New Fire in Wawa District

The Wawa area's seen another forest fire.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says "Wawa 6" was reported Tuesday, located about 600 meters south of South Hammer Lake - not yet under control, the blaze had grown to three-tenths of a hectare in size by Tuesday evening.

It was one of five wildfires burning in the northeast as of Tuesday evening, along with "Wawa 4" - which was reported two weeks ago, about 1 kilometre west of White River and about 500 metres south of Highway 17 - which is "under control" at 1.8 hectares in size.

The fire hazard's mostly low across the northern part of the northeast, but ranges from low to high for the southern part, with a small patch of extreme hazard near La Motte Provincial Park, south of Timmins.

Seniors Garden Party Returns to Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre

Wawa's seniors will be honoured with a special celebration this afternoon.

Matthew Trudeau, Long-Term Care Activity Coordinator at the Lady Dunn Health Centre, explains the garden party is back.

Noting it is Seniors Month, Trudeau emphasizes this event is an opportunity for seniors - especially those in long-term care - to socialize, adding that the hospital's looking for volunteers to help out with daily programming and events for long-term care - anyone interested can call Trudeau at the hospital.

The garden party runs from 1:30 pm to 3:00 pm this afternoon.

Terry Fox Ride of Hope to Roll Into Wawa

Terry Fox's brother and others are expected to arrive in Wawa today, as the Terry Fox National Ride of Hope rolls into town.

Meant to mark the 45th anniversary of Terry Fox's Marathon of Hope, the campaign sees Fox's brother, Darrell, and about seven others cycle 7000 kilometres with the aim of raising $1-million for innovative cancer research.

They left Vancouver on June 9th, stopped at the Terry Fox National Historic Monument in Thunder Bay on Monday, and reached Terrace Bay last night, with plans to stop in Wawa tonight - they're expected to reach St. John's on July 10th.

Update: JJAM FM News has been told that the Ride is expected to arrive in Wawa around 6 pm.

Wawa Council to Discuss Audit Findings in Special Meeting

Wawa Municipal Council's set to receive a number of presentations in a special meeting tonight.

First up on the agenda is in-camera discussion about KPMG audit findings, with the open session to then include a presentation by KPMG on the 2024 consolidated and trust fund financial statements, then delegations about Wawa Runestone discovery, a presentation from Asset Manager Cindy Godson about levels of service, and a review of the procedural by-law.

Open to the public, the meeting starts at 6:30 pm tonight in the main level boardroom at the Town Hall, but will also be broadcast on the Municipality of Wawa's YouTube channel.

Update: The discussion about levels of service has been removed from the agenda.

Wawa Hires New Treasurer, Promoting Longtime Employee

Wawa has a new treasurer.

In their meeting earlier this week, Wawa Municipal Council formally approved the hiring of Heather Rainville as the Municipality's new Treasurer, Deputy Clerk, and Director of Finance - a move Rainville happily accepts.

Rainville notes she's been with the Municipality for a few years.

Rainville replaces Manuela Batovanja, who left the Municipality after nine years two weeks ago - to become Hornepayne's new CAO - with Rainville starting in her new role immediately after that.

Wawa Council Approves Watered Down Marina Dredging Funding

Wawa Municipal Council's approved a watered down request to fund dredging of the marina channel.

While the Marina Committee asked Council in their June 3rd Committee of the Whole meeting for $25,000 for the work - warning the entrance has narrowed, with sand filling it to the point that depths are down to 18 inches in some spots, causing substantial problems or concerns for the ability to move boats into or out of the marina - Council had put that decision off to await a staff report.

The request came back up in last night's Committee of the Whole meeting, with Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson telling Council that Alamos Gold had formally committed to donate $10,000 for the project while Wesdome had expressed interest in providing unspecified support and Villeneuve Construction agreed to donate the use of a loader and staff to help, easing the initial project burden.

In the end - with no further discussion on the issue - Council passed a resolution agreeing to provide $15,000 from the Conditional Reserve for the Marina - funds received as part of the marina divestiture process - with a caveat that the funding will be reduced equal to any funds raised - including grants or donations - outside of Alamos' $10,000 donation, which had already been factored in.

Wildfire Reported Near Gogama

A few more wildfires have been confirmed in northeastern Ontario - including one near Gogama.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says "Timmins 5" was confirmed Tuesday - near the west side of Highway 144, about 4 kilometres west of Gogama - the fire was only a tenth of a hectare in size, but was not yet under control.

It was one of four wildfires burning in the northeast as of Tuesday evening, along with "Wawa 4" - reported last Wednesday, about 1 kilometre west of White River and about 500 metres south of Highway 17 - which is considered "under control" at 1.8 hectares in size.

Meanwhile, "Chapleau 9" - confirmed Monday, about 35 kilometres southeast of Chapleau and six kilometres north of Highway 667 - is now classified as "out".

The fire hazard is low to high across the Northeast, with pockets of extreme hazard.

New Chapleau District Fire Confirmed, White River-Area Fire Under Control

The Chapleau area's seen another forest fire in recent days.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says "Chapleau 9" was confirmed Monday - about 35 kilometres southeast of Chapleau and six kilometres north of Highway 667 - though it was already classified as "being held" at a hectare in size.

It was one of only three wildfires still burning in the northeast as of Monday evening, along with "Wawa 4" - reported Wednesday, about 1 kilometre west of White River and about 500 metres south of Highway 17 - which is considered "under control" at 1.8 hectares in size.

The fire hazard is mostly high across the Northeast, with pockets of moderate or extreme hazard, including moderate hazard around Sault Ste. Marie.

