Wawa Council Holding 3 Meetings, Including Committee of Adjustment

Wawa Municipal Council's holding a trio of meetings tonight.

First up is a Committee of Adjustment meeting to address a minor variance request for a Second Avenue property.

That'll be followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting including a memo on the finalizing of the marina divestiture, the annual review of the harassment and violence policies, the Wawa Drinking Water Operational Plan, a request from Councillor Cathy Cannon for a special meeting, and a memorandum of understanding with USW Local 9246 that ensures no disruption of water and sewer services "in the unlikely event of a labour disruption".

That memorandum will be confirmed in the third and final meeting of the night, a regular Council meeting, which also includes two "in camera" items - both legal issues - about a land matter and a representation notice regarding litigation or potential litigation.

These meetings will be held back-to-back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Chapleau Council to Hold Public Meeting in Early April

Chapleau Town Council will be holding a special meeting early in April.

Noting a public meeting is different from an open session, the Township is inviting anyone who wants to speak on a topic for 5-10 minutes to submit the information to the CAO by emailing cao@chapleau.ca by 4 pm next Tuesday, April 1st.

The meeting will be held the following Monday, April 7th.

Wawa Goose Seniors Centre to Host April Lunch & Learn

Wawa seniors are being offered a chance to have a bite to eat and learn about an important topic next week.

The Wawa Goose Seniors Centre is hosting its monthly Lunch and Learn Thursday, April 4th, starting at 11:30 am, this time featuring Carol Anne Robinson speaking about balance and the vestibular system - it also offers pizza, coffee or tea, and dessert, sponsored by the Wawa Pharmacy.

Must register at the centre by Monday, March 31st.

Wawa's 70th Ladies Bonspiel In The Books

Organizers of Wawa's 70th annual Ladies Curling Bonspiel are calling it "a success".

32 teams from Thunder Bay, Hornepayne, White River, Chapleau, Sault Ste. Marie, Blind River, Sudbury, and London, Ontario made the trip to Wawa, joining local teams, as well.

Wawa's own Team Duggan won the A Event - with Team McHardy second - while Hornepayne's Team Drury took the B Event - followed by Wawa's Team Bonitzke - Wawa's Team Turmelle won the C Event - Wawa's Team Spencer claimed second - and Hornepayne's Team Litkee won the D Event, with Wawa's Team Szekely in second.

Organizers thank all sponsors, participating teams, hardworking volunteers, and the community for supporting the big event.

Curlers are also reminded the 75th Men's Bonspiel is this weekend, March 28th to 30th.

Chad Edgar Elected New Chief of Michipicoten First Nation, Mostly New Council

Michipicoten First Nation's elected a new chief.

Results from last weekend's election show councillor Chad Edgar was elected as chief with 535 votes, ahead of the 122 for Pat Tangie, who's been chief since 2017.

Incumbent councillor Evelyn Stone was returned to the role with 348 votes, joined by a new council of Rachelle Philippe - who had the most votes, 382 - then Taryn Michel with 337, Dan Beaupre with 268, Peggy Rice with 255, Joseph Skouris with 245, Jim St. Germain with 243, and Wendy Peterson Shawana with 232.

Elections are held every two years.

2 New Candidates for Local Federal Races

A few new candidates have entered local races in the federal election.

Dr. Hugh Stevenson's suddenly resigned after six years as Chief of the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service - with Deputy Chief Brent Duguay stepping in as interim chief - as Stevenson's been appointed the Conservative candidate for Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma, the riding that includes the Highway 17 corridor including Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the north shore of Lake Huron to Elliot Lake.

Stevenson will face off against Liberal incumbent Terry Sheehan, National Council of Indigenous Midwives Executive Director Laura Mayer - who's running for the NDP - and People's Party candidate Arnold Heino (update: Heino has now dropped his bid) - the Greens have yet to announce a candidate.

Meanwhile, former Timmins Mayor Steve Black's announced he's running for the Liberals in the riding of Kapuskasing-Timmins-Mushkegowuk - which includes the Chapleau area - where he'll compete against former forestry and mining executive Gaétan Malette of the Conservatives and former Moonbeam Mayor Nicole Fortier-Levesque for the NDP - the Greens and People's Party have yet to announce candidates in that riding.

