Sudbury Tornado 1970 - Eighth Deadliest Tornado in Canadian History | Documentary

[@bearygoodbeans8169]

Thank you for this. We were on Ontario Street. It was a dancer, i.e. one house would be destroyed, the next one unscathed. Four kids home alone, both parents are work. Our house was built by a Finlander; it was strong, with a steambath in the basement. The sky was a sickly greenish colour. As it began to hit, our dog Brutus was outside on a chain. He was above the ground, horizontal and being choked. We formed a chain, put the least favourite brother at the end, and reeled Brutus in. The four of us got down to the basement. I remember going out aftewards, amazed at how variable the damage was. Glad Tidings Pentecostal Tabernacle had scripturally built on a solid rock. The frame survived, the inside were gutted. A neighbour lost their livingroom, and their brand new colour tv; fun to watch hockey on a Sudbury Saturday night. They were unhurt. Six souls lost their lives. It changes your perception of the world.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. Your vivid description of this event shows us the impact it had on you. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Doug

[@shawnrobinson882]

I was very young at the time and at our camp on Fairbanks, east of Sudbury. Sitting on the dock, i'll never forget the color of the sky and seeing water fly upwards. My father grabbed me about 4 minutes before the dock disappeared. My wife was about two at the time, she started crying so her parents put her in their car and went for a drive to settle her down. They saw the tornado from a distance and when they got back to their apartment, it was destroyed. That apartment can be seen in this video at 6:57 on the right side of the church. They lived on the top floor. Thanks for doing this video, it was very well done.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Shawn for sharing your story with us. Incredible to hear how much each minute mattered to so many as they escaped certain harm. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your thoughts. Doug

[@kv2]

My dad just got home from graveyard shift from 9 shaft in Creighton, I was 7 and sleeping. The tornado missed our house by less than a mile, we lived south just off Highway 17. At the time they were constructing the new Highway 17 and my dad noticed that guys were getting ready to blast the rock face close to our house and were scrambling and set off 2 blasts which was unusual and early. We knew a bad storm had hit but didn't know how bad until a neighbour told us what had happened. We had to go shopping in Sudbury and I remember passing the broken tressel on the way in. I remember that vividly.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us of that day. Doug

[@007lyse]

I watched the black in the sky from Radar Rd Hanmer

[@pappinr]

Well done! A great summary of a terrifying moment in my life. No one in my family was hurt physically, but it has certainly left a lifelong fear of high winds and bad storms.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much! I can only imagine what it was like and how it has made you feel since then. I’m happy to hear no one in your family was hurt. Appreciate you watching. Doug

[@garpikemike1]

I guess it certainly would. Thanks for sharing.

[@tracyphillips3325]

I didn't realize that Canada had that many tornadoes. Living in tornado alley here in the states, we are aware of the dangers. Sad to see the destruction and hear of the loss of life. Very well made film Doug and Jamie.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Tracy! We are extremely lucky this isn’t the norm up here. Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@LivsTanks]

Lived here my entire life and had no idea lol thanks!

[@PinetreeLine]

You’re welcome Olivia! Thanks for watching! Doug

[@rialobran]

What a superb short documentary, absolutely brilliant piece of work guys.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you Si! We worked really hard on this. Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@dreamcreationsadventures]

Very well put together documentary and reminder how quickly things can change. No matter where we are at, it happens everywhere

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you so much! Never safe from Mother Nature. Appreciate you watching my friend! Doug

[@DonJoyce]

Great documentary, Doug! Well explained and great drama. The interviews with your Dad and Jamie really brought it to life! Great job!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Don! Appreciate the kind words and I’m glad you liked it, makes it worth all the hard work put into this one. Doug

[@CarolinaChrisOutdoors]

Oh my. Terrible situation but I enjoyed watching the film. You guys did a fine job on it!!! News reporters back then really reported the news, and with authority!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Chris! It was weird watching the old news reel of the event. I thought that reporter was going to walk right into the house. Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@thenaturemanadventures]

WOW! The unexpected power of nature. Four minutes must've felt like an eternity. Doug, thank you for sharing this documentary, well done and reminds us to live each day to the fullest and always respect nature. 🌲

[@PinetreeLine]

Mother Nature rules all of us and we are at her mercy. Thanks so much for watching brother! Doug

[@crichtonbruce4329]

I was 14 when this happened, living just north of Sudbury. We got the very black sky, high winds and some heavy rain. An Aunt and Uncle of mine, who lived near the Memorial hospital, recounted how they saw the storm coming towards their house and ran into their basement bathroom. Moments later they looked up to see the sky: the entire top of their house as blown off .

