be publicly identified in the media.
Full demolition of the building began in January 2009.
In June 2009, the Steelworkers chose not to build a new facility on the original site, but instead purchased a former grocery store, which was shut down by the Loeb
Loeb (supermarket)
Loeb was a Canadian supermarket chain in Eastern Ontario. It is owned by Quebec's Metro chain of grocery stores. It was once Ottawa's second-largest supermarket chain behind Loblaws. Each of the stores averaged in size...
chain in February 2009, as the new hall. The new facility, located at 66 Brady Street, is 29000 square feet (2,694.2 m²) in size.