Sudbury city council looks at banning outdoor heaters in urban core

Sudbury city council is considering a ban on outdoor furnaces in the urban core after receiving complaints about one that heats a church in the Flour Mill neighbourhood.

Sherry Petheram said she has been waking up with severe headaches over the past two years because of the smoke coming from across the street.

"I just wish that they could see how much misery they're causing the people who live the closest to them," she said.

Petheram has a white window fan that is covered in tiny black residue. She believes the dirt is from the smoke. 

"They need to find another way to heat the building," she said. "This is not acceptable at all."

Her neighbour Claude Charbonneau is concerned for health reasons. He said the smoke smells toxic — like garbage.

And the odour makes it difficult to do anything outside.

"I want the privilege of enjoying my property, opening the windows, being outside, playing with my grand kids in the wintertime," he said. 

"We've been outdoor people all our lives and we want to continue enjoying life that way."

Pastor says he feels unfairly targeted

Charbonneau is also worried that it would be hard to sell his house because of the constant smoke.

But Pastor Klaus Saari of the Abundant Life Healing Center disputes the claims.

He said he only burns wood, and that his furnace complies with existing rules.

"To me it sounds like they're making a mountain out of a molehill," he said.

"We haven't burned anything that is illegal."

Saari said he started using his outdoor furnace a few years ago to save money. 

He said his heating bills used to cost him $24,000 each year, but now he said they have dropped to $6,000.

Saari also said he feels unfairly targeted by council's consideration to outlaw outdoor heaters in the city centre.

"I don't think that's right because your fire places and your wood stoves are producing just as much gases or smoke," he said.

"It's no different from the furnace outside."

Saari is allowed to operate his outdoor heater because it sits on at least one hectare of land, according to councillor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann.

She has spent more than two years trying to resolve the issue. 

Councillor pushes for outdoor furnace regulations

When she first got complaints, she said she spoke to bylaw, building and fire services. 

The church was required to build a higher stack.

She passed a motion in council last week asking staff to come up with options for regulating the use and installation of outdoor heaters.

"Going forward, there's no place for this anymore," she said. 

"We're hoping that the parishioners and the pastor — as they are going out converting souls — that they will convert the heating system."

Landry-Altmann wants outdoor heaters to have permits, licensing, annual inspections and emission control by a third party to ensure compliance.

She also wants council to ban outdoor furnaces from the city core and have a phase-out period for existing units — similar to a bylaw that Ottawa has. 

The report is expected to come back to council this fall. 

Neighbours want to see Saari's furnace gone by the winter.

Meanwhile, Saari said he is already planning to switch over to a new heating system that produces less smoke.