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much for sharing your recollections of the event and the stories you heard. I can’t imagine the devastation people went through during this event. Doug

[@dubc3615]

Great job putting this together it was a ton of great information like a TV documentary. Learned a lot thanks guys!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Warren! It was a story I’ve wanted to tell for a long time. Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@leah890]

I appreciate the time and care you took with this documentary. Tornadoes are common here, but one does not think of them occurring elsewhere. The loss of life was tragic

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Leah! It’s was a very big deal here cause it’s only happened once. Mother Nature can be so beautiful and so tragic too. Appreciate you watching my friend! Doug

[@ReadinessReviews]

Wow I had no idea. Love this video format guys. Awesome job!!

[@PinetreeLine]

Me too Brother!! It was a very stimulating project for me to do. Be safe my friend! Doug

[@EssayonsFG]

Thanks for the info. Did not realize Canada had tornado problems too. Take care and stay safe, Rob

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Rob! Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@HomeInTheSticks]

As a few other folks said, I too didn't think y'all had many tornadoes over there brother!! We have tons of them here in the Sip and it's tragic to see the damage they do, well done on this one brother!! Dan

[@PinetreeLine]

I see the news footage of the devastation you guys have to live with down there Dan. I can’t even imagine the fear. Thanks so much for watching brother! Doug

[@preludefpv]

Wow, what a story that was. Great narrative and a fascinating insight into weather systems that turn sour. Very honorable coverage 🙏😇

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Leon! Appreciate it brother! So rare it became a big part of our local history. Stay well my friend! 👊🏻 Doug

[@morgankrueger808]

Very cool doc, thank you for making and sharing it!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching Morgan! Doug

[@BBQPITDOG]

Life was a lot simpler back then in the late 60's & 70's, but when something like this happened without warning had to be horrific. I never thought of severe summer weather or tornado's in Canada. Excellent history video guys! Stay safe up there.

[@PinetreeLine]

Simpler in a lot of ways Rob but not always better. We get a lot of Summer humidity here and that’s definitely a factor. Appreciate you watching brother! Doug

[@MTDfilms]

It gets crazy here in alberta. Not many tornadoes but crazy weather!

[@OpenAirOutdoors]

Nicely put together guys, loved it👍👍

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Marc! I’m glad you loved it brother!

[@donaldrgagne1691]

I ran an Ambulance Service in 1970. Sudbury with four hospitals including Coppercliff and it's 7 ambulances with one from Elliot Lake, Manitoulin, Espanola, Onoping Parry Sound. In West Nippissing we had three ambulnes from North Bay, one from Haileybury, one from Burk Falls. One death in Field Ontario. The Sudbury area ambulances answered 1,025 calls in 24 hrs. It was a Tornado that bypassed Varner the West arm hit Cache Bay's West limits missed Sturgeon Falls but travelled North to Field and died out beyond Martin River and Temagami.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us Donald. You’re involvement and close to the scene experience provides yet another look at the events of that horrible day. Appreciate you watching and commenting. Doug

[@jameschamberlin5235]

I heard this story many times. Was neat to see Jamie again.. Been a long long time. Since junior school!

[@PinetreeLine]

Nice! Appreciate you watching James! Doug

[@jamiephillips9244]

Wow its been forever. Great to hear from you Jim Old Lively Boys!!!

[@jameschamberlin5235]

@@jamiephillips9244 hey buddy! shoot me a text sometime. We will catch up. Good stories!! I left info with Doug. Great videos!!

[@davidAblake1]

Well done! Great video. Mother Nature can not be underestimated.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Dave! You’re absolutely right about Mother Nature. Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@danlalonde2751]

I was a milkman and was halfway up Marymount College hill when it hit . Along the road where these super tall Lombardo trees. The tips of them were touching the sidewalk . My milk truck made it to the back of the College were the kitchen entrance was. The small parking lot was also at the edge of a cliff which overlooked downtown Sudbury. My truck was at a dead stop and swaying from side to side .. Luckily it was freshly loaded with milk which wheighed it down a lot. The nun in the back kitchen was waving me to take a run for the back door which i did . I wasn't sure that i would make it . I remember it like it was yesterday.

[@PinetreeLine]

Wow! Thanks so much for sharing your experience Dan. I can’t imagine you could ever forget such an event and how it impacted you. Thank goodness you weren’t injured or worse. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and share. Doug

[@Randolphlalonde]

@@PinetreeLine As the son he would have some time later, I'm also pretty happy he made it out all right! (I also never get tired of hearing this story)

[@Sportsman101]

This is an excellent documentary guys, always amazes me how powerful these are. In 2010 MN had 48 tornadoes in one day, including 4 F3s and 3 F4s. The damage these things do is unthinkable.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks brother! That’s an insane amount of tornadoes in a lifetime let alone one day. I can’t even begin to imagine the damage that was left behind. Appreciate you watching my friend! Doug

[@ceces8947]

Wow...