Prospective candidates have two weeks to file: the nomination deadline's 2 pm Monday, April 7th, with the full list of candidates to be released the following Wednesday, April 9th.

Wawa Council Approves Zoning By-Law Change Aimed at More Housing

Wawa Municipal Council's approved a change to the municipal Zoning By-Law aimed at creating more housing.

Council held a meeting under the Planning Act Tuesday night, discussing amendments that would increase the number of residential units allowed on General Commercial zoned properties, which includes much of Broadway Avenue - land-use planning documents restrict such properties to only allow a single residential unit in the upper floor of a commercial building, even if there are some "non-conforming" properties in that zone.

Chief Building Official Kevin Sabourin explained changing the by-law to allow more than one dwelling unit in such properties would align with various documents: a provincial policy statement that came into effect in October directs municipalities to do everything possible to encourage new housing development; Wawa's Downtown Community Improvement Plan seeks to encourage development of vacant or underutilized property including provisions for additional housing units; and the Wawa Housing Action Plan pledges supporting a wide range of new housing development is a priority.

The amendment - which was subsequently passed in Tuesday's regular Council meeting - also lifts minimum and maximum floor area size and window open restrictions, though it still restricts the residential units to the upper floors of the commercial properties.

Wawa's St. Augustine Students To Attempt Bottle Drive Again

A couple weeks after poor weather postponed the event, some Wawa students will be out in the community tonight to collect bottles.

St. Augustine French Immersion Catholic School Principal Nadine Cartledge explains the bottle drive, originally planned to be held after the derby weekend.

Cartledge emphasizes funds raised will support the Grade 7/8 year-end trip to Sudbury.

Assuming the weather cooperates this time, the bottle drive runs from 5 pm to 8 pm tonight.

Wawa Council Puts Off Fluoridation Plebiscite Decision, Suggests Petition

Wawa Municipal Council's turning a request for a vote on fluoridation back to the public.

While a letter read out in the March 5th meeting requested Council call a plebiscite on drinking water fluoridation, a CAO report discussed in last night's Committee of the Whole meeting noted that a single request does not show enough support, but a petition signed by at least 10% of the municipality's electorate - about 220 people - would require Council to put the question to a vote.

The report noted - per Ontario's Fluoridation Act - municipalities that wish to remove fluoride from the drinking water supply must use a similar process to that which was used to add it - in Wawa's case, it was a 1985 plebiscite - and that the question put to the public would need to be "are you in favour of the discontinuance of fluoridation of the public water supply of this municipality".

Councillor Cathy Cannon expressed support for the petition plan, while Councillor Mitch Hatfield spoke in favour of simply putting it to a public vote, and Mayor Melanie Pilon - who noted she’d urged the resident to bring his concerns to Council - expressed hope a vote would lead to a thorough debate with broader education about fluoridation.

In the end, Council agreed to the recommended option: turning it back to the letter writer to submit a petition signed by at least 10% of the electorate - in order to make it onto the ballot for the next municipal election, which is in fall 2026, it must be submitted by late April 2026.

Simcoe County Resident Killed in Collision Involving Snowmobile East of Chapleau

A Simcoe County resident's dead after a collision involving a snowmobile east of Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the two-vehicle collision on Highway 101 at Adam Lake Road - about 30 kilometres east of town - around 11:40 am Monday morning, finding a 59-year-old from Tiny Township in southcentral Ontario had died at the scene.

Highway 101 was closed for six hours, reopening that evening.

The OPP are continuing to investigate, with the assistance of the Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (TIME) team.

Wawa Council to Consider Amending Zoning By-Law in Trio of Meetings

Wawa Municipal Council's holding a trio of meetings tonight.

First up is a meeting under the Planning Act about Zoning By-Law amendments, specifically increasing the number of residential units allowed in the General Commercial Zone - Council was told in a previous meeting that current rules only allow a single residential unit in such properties, which includes Broadway Avenue - where there are multiple buildings that exceed that - with this change bringing those "non-conforming" properties into alignment and allowing new buildings zoned General Commercial to have two or more residential units.

