Development Liaison Advisory Committee (DLAC)

The City of Greater Sudbury has selected PCL Construction as the Construction Manager for the new downtown Event Centre following a competitive process that began with a Request for Proposal (RFP) being issued on June 20, 2025.

In April 2024, City Council voted to build the new Event Centre in downtown Greater Sudbury. The facility will play a key role in enhancing the city's reputation as a thriving community and an attractive destination for residents, businesses and visitors.

“We are pleased to be working with PCL, whose proven expertise and strong track record in delivering high-quality public infrastructure make them a valuable partner in realizing our vision for a vibrant, connected downtown,” said Tony Cecutti, Strategic Projects Lead for the City of Greater Sudbury. “We look forward to working collaboratively to deliver Greater Sudbury’s new, modern and dynamic Event Centre.”

PCL Construction is a long-established Canadian construction firm with a dedicated Sudbury office. Its portfolio includes a wide range of public and institutional buildings. PCL has assembled a dedicated team for the Event Centre and will oversee all aspects of construction. The City will retain final decision-making authority throughout the process, ensuring alignment with community priorities, municipal standards and guidelines.

"PCL is proud to work alongside the City of Greater Sudbury to bring their vision for the new Event Centre to life," says John Schmalz, PCL Construction area manager. "As a team with deep local roots, we are honoured to support the City's efforts in revitalizing this integral civic landmark that will serve as a cornerstone for the continued growth of Sudbury's downtown core, providing a vibrant hub for sports, culture and connection. Together, we look forward to shaping a legacy that reflects the pride and spirit of the people who call this city home and build a better future for the community."

The Event Centre will be designed as a state-of-the-art venue for concerts, sporting events, community gatherings and other unforgettable experiences. Site preparation is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025 with construction activities beginning in the first quarter of 2026.

Through a separate and unrelated competitive process, PCL Construction was also selected as the Construction Manager for the Cultural Hub at Tom Davies Square.

For more Event Centre project updates, visit: overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca

From Ontario Construction News: Greater Sudbury’s construction sector is riding a wave of investment, with the city reporting more than $166 million in building permits issued during the first half of 2025.

According to the latest economic bulletin, residential building demand remains strong with 603 permits issued for new housing, while the industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) sector continues to gain momentum with 164 permits issued, representing a construction value exceeding $98 million.

Read the full article here.

The unemployment rate for Greater Sudbury (Census Metropolitan Area) in August is 6.4%. The unemployment rate in Ontario is 7.8% and Canada is 6.9%.

The number of people employed in the city is 95,400, remaining the same as it was in July 2025. Our employment indicator remains fully recovered from COVID-19 impact.

The participation rate is 62.7%, up from 62.4% in July 2025. The participation rate remains below the pre-COVID peak of 65.1% in May 2019.

Labour Force refers to the total adult population available to the labour market at a specific time. As of August 2025, the labour force of Greater Sudbury (Census Metropolitan Area) is 101,900, up from 101,200 in July 2025. Unemployment Rate measures the percentage within the labour force that is currently without a job. Employment includes both employees and self-employed within the labour force. Participation rate measures the total labour force (comprised of those who are employed and unemployed, combined) relative to the size of the working-age population. In other words, it is the share of the working-age population that is working or looking for work.

Between March and May 2025, we asked the community to tell us what you envisioned for the new downtown event centre.

We hosted 10 engagement sessions and hosted several pop-up displays at community events to get feedback from you about the new event centre.

Our goal was to gather your ideas to ensure the new facility meets the needs of the community and use your input to inform the event centre’s design.

Read our Overall Engagement Summary Report

Read our First Nations and Indigenous Engagement Summary Report

What’s next?

The architectural team has reviewed your feedback and been working on the conceptual design of the new event centre.

We will come back to you this fall with some exciting renderings of the new facility and engage with you again to get your feedback on the design. Stay tuned!