[@GearReviewDepot]

Very interesting. This happened one month before I was born. We don't get many tornados where I live here in the United States, a few come through but because I live in a very hilly part of the country, they die out before traveling too far. We do however have several micro bursts every year, they can do some heavy damage but again, they're very isolated to small areas. Thanks for sharing my friend.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Tim! I was only a few months old when this happened and my mom woke up and thought it was 8:30pm it was so dark. This is the only recorded tornado here but we usually have a microburst every couple of years here. Like you said, thank goodness it only effects a very small area. Appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts Brother! Doug

[@sudburysoccer8654]

Great Job Doug. Very informative and well done.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Wood! Appreciate it brother!

[@21Swayzee]

Cool story!!! Didn't even know Sudbury had this deadly touchdown. Great old school footage...wow can't even imagine being in a home that was tossed by a tornado!!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Mattias! Yes it’s the 50 year anniversary of this devastating event. I was just a newborn when it happened but I’ve heard the stories all my life so I wanted to share it with others. Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@2ndchancegeorge]

Well done. Excellent documentary. Devastating of course.Nature we forget its power.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much George! The power of Nature. Doug

[@marilynscull4585]

Awesome video guys. WOW omg waht a mess.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Marilyn!! Doug

[@GrampiesWorkshop]

How's she goin'? Great job on this video guys!!! I'm glad you referred to it as a film, because it's way ahead of just a video that's for sure!!! Terrible and tragic are words that come to mind but really I just watch with my mouth open. Thanks for posting and stay safe!!!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much for the kind words Mike and I’m so happy it moved you. Appreciate you watching brother! Doug

[@jsteelsadventureandvariety4545]

awesomely done guys☺ herd lots of stories about that storm..like a sheet of plywood flew threw someone's roof like a ninja star😮 crazy!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Brother J! Crazy stuff for sure!! Could have been a lot worse. Appreciate you watching my friend! Doug

[@TomokosEnterprize]

I remember that now. No one is safe even underground folks have been pulled out. Good post Doug.

[@PinetreeLine]

Yes that’s true Dean. It was completely unexpected and caught everyone off guard. Thanks for watching Brother! Doug

[@GazianoOutdoors]

Really interesting video, really well put together, I didn't realize Canada had tornadoes like that, whole houses being blown about, scary stuff!! All the best 👍

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Gaz. I appreciate your support and kind words brother! Doug

[@DerekNaylor]

Massive damage Doug mate terrible thing to happen good to show what can happen good upload brother 👍👌😀

[@PinetreeLine]

Mother Nature is extremely unpredictable and powerful Derek. Thanks so much for watching Brother! Doug

[@MidTnOutdoors]

I never knew you all got tornados, that is crazy. The one that hit her in March of this year, changed lives and landscape forever.

[@PinetreeLine]

Since they started actively recording known tornadoes in the early 1900’s this is the only one in our area but we do have them in Canada but not at the same numbers as you guys in your neck of the woods Patrick. It definitely changes lives forever. Thanks for watching Brother! Doug

[@BackpackingWithJason]

This was incredible. Tornadoes can come out of nowhere. I have a friend that a tornado picked him up and dropped him off in a creek. Besides some cuts and bruises he was ok. Really enjoyed watching this guys. 👍👍.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Jason! Unreal what happened to your friend, he is lucky he didn’t get killed. Glad you enjoyed it brother!! Doug

[@anne-mariecourtemanche220]

Lively was not a nice sight, I had friends in casts and stitches brushed from head to toes and some lost their homes..we were blessed not to have more deaths. I didn’t know Blanchard Bell then, the man speaking in the video saying he was in the home with his wife and four kids..but I had the pleasure of meeting him when he gave his granddaughter away at her wedding in July 2017, such a wonderful person. Thanks for putting this together and sharing publicly. I really thought it was fantastic.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Anne-Marie! I’ve wanted to tell this story for a long time as many younger people have no idea that we had such a disaster here. I really appreciate you adding your perspective and sharing your personal story about meeting Blanchard. Really appreciate your support. Doug

[@yowzeh]

Very well done....I was just up in the Lively area this past week and my siblings and I were talking exactly about this tornado. There was one house up on 11th Avenue that was picked up turned 180 degrees and dropped back down on its foundation with in 9 inches. The only person killed that I am aware of in Lively was a gentleman not far from that house that had a trailer or a camper back drop down on top of him or he was inside of....that would have be on Tenth Ave and 'C' Street.

[@PinetreeLine]

Absolutely devastating situation for so many people in our community. Thanks so much for watching and sharing your story. It’s appreciated. Doug

[@denbertrand5639]

I was in that working at the copper refinery , It was a unforgetable day for sure ,, Thank God not more were injured or died ...

[@PinetreeLine]

I’m sure it was unforgettable for you and many others working at the copper refinery that day. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@Smilin_Don]

Nice job guys.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks Don! Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@TheLeblancGroup]

Thanks for doing this.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much! Appreciate you taking the time to watch!! Doug

[@dekelanson5280]

I was 4 years old when it hit.We lived in Lockerby.I can remember seeing pieces of tree limbs blowing around from my bedroom window.I also remember a birch bark tree fell on my dads box trailer.I don't think our house suffered any damage though.