That'll be followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting including monthly reports from department heads, a CAO report on a public request for a plebiscite on fluoridation - brought up in a letter to Council in their last meeting - and an EDO memo on the 2025 business survey results.

The third and final meeting will be a regular Council meeting, in which Council will consider by-laws to appoint a Weed Inspector and affirming the Zoning By-Law amendment permitting more than one dwelling unit in the upper levels of buildings in the Commercial General Zone.

These meetings will be held back-to-back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

OPP Investigating Fatal Snowmobile Collision North of Thessalon

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal snowmobile collision between Chapleau and Thessalon.

East Algoma OPP say they responded to the single motorized snow vehicle collision on Marisea Lake - about 120 kilometres north of Thessalon - with a 58-year-old from Blind River traken to hospital, where they later succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased.

Investigators are giving no further details, except a postmortem will be held in Sault Ste. Marie.

Wawa Mayor Becomes Interim Hornepayne CAO

Wawa Mayor Melanie Pilon will temporarily be helping out the Township of Hornepayne, as their interim Chief Administrative Officer.

Her recently launched consulting firm has been hired.

Pilon explains her duties.

Even though her CAO responsibilities will take her to Hornepayne, Pilon says this won’t prevent her from fulfilling the duties of Wawa mayor.

The Ontario Municipal Act allows individuals to hold office in a different municipality from the one that employs them.

The full interview with Mayor Pilon can be heard below:

Wawa Hosting Info Session on Municipal Accommodation Tax

Wawa residents - particularly short-term accommodation owners - are being encouraged to learn more about the incoming Municipal Accommodation Tax.

As the tax is set to be implemented on April 1st, CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill explains an information session will be held tonight - following one earlier this week - to discuss implementation of the "MAT".

O'Neill emphasizes that the MAT is meant to support tourism.

Tonight's info session runs from 6:30 pm to 8 pm in the downstairs boardroom (the former police station) at 40 Broadway Avenue.

APANO & Trinity United Church Soup Kettle Host Phenomenal Women Luncheon

A couple Chapleau organizations are recognizing phenomenal women today.

Chapleau's APANO office has partnered with the Trinity United Church soup kettle for a "Phenomenal Women Luncheon".

APANO Community Wellness Worker Nicki Katsenos explains today's event ties into the recent International Women's Day.

The luncheon runs from 11:30 am to 1 pm.

PHSD Warns of Increase in Overdoses

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is warning of an increase in overdoses in its region.

The health unit says the Community Drug Strategies have received reports of an increase in "drug poisonings" - overdoses - with heavy and prolonged sedation and unexpected reactions from the use of substances in the Sudbury and Manitoulin Districts.

While it can't confirm the substances involved, the health unit reminds street drugs could be mixed with dangerous substances such as benzos, xylazine, medetomidine, fentanyl, or carfentanil, and warns frontline workers have reported needing to use multiple doses of naloxone to reverse poisonings.

It urges caution, not using drugs when you're alone - but not using them at the same time as an accompanying friend - and to avoid mixing drugs with other drugs or alcohol - it also recommends carrying a naloxone kit, and - in the case of a suspected overdose - call 9-1-1.

Registration Deadline Nears for Wawa Seniors Curling Funspiel

Senior curlers will hit the ice for a special event next week.

Norma Kauk - who's on the Wawa Goose Seniors Centre's social committee - explains the upcoming Seniors Curling Funspiel.

Kauk outlines the event schedule.

Those interested in participating are asked to register at the Wawa Goose Seniors Centre by this Friday, March 14th - the funspiel will be held next Tuesday, March 18th, from 10:30 am to about 2 pm.

Hawk Junction Anglers Reel in Trophies at Family Fishing Derby

Hawk Junction's annual Family Fishing Derby is now in the books.

While organizers say the day was slow for fish, Bekem Lavergne took home 1st in the youth division, while Ann Hopkins claimed first for the adult division.

In addition to the derby winners, three winners were drawn for the derby draw: Elisa Turyk, who won $1000; Danny Ohara, who won $300; and Del Demary won $200.

The Local Services Board thanks all participants for their support, as well as the volunteers who made the event possible, calling it a "success".

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