Exploring key aspects of the economic, health, and social conditions of the largest hard-rock-mining center in North America—and in the world—this account investigates the hinterland mining town of Sudbury in Northern Ontario, Canada. Deconstructing the myth that the enormous mineral wealth of the Sudbury Basin has brought prosperity to the town’s cultural and educational welfare institutions, this overview analyzes the impact that globalization and corporate power have had on the working people, how and why resistance has emerged, and why alternative directions are needed. Uncovering the truth behind a well-maintained and attractive physical infrastructure, this examination offers important lessons for other mining and resource communities.