[@PinetreeLine]

I was only 5 months old so I don’t remember any of it but it’s interesting to hear your perspective being that young and still remembering what you saw. Thanks so much for sharing with us. Doug

[@InTheBox_hcs]

I was not part of this world when this transpired but I heard stories about it growing up. I couldn't even imagine!

[@PinetreeLine]

I was literally a baby so I feel the same way. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment! 👍🏻👊🏻

[@Famo59]

Thanks for sharing this Doug.. You should consider doing Narration on documentaries..! Cheers Famo59 👍🍺🤓⛏

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks for watching Tony! Perhaps I should just make more of my own documentary style films. Doug

[@SuperChromer1]

I had to watch , because I was there and experienced the absolute terror . I left the town a few years later during 74 -75 ...only returned once . The sad parts are the people injured by being carried for hundreds of feet , with resulting broken bones / a broken back is remembered by a senior graduated from school student . Speak to M.A. Jackpine if you can still find her as it was her former boyfriend . I am not sure who is left around the area , but I can list ,many , many people who were there when it happened . I often think of the people and the town , and the obvious good memories of young adulthood . plus a bit of the bad , lol, but all in all ...nice archive footage . Tom Squires ...

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Tom for sharing your thoughts and recollections of such a horrific event. Doug

[@garpikemike1]

Yeah...I was born here..left and came home. Sudbury in the 70s and 80s had good and bad. More good though. INCO really cleaned up here and it's actually green now and looks less like the moon.

[@therealsparkman]

Louis Landriault was his name. He recovered, as I recall, but then reinsured his back during a phys-ed class and had to rely on the assistance of canes to walk again. A really nice boy from a really nice family. Very sad!!

[@tanyahorula1060]

I remember my mom telling me out this! She lived in valley east at the time. She remembered driving thru the damage after.

[@PinetreeLine]

I can’t imagine what she thought driving through the devastation. Appreciate you watching Tanya! Doug

[@Wild-Dad]

A very good story. I remember that day too even though I lived in Falconbridge. I was 14 at the time and I remember staring out through a window looking east towards 5 shaft as the sound of the wind grew louder and the clouds turned greenish black. The wind and rain that came down in our town that day was strangely amazing and horrifying at the same time. No roofs were lost but there were a number of shingles came off of roofs and the insulbrick panels off the sides of homes. The damage went east to almost as far as Markstay. You could see where the twister jumped hwy 17 in many places - long narrow swathes of torn up trees. We have a camp on the West Arm and we drove past that area every weekend. I remember the stories of the workers that were up in the metal framework pouring concrete for the Superstack. If they hadn't been wearing their harnesses, all of them would been blown off the top of the structure. I remember all those sites, the blown out wall of the church that was on the side of the hill near Memorial Hospital. The scenes of the homes in Lively - you could see the damage from the Hwy 17 entrance to the town. My Dad drove us through all this after it was safe to do so. He said it looked like something out of WWII. Strangely enough, the Big Nickel was unscathed even though it was in the path of the storm. It jumped in a few spots as it went over Laurentian University and landed again in the eastern part of the city - on it's way to the Markstay area.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Bill for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. A lot of people who watch this weren’t even born yet so your thoughts and recollections are very valuable to everyone who watches. Doug

[@AllenOxendine]

Thanks for sharing.. Mother Nature can be so destructive.. We can only try to be prepared best way we can.. Full View and Like..

[@PinetreeLine]

Mother Nature is always boss as you well know Allen. We are just along for the ride. Thanks for watching Brother! Doug

[@sharonnahwegahbow276]

I was 9 when this happened. I lived in Espanola which is 45 minutes west of Sudbury. I remember going to school after and the teacher had a pile of newspapers for us to read the story about the tornado. Once we had read all the newspaper stories she asked us to write a short essay. We had read where the men on top of the stack had been trying to decide if they should jump or hang on. We were to write what we would have done. It wasn't graded, we read our answers out loud and to this day I will never forget the bravery of the men on that stack. I don't remember what I wrote. They are talking of tearing that stack down, maybe they should just modify it, put a pipe up the center. It is a monument to the people who survived that tornado.

[@PinetreeLine]

Hi Sharon, oddly enough the story of a man wanting to jump of the superstack because of the tornado is a story my grandfather told me as a child and has stuck with me all these years. I don’t think the superstack is going anywhere for a long long time. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and story from the time. Doug

[@Docutravel50]

@@PinetreeLine Also, one of the men on the stack had his hair turn from dark to completely white during the tornado. It would be interesting if someone could track down those guys. Incredible story to tell.