Wawa Launches Internet Speed Test Campaign

The Municipality of Wawa's asking residents and businesses to test their internet speeds.

Mayor Melanie Pilon explains the request's part of an ongoing initiative.

Pilon notes this is intended to make the case for investment by correcting data about service in the community.

Mayor Pilon emphasizes this data is important to improving service here.

Residents and businesses are asked to run the test by going to connectednorth.ca/wawaspeedtest - a link can also be found on the municipal website, wawa.cc, or the Municipality's Facebook page - with participants asked to test multiple times, either multiple times throughout a day or over multiple days or both.

Wawa Council to Consider Marina Dredging Request & More

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

First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting including monthly reports from department heads and discussion about marina channel dredging - Council received a delegation at their June 3rd meeting asking for $25,000 to help the Marina Committee dredge the channel, as depths are down to 18 inches in some spots, though a decision was deferred to tonight, to await a staff report.

That'll be followed up in tonight's regular Council meeting, which also includes by-laws confirming updated student wages and Council remuneration policies, and to appoint a new Treasurer, Director of Finance, and Deputy Clerk to replace Manuela Batovanja, who resigned earlier this month to become Hornepayne's CAO.

The meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 tonight in the main level boardroom of Town Hall - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

White River Area Wildfire Now Under Control

A forest fire near White River is now under control.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is showing "Wawa 4" - which was reported Wednesday, about 1 kilometre west of White River and about 500 metres south of Highway 17 - is now considered "under control" at 1.8 hectares in size.

Two FireRanger crews had responded to the wildfire, which was one of only two still burning in the northeast as of Thursday evening.

The fire hazard's primarily low across the northeast, with some spots of moderate hazard.

John's Independent in Wawa Joining Loblaw Stores in World Record Attempt

Wawa's local grocery store will be joining Loblaws stores across the country this weekend trying to "crack" a world record - number of cheese wheels cracked simultaneously.

John's Your Independent Grocer will be cracking a wheel of parmigiano reggiano cheese Saturday, June 14th, as Loblaws stores aim to crack about 1800 wheels across more than 400 stores.

Loblaws first claimed the Guinness world record in March 2012 - with 378 wheels cracked in 250 locations - but lost it to previous record holder Whole Foods in March 2013, only to reclaim it in March 2014 with 1209 wheels cracked across 360 locations, including what was then John's Valu-Mart (which is now John's Your Independent Grocer).

People are invited to the event, which will be held at 12 noon Saturday, June 14th - samples will also be offered after.

Alamos Island Gold Worker Places 2nd in Ontario Mine Rescue Tech Competition

A local mine technician has again placed second at Ontario Mine Rescue's recent provincial championship.

While the Alamos Gold Island Gold Mine team had earned a berth in the Timmins event after winning the Algoma competition last month, they were unable to bring home gold - with the competition dominated by Glencore's Kidd and Sudbury operations, as well as Agnico Eagle - though Alamos Island Gold worker Kyle Ouellette - who won Algoma's individual technician competition - brought home silver in Ontario's individual tech competition.

2 Charged With Manslaughter Over Infant Death in Wawa

Two people are facing manslaughter charges over the death of an infant in Wawa 1.5 years ago.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say 28-year-old Steffani Oliver of Sault Ste. Marie and 31-year-old Amanda Taylor of Goulais River were arrested and charged in connection to a December 2023 death of an infant, who was brought to Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre by family members with no vital signs.

The investigation was conducted by the Sault Ste. Marie and Superior East OPP Crime Units - under the direction of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch - with assistance from the OPP Forensic Identification Services and the OPP Regional Support Team, in conjunction with the Office of the Chief Coroner and the Ontario Forensic Pathology Service.

Wildfire Reported Near White River, Chapleau District Fire Now Out

The Wawa area's seen another forest fire - near White River.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says "Wawa 4" was reported Wednesday, located 1 kilometre west of White River and about 500 metres south of Highway 17 - not yet under control, the blaze had grown to 0.3 hectares in size by Wednesday evening, though two FireRanger crews responded to the fire.

It was one of only two wildfires still burning in the northeast as of Wednesday evening, as "Chapleau 8" - reported west of Colin Lake and east of Wangoon Lake on Sunday - has now been declared "out".

The fire hazard's low to moderate across the northeast.

Progress on Chapleau District Wildfire

Progress continues on a forest fire in the region.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is showing "Chapleau 8" - which was reported Sunday, about 1.5 kilometres west of Colin Lake and 2 east of Wangoon Lake - is now considered "under control" at 2 hectares in size.

It was one of only two wildfires still burning in the northeast as of Monday evening.

The fire hazard's low to moderate across the northeast.

Progress on New Wildfire Near in Chapleau District

Progress has been made on a forest fire in the region.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is showing "Chapleau 8" - which was reported Sunday, about 1.5 kilometres west of Colin Lake and 2 east of Wangoon Lake - is now considered "being held" at 2 hectares in size.

It was one of only two wildfires still burning in the northeast as of Monday evening.

The fire hazard's dropped to low to moderate for much of the northeast, with some pockets of high hazard.

Chapleau Council to Hold 1st Meeting of June

Chapleau Town Council's set to meet tonight.

Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting are reports on the landfill, drinking water inspection, and a request for vehicle and floor sweeper purchases, plus a resolution to declare June 28th Hazardous Waste Day, and a by-law affirming the agreement with MCA Contracting for the reconstruction of Dufferin Street between Maple and Elm streets, as well as three "in-camera" items: two human resources items, the other a legal matter.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight in Civic Centre Council Chambers - details on accessing it electronically can be found on the Township's website.

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