Drawing onlookers, the old hospital’s weeks-long demolition is nearing an end.
With much of the structure now rubble as a result of the meticulous work of heavy machine operators during the past several weeks, only a portion of the building’s main structure facing Paris Street remains in place.
As such, it now resembles a movie set.
Sitting behind the building on Bell Park Road, David Barber was busy snapping photographs of the building on Monday.
He has been a recurrent presence at the property in recent weeks, during which he has pressed his camera’s shutter button thousands of times.
Unlike many onlookers who carry treasured memories of the hospital, among the most popular being the birth of loved ones, Barber said he recently relocated to Sudbury from Barrie.
Despite lacking a personal connection to the structure, Barber said that he recognized its demolition as being historically important.
“I just feel like this is history,” he said, adding that with so few people chronicling current events nowadays he figured he’d contribute to it himself by posting photos on social media.
Retired, Barber said he has the time to chronicle its weeks-long demolition.
Sudbury.com has been chronicling milestones in the old St. Joseph’s Hospital, including a story highlighting its history.
The old hospital was sold to Panoramic Properties in 2010. While a past condominium proposal stalled, the company’s latest venture is a 530-unit residential project between three towers, which city council approved last year.
Mayor Paul Lefebvre told local journalists that Panoramic Properties has indicated that they’d begin work on the development next year, but the company did not respond to media inquiries for clarification on timelines (the company has a long-established pattern of not answering questions).
In its recent history, recent milestones have included:
- Canada’s largest mural was painted on the side of the building in 2019 as part of the Up Here festival. In 2023, festival organizers drafted an open letter to clarify that the mural was only supposed to be temporary, as they were under the impression the structure would be demolished in 2020.
- On May 22, Lefebvre held a media conference to publicly push for “Immediate, urgent action” to tear down the old hospital. The media conference came in reaction to a suspicious fire breaking out at the property the previous night and the body of a 24-year-old man being discovered at the property on May 17.
- On Aug. 8, Lefebvre hosted a media conference to announce that a demolition permit had been issued, which clarified speculation caused in the preceding days by “Danger due to Demolition” signs posted around the property alongside the mobilization of machinery.
- Through its demolition process, which began in early August, Sudbury.com has chronicled the process with photos taken on Aug. 16, Aug. 26, and Sept. 13.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.