[@donaldrgagne1691]

I worked Ambulances in that decade. There were 1,025 calls in a 24hr period and seven deaths in Sudbury and Field Ontario. Ambulances came from ElliotLake, Owen Sound, Burks Falls North Bay and Haileybury for calls in the Sudbury area and all of West Nippissing.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge Donald. Unreal to imagine the the devastation this tornado caused especially to the families directly affected by it’s unforgiving power. Appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. Doug

[@reneeangele4766]

My dad told me about this he had been working on the superstack at the time but was not working the day the tornado happened.

[@PinetreeLine]

I’m sure he was happy he didn’t have to experience this tornado while working on the superstack. Thanks so much for sharing your story with us! Doug

[@reneeangele4766]

@@PinetreeLine your welcome. He didnt work there long, once he finished school he went to work in nuclear power. lol

[@AlanMETALMAN]

Yeah, we get storms in the UK but nothing like that, such destructive power and the devastation these thing leave behind , is so sad, as it leaves not only damage to property but death as well - terrifying. Cheers Alan

[@PinetreeLine]

Thankfully Alan this has only happened once in our area. We deal with the occasional microburst here, which really bad but are contained to a small area. You’re right it’s terrifying. Appreciate you watching Brother 🤘🏻. Doug

[@camerachronicles_MX]

this is my home town so it is good to know all of the history

[@PinetreeLine]

My hometown too and I made this little documentary because I felt there was very little information on this major event in our local history. Thanks so much for watching! 👍🏻😊

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

I am all too familiar with that scenario living here in Iowa Nicely done Doug 👍

[@PinetreeLine]

We are very lucky up here that it’s such an extremely rare occurrence. Stay safe Ray! Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@RiverbendlongbowsOutdoors]

@@PinetreeLine 👍

[@dmarynuk76]

Well done guys

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Donnie! Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@taurusspirit4749]

I was 8 and the devastation I saw still haunts me today.....Wow

[@PinetreeLine]

I can’t even begin to imagine. Thanks so much for watching! Doug

[@mdmelbourne6076]

Hello Doug, I don't know what's going on with the weather pattern around the world, we've had two Tornado's here in Victoria in the last two weeks, no deaths thank God But they uprooted trees and farm shedding was destroyed, the second one that happened last week destroyed a school but luckily there's no kids attending school with the Covid lockdown, the school was destroyed along with some local houses, Thanks for sharing mate ATB Jim, stay safe

[@PinetreeLine]

That’s some scary stuff Jim! Glad to hear no one died, especially kids. Fortunately we haven’t had one here since 1970 and hopefully it stays that way. Thanks so much for watching Brother! Stay safe! Doug

[@janetevans9895]

I lived on Oliver Street in Copper Cliff and my husband was on his way home from night shift at 8:30 am. I was poking my head out the window because the wind was so fierce. It was blowing mini tornados of dirt and leaves up the street and I hoped my husband would be ok coming home. When he arrived, he said it was a tornado and trees were being uprooted and stuff was blowing all over the place. My father in law drove out to see us and said that his dog hid in the back seat all the way out to Copper Cliff. He used to own Boulton’s Furniture on the Kingsway but it was untouched. The storm was just passing through Copper Cliff to Lively. That was a once in a lifetime experience I hope never happens again!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Janet for sharing your experience. You and yours were very lucky to escape the path of this tornado. Not something anyone would want to experience. Doug

[@poodius7]

i never forgot that day. We had a hockey game in Copper Cliff and the lights went out in the arena...it was pitch black

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you for sharing your experience with us and I appreciate you taking the time to watch. Doug

[@sandramitchell5849]

We lived in Long Lake, and I was 13 years old. I remember the weird yellow sky, not a "sunny" yellow, but a murky, dirty yellow, the wind, the trees doing more than just swaying, and watching a picnic table go flying past our living room window (yes, I was actually standing looking out of our picture window, no one knew what was going on). The picnic table once resided in a neighbors yard way down at the other end of the road. Never knew where it eventually landed. 6 people died and hundreds were injured. Thankfully only a few shingles on our roof went for a ride. Glad Tidings church on Regent Street (opposite old Memorial Hospital) was so badly hit, for awhile we all thought it would completely slide down the hill into the gully below.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Sandra for sharing your experience. I’m sure it’s something you remember very vividly and hope never to experience again. The pictures of Glad Tidings are in the video and I can see where everyone would think it would slide down the hill. Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@VerilyRude]

My dad told me this story, happened when he was a teenager in the West End on Maple St... He said all of a sudden it went from sunny outside to practically black as night, and from the basement cellar it sounded like a train was derailing above his head. The worst of it was no more than a minute but it felt like forever.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much for watching and for sharing your dad’s experience with us. For those of us who were too young to remember or not born yet these type of experiences allows to almost imagine what people went through that fateful day.