For more about the Event Centre, visit overtoyou.greatersudbury.ca/event-centre

Efforts to create an affordable home ownership opportunity kicked off recently, with delegates gathering at 416 Melvin Ave. to mark the start of a Habitat for Humanity build.

The single-family home has been earmarked for a veteran family or individual, and its affordability was made possible in part by a unanimous city council vote to sell the surplus property to the not-for-profit organization for a nominal fee of $5.

Read the news article HERE.

According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the city had 164 housing starts from January to July 2025, compared to 77 for the same period the previous year. That represents a 113 per cent increase.

Only Kingston, Ont., Fredericton, and Abbotsford-Mission, B.C., had bigger year-over-year increases in housing starts.

Read the news article HERE.

The Town of Gore Bay is exploring options for a strategic site and is seeking early input from developers.

More information is available here: Development Opportunity - Gore Bay.pdf

The City of Greater Sudbury is inviting developers, housing providers and community organizations to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for the development of affordable housing on two municipally owned properties: one on Bancroft Drive in Minnow Lake and the other on White Road in Lively.

These sites have been identified as priority locations for affordable housing development as part of the City’s Housing Supply Strategy and Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan. The initiative aims to address the urgent need for rental housing across all income levels and unit types, with the potential to accommodate up to 327 medium-density residential units between the two locations.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the future of housing in Greater Sudbury, while utilizing financial incentives and municipally supported development pathways. The City is seeking innovative, community-focused proposals that align with its long-term housing goals.

Full details about the properties and the request for expressions of interest (RFEOI) are available at: https://www.greatersudbury.ca/do-business/planning-and-development/housing-accelerator-fund/

Submission Deadline:

September 30, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.

Project Contact:

Gabriel Daoust, Affordable Housing and Home Energy Concierge

Email: Gabriel.daoust@greatersudbury.ca

Tel: 705-674-4455

The first half of 2025 was a period of dynamic growth and strategic investment for Greater Sudbury. With a population estimate from Statistics Canada nearing 192,000 in the Greater Sudbury census metropolitan area, the City has made significant strides in talent attraction, health care expansion and economic development.

The launch of two new immigration pilot programs — the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) — along with the targeted Move to Sudbury campaign to attract skilled workers has generated strong interest. The addition of new health care facilities and 25 medical professionals is enhancing local care.

With steady population growth, housing remains a top priority. In the first half of the year, 603 permits were issued for residential construction, and 164 permits were issued for industrial, commercial and institutional projects. These efforts are helping to meet the needs of a growing population and ensure the community remains vibrant, inclusive and well-supported.

Residential construction is not the only contributor to Greater Sudbury’s growth. In the first six months of 2025, the City issued 164 permits for industrial, commercial and institutional projects, with a construction value of more than $98 million. Across all sectors, permits issued so far this year represent a total construction value of more than $166 million.

Downtown revitalization projects continue, including the highly anticipated Event Centre and the Cultural Hub at Tom Davies Square. Preliminary site preparation is underway for the Event Centre, while construction on the Cultural Hub is expected to begin this fall. Together, these developments are set to enhance the city’s cultural landscape, support job creation and attract new investment.

With strong support for local entrepreneurs, a vibrant calendar of events, increased tourism and international visits, Greater Sudbury continues to position itself as a hub of innovation, culture and opportunity.

To view the full economic bulletin for the first six months of 2025, please visit InvestSudbury.ca

Greater Sudbury is one of just 15 municipalities in Ontario—out of more than 50 participating—to exceed its 2024 housing targets under the provincial Building Faster Fund. Among these top-performing communities, Greater Sudbury ranked in the top three, helping set the pace for housing growth across the province.

This achievement reflects the City's leadership and momentum in supporting strategic residential development. It’s a clear sign that Greater Sudbury is not only growing, but growing with purpose.

To track Greater Sudbury’s progress, along with other municipalities in Ontario, visit: https://www.ontario.ca/page/tracking-housing-supply-progress