Sudbury Mansour family antes up [donation for Living with Lakes Centre] – by Star Staff (Sudbury Star – October 5, 2012)

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

A prominent business family in Sudbury has donated $500,000 to support environmental remediation studies that will help ensure the health and sustainability of the world’s freshwater systems.

“The future sustainability of our lakes is a pressing issue — one of the most important of our lifetimes,” said Milad Mansour, president of Milman Industries Inc., said in a statement. “We need to find innovative solutions to ensure their preservation, and this is the absolute best place to do it, no question.”

“I have always taught my children that giving is more precious than receiving,” said Nora Mansour. “It is a wonderful feeling to give back to our community by supporting Laurentian University.”

Milman Industries Inc. provides a wide array of products, as well as services. Located at two sites, Milman Industries features 13 companies that serve customer’s needs, from hoses to diesel or electric locomotives, scrap metal recycling, railway equipment and track repair, to sea and rail transportation.

Nora and Milad Mansour made the pledge this week to the Vale Living with Lakes Centre. During the ceremony, the Vale Living with Lake Centre’s atrium was renamed the Milad Gebrael Mansour Atrium.

“This contribution is very special,” said John Gunn, director of the Vale Living with Lakes Centre and Canada Research Chair in Stressed Aquatic Systems. “Private investment of this size from a prominent Sudbury family is a clear sign that members of this community understand the importance of the work being done here at the Centre,” Gunn said.

“Our students, staff and researchers will all benefit from this gift, as will the broader community and the whole of Northern Ontario.

The Mansours’ gift will be counted among a growing list of contributions made through the Sudbury Families initiative, a Laurentian University-led recognition program that honours and celebrates local families who have shaped the growth and development of the city.

The Next 50 Campaign aims to raise $50 million for the university.

“The leadership shown today by the Mansour family is remarkable,” said Laurentian University president Dominic Giroux. “I have no doubt that this donation will help us achieve the outcome in our 2012-17 Strategic Plan of having established Laurentian world-wide as the university synonymous with fresh water research.

“I’m excited about this new partnership, and proud to have the Mansour name associated with the Lakes Centre.”

For the web version of this article, please go to the Sudbury Star website: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2012/10/05/mansour-family-antes-up