[@casualcarolinafishing5835]

Those things are terrible. We had one come through town where I grew up once. It hit more in town so we really didn't even know anything about it out in the country where we lived, but driving to church later that day we could see a path through the trees where that thing had gone and just twisted and snapped every tree off in a line. Never saw anything like that until then.

[@PinetreeLine]

It’s unbelievable how much destruction in such a short period of time. No warnings in some areas back in the day made it even more scary Bill. Thanks for watching and sharing your experiences brother! Doug

[@retsetman9698]

Really very bad situation... İm sorry friend. Hope it does not happen again my friend. 👍

[@PinetreeLine]

We hope it doesn’t happen again either my friend. Thanks for taking the time to watch! Doug

[@MiffetBlue]

I was born in 1973 but my Mum was pregnant with my sister and working at the Copper Cliff Hospital as a Registered Nurse. She has told me stories of working the Day Shift that day and of the injury’s that came in. Truly horrific.........

[@PinetreeLine]

Horrific for sure. I can’t even begin to imagine what your mum and others in the health care field went through. Thanks so much for sharing. Appreciate you taking the time to watch. Doug

[@SK_CrappieCatching]

Nature is one of the most powerful sources known even more so than any man made bomb...... Simply amazing how it can transform an area..... Like others have said I've never heard of a tornado in Canada...... Nice edit.....

[@PinetreeLine]

As you well know SK, Mother Nature rules. Tornadoes aren’t common in Canada but they do happen but this was the only one here in my area. Appreciate you watching my brother! Doug

[@garpikemike1]

Seem to be more out west in the prairies but being a lot of farmland they don't make news because thankfully they just end up making dust of some farmers land instead of in a city.

[@dianastoevelaar9548]

I remember this day very well. I was 10 years old, living in a townhouse in Copper Cliff. My grandparents were visiting from the Netherlands and were supposed to fly back to Amsterdam that day, but their flights were canceled,due to the storm. We were living in a new townhouse and the force of the winds was forcing rain through the window frames like we were living in a cardboard box! My mother and grandparents were busy trying to sop up the water pouring into the house with every towel in the house. I watched our Ford Maverick rocking in the driveway sure that it would flip over with the next gust. My father worked for Inco and was one of the designers of the SuperStack. I remember him saying that the cars in the parking lot at Inco suffered so much damage from flying debris. Friends of ours lost the top story of their house while they huddled downstairs with their four children. I believe this might be the family in the news broadcast above. I remember that they rented a townhouse in our neighborhood in Copper Cliff, while their house was being rebuilt. This memory is burned into my mind like it happened yesterday. I hope to never experience a close call like that again!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Diana for sharing your personal experience with all of us. I can’t begin to imagine what you and your family and so many others went through on that terrible day. Doug

[@greensombrero3641]

what a great record - long live Sudbury - the big nickel

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks! 👊🏻👍🏻

[@WyeExplorer]

It doesn't discriminate does it Doug/Jamie? A bit like our big flood over here this year it just hit everything. A very good documentary guys. The dark storm Jamie's parents experienced must have been super spooky. Take care over there. Mark

[@PinetreeLine]

Mother Nature is the boss Mark, as you know. It was a terrible experience here back when the tornado hit. Thankfully it’s the only recorded one in history I’m these part lol. Thanks for watching Brother! Doug

[@WyeExplorer]

@@PinetreeLine It sure is Doug. As you say rare over there. A pleasure to watch dude.

[@robsenz.]

Well done

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Robert. Appreciate your support. Doug

[@MrBulshoy]

When I was a child, my babysitter told us with pride that her hand-built house on Marcel St had survived a direct hit unscathed but the neighbour's roof was torn right off. Sure enough there it is at 5:10 . I thought she was exaggerating but this footage vindicates her! Both houses still stand to this day.

[@PinetreeLine]

Some people were more fortunate than others that day. So interesting to hear her home made it through unscathed and she has now been vindicated! Thanks so much for watching and sharing your story with us. 👍🏻

[@garpikemike1]

Thanks for posting this. Greatly appreciate seeing something other than political or COVID vids and agenda driven news. Subbed. Props to the creator of the vid.. they obviously put a lot of work into it and it's well done.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and share your thoughts. Appreciate your support! I did put a lot of time and effort into this. I enjoyed creating a film about a piece of Sudbury history and telling a story that my grandfather told me as a young boy. I was only 5 months old when this happened. The effort is worth it when it touches so many people. Appreciate your kind words Mike. Doug

[@maficstudios]

My grandfather and my wife's uncle were on the stack at the time. Apparently it was a little windy.

[@PinetreeLine]

I bet it was a little windy up there lol. I can’t imagine how they were feeling up there during this event. Appreciate you watching Kris! Doug

[@RelaxingPeacefulMusicChannel]

Great People in Lively and Sudbury. Go Wolves! :)

[@PinetreeLine]

You’re absolutely right Bob! Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@JohnAmes]

Stay safe my friends

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks John! Appreciate you watching brother! Doug

[@coreyyoung4917]

Who were the six workers on the super stack? Any with the last name Young ?

