The Adrienne and Ricardo de la Riva fonds attests to Adrienne and Ricardo’s social involvement within the community of Sudbury and highlights their numerous political and cultural accomplishments and interests.
Although the fonds contains few records from Ricardo de la Riva’s medical practice, it does include some records from St. Joseph’s Hospital and the General Hospital, most of which relate to on-call schedules or restructuring changes at these institutions.
Most of the records in this fonds come from city committees, associations, or groups which Ricardo de la Riva was a part of as a city councillor. The records include meeting minutes, correspondence, reports, budgets, maps, and plans which shed light on positions Adrienne and Ricardo de la Riva held on various committees. These records document Sudbury’s political, social, and cultural evolution over the course of more than 28 years.
In addition to records on Francophone education, cultural activities, and services offered by the city, many documents deal with projects that were submitted and carried out. They concern economic development, road development, architectural and urban planning, and various services offered to citizens of the city either by the municipality or by associations, groups, and organizations.
The Flour Mill Museum records document, not only the activities of the museum and its administration, but also partnerships with other local organizations and groups involved in joint projects. There is also extensive documentation on the Flour Mill silos, their history, restoration, and use.
Files of correspondence to and from Ricardo de la Riva’s constituents, as well as correspondence and follow-ups with city employees, attest to the importance de la Riva placed on every letter he received.
Many reports, studies, newspaper clippings, and engineering plans document road rehabilitation in the city, especially in the downtown and Flour Mill area.
Additionally, there are different reports, architectural plans, and committee minutes that document various interventions and changes brought about regarding economic development, area revitalization, building renovations, and parking issues in the Flour Mill. Many projects, including the municipal library project, the establishment of a cultural centre, the possibility of a new arena, and a casino in the downtown core, are well documented and give information on the position taken by de la Riva during these projects.
While the meeting minutes, motions, notes, budget proposals, and other city council documents give information on council operations and bylaws which were passed, they also give information on the internal structure of the city and its relationship with various other levels of government. Several handwritten notes and opinion letters written by Ricardo de la Riva give a glimpse into his vision for the city. The fonds contains a number of records from different city committees such as the zoning committee, planning and development committee, the engineering committee, as well as the Sudbury Airport Review Committee, among others. There is also extensive documentation on community improvement projects in many areas of the city, including the Junction Creek development, accompanied by environmental records from the Nickel District Conservation Authority. Other records contain information on the history of city buildings, their restoration, and heritage value.
Ricardo de la Riva’s activities as part of the Junior Soccer League are also well documented.