[@PinetreeLine]

Sorry Corey, in my research I only came across Aarne Kovala as being on the Superstack during the tornado. Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@coreyyoung4917]

@@PinetreeLine thanks and my uncle doug was there

[@RunningRlust96]

The house across the street from mine the roof was blown off (I wasn’t born though yet)

[@PinetreeLine]

It was devastating to many who’s loved ones & homes were destroyed. Thanks so much for watching! Doug

[@rollerbarnadventers]

My father-in-law knew one of the workers on the stack, he told me one of them was so scared he wanted to jump off the scaffold the other guys had to pin him down.

[@PinetreeLine]

I remember my grandfather telling about this tornado as a young child and he mentioned that worker as well. I cannot begin to imagine what these men went through. Appreciate you watching Brandon. Doug

[@طبخاتبنتسوريا-ب8ب]

Good luck 👍🌷💕🎁

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you! Doug

[@dennis78382]

Horrible damage. I would never associate Ontario and Quebec with tornadoes.

[@PinetreeLine]

Us either really and ultimately we have more microburst storms here than anything else but this one got us big time. Appreciate you watching Dennis! Stay safe brother! Doug

[@OutandaboutoutdoorswithRon]

wow i like probably so many would think you guys would not have such things i know we have them where i live and sometimes they are quite destructive but nothing like this! that i know of!

[@PinetreeLine]

They happen every year in Canada but only once here in Northern Ontario thankfully. This was a bad one for sure. Appreciate you watching Brother! Doug

[@007lyse]

I knew one of the guys on the top of super stack

[@PinetreeLine]

That’s really cool. I’m sure he had stories to tell. Thanks so much for watching! Doug

[@007lyse]

He was room & boarding at my aunt's but I can't remember his name. Now I want to ask her son what it was. He told us how they all held hands bc ppl wanted to jump off. The stack swayed 9ft out each way.

[@donnapotter9665]

I remember this day well! I was 16 and lived just outside of Lively (Waters Twp). I was sleeping and my window was opened just above my bed. I woke up to rain coming in on me! I got up to see what was going on and that's when we heard on the radio that Lively had been hit by a tornado! We had lots of friends in Lively (including the Prowse's mentioned at the beginning of this video) and wanted to go and see if they were alright. We drove to Lively but couldn't get in because they were turning everyone away due to all the damage and destruction. It was a very scary day for Lively residents!

[@geoffreylee5199]

It happened 20 August 1970, the day after my 15th birthday …

[@PinetreeLine]

It sure did Geoffrey. I’m sure you remember well. Thanks for watching! 👍🏻

[@gravygangstas1568]

My grandpa was on the super stack when the tornado hit

[@PinetreeLine]

Much respect Victor! Your grandpa was a very brave man! Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@gravygangstas1568]

@@PinetreeLine he did not die he was with a group of men they watched the tornado and held on to the smoke stack

[@gravygangstas1568]

@@PinetreeLine it would had been really scary

[@PinetreeLine]

I can’t even begin to imagine how he and the other men experiencing felt during this disaster. I have so much respect for your grandpa and all the men.

[@michaelking7504]

I was 6 years old when it hit,

[@PinetreeLine]

I’m sure you remember it well Michael. I was a newborn at the time. Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@gloryanndore7323]

We were on our first holiday, having got there by 3pm. My husband told me.At the time I had just begun my second pregnancy and was very sluggish and not feeling very good 😌. We threw everything in the car and began driving to Lively.There was no hwy 144,so we had to go the long way around by Chapleau. Roger being a Geography Teacher 👨‍🏫 understood the reason why we needed to get home as fast as we could.All News stations indicated no Lively;thus I cried trying to make our 4yr old feel ok. Police 👮‍♀️ stopped us because of our speed..We had to drive through Field Ontario;that’s where the devastated their town. I cried more. copper Cliff came ..because of the many sightseers we could only literally crawl home.All was black,no Hydro. I thought like the news no Lively!!Then we. Saw our tattered house. It was standing! I had a home! There were both sets of Parents! They had emptied our freezer and fridge and taken it to their house 🏠 . We had lost part of our roof and big picture window in the living room( that is where Michelle would have been playing. Our trip was a God Send! Everyone in Lively became one Family. We ate together at the church from food delivered from Sudbury. Everyone became the Lively Family. I remember August 20 th every yr.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much GloryAnn for sharing your amazing story. Your trip was a Godsend! I cannot begin to imagine what you and your husband were feeling thinking you had nothing to go home to. Incredible how people come together and do selfless things for in each other in a time of great need. Appreciate you taking the time to share your story. Doug

[@therealsparkman]

Your husband was my Grade 9 Geography teacher, and a great one at that! Loved his dry sense of humour and keep a straight face. They don't make teachers like that anymore. Ah, the memories.

[@gloryanndore7323]

@@therealsparkman he was the best!

[@Alan-oo2cq]

I lived in Lively my friends house was tured around half .Crouse was his last name Another friend landed in his back yard in his bed No electricity for 4-6 weeks .salvation army lots of things .lots of downed trees.🇨🇦😎😎🇨🇦

[@PinetreeLine]

Absolutely crazy stuff Alan, thanks for sharing! Doug

[@MTDfilms]

That's true central alberta doesn't get many tornados. Just nasty storms!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank goodness this was a once in a lifetime occurrence...hopefully! Thing about central Alberta you can have 4 seasons of weather in one day. Appreciate you watching! Doug

[@garpikemike1]

On his way to work at the smelter my father went in a store to buy smokes and came out to night sky. Rumor has it they were building the super stack at the time and one man panicked and tried to jump off but his coworkers held him down. Who knows...

[@PinetreeLine]

I’ve heard the same story about one man wanting to jump. Crazy what your father must have experienced just with the shear darkness and the impending weather to come. Thanks for sharing that Mike. Doug

[@therealsparkman]

I recall that day like it was yesterday. I was ten years old then and living in a small bungalow on the south portion of the town. I remember just having finished breakfast and sitting in front of the television when we noticed how dark it was getting. My plan for that day was to venture over to my best friend's house, which was on the eastern side of the town, and not knowing then, the flight path of that tornado. The wind was starting pick up heavily and the skies became ever darker. I remember how black it became! Something that you would expect from an apocalypse. My mom was freaking out a bit, but to this ten year old, it wasn't too much of a concern not thinking about the ramifications. Needless to say, the maple trees in our front yard started to bend, and even more so the winds whipped up as they became more violent. Then the rain started, and it was teeming down the street to the point where it looked like a small river. It was crazy! And within five minutes, it was done. The sun came out a short while later. Luckily, nothing happened to our place following that storm. I'll never forget hopping on my bike and making my way over to my friend's house, and witnessing a scene of what looked like a bomb had gone off. There was debris everywhere. Because I took a short-cut, I missed seeing some of the houses off their foundations, but when I got to my friend's house, which backed onto the local golf course, I saw trailers, boats, shrapnel of wood and other objects strewn all over the fairways of golf course. I went into my friend's house and the babysitter, who was franticly crying, was being consoled by my friend's mom because it just so happened that she was walking on her way over to the house to babysit when she got caught in the storm. I recall her saying that she grabbed onto a pole in the school yard to prevent her from being swept away by the high winds. That would be an experience to tell the kids some day! Yeah...this is not something you would expect in a place called Lively in northern Ontario, and not known to be located in Tornado Alley. But it certainly changed a lot of lives that day. Thanks for creating and sharing this story. I didn't think that there was any archived footage of it? Cheers!

[@PinetreeLine]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences from that dark day in our local history. I’m sure others who witnessed the tornado remember it like you, like it was yesterday. I had to dig deep to find some footage of the aftermath but it certainly tells the story. I appreciate you taking the time to watch and provide your perspective on this unforgettable event. Doug

[@Docutravel50]

Thanks for doing this, Doug. I went to high school in Lively in 1972 and heard stories. One guy was at his camp and saw the sky go dark on the far side of the lake. In a couple minutes it had spread across the lake and he was in total darkness like it was midnight. He said it was dead silent then he heard the wind slowly start and build until it was at tornado level. He came through unscathed. When he went to his home he found three large shards of glass stuck in his bed. One of my classmates had broken his back in the tornado and recovered. In gym class he backed into a wall while playing volleyball and broke it again. At the time we were told he would be in a wheelchair permanently. Very sad.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much Ken! A great account of one person’s experience and I can’t imagine how he felt watching the whole thing develop. Scary to think what would have happened had he been at home sleeping. Very sad to learn of your classmate’s horrible experience and so many more. Very sad indeed. Appreciate you taking the time to share with us. Doug

[@Ace_20102]

My great grandpa is in this video his is the one in the blue shirt and was a cop

[@PinetreeLine]

He witnessed some incredible devastation unfortunately. Thanks for watching! Doug

[@loljosh31]

When u live in Sudbury butttt u weren't born when it happened

[@PinetreeLine]

Now you know what happened 😂. Thanks for watching! Doug

[@maxw.5799]

Was trapped travelling on Keast Drive when the storm hit. 40 foot trees where slammed to the ground and bouncing - several feet in the air - with the limbs detaching. Incredible event to have survived! Heart goes out to the victims. One could have walked across South Bay in the aftermath .... so much debris.

[@PinetreeLine]

Thanks so much for watching and especially sharing your experience with all of us. I appreciate it. Doug