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Service is back to normal at Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre.
In a message to JJAM FM News, CEO and Director of Patient Care Services Kadean Ogilvie-Pinter confirms that Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging services are "back to regular hours of operation" today, after being closed to outpatients for several days, due to computer issues.
The popularity of Wawa's gym is forcing a change in its schedule.
A notice from the Municipality of Wawa says it is responding to an increase in usage at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre's gym by closing it for one hour each weekday, to allow for maintenance.
Starting next Monday, January 28th, there will be no access to the gym, sauna, or change rooms between 2 and 3 o'clock weekday afternoons - weekends won't be affected.
Anyone with concerns is encouraged to contact the Community Centre reception at 705-856-2244, extension 240.
Candidates appear set for the upcoming Michipicoten First Nation elections, after a nomination meeting Saturday morning.
According to the band website, there are two candidates for chief: current Chief Pat Tangie and former chief Joe Buckell.
There are sixteen candidates for five councillor roles, including current councillors Evelyn Stone, Don Humphries, John-Paul Chalykoff, William - or Bill - Swanson Sr., and Janet Demary, as well as: Irene Armstrong; Daniel Beaupre; Diedre Dupuis, or Boissoneau; Roberta Day; Sandra Donney-Fraser; Daniel Perreault; Linda Peterson; Agnes Stone; Ida Swanson; Myrtle Swanson; and William Swanson Jr.
The candidates have until 4 pm Thursday, January 24th, to withdraw their names, or it will appear on the ballot for the election, which will be held March 23rd.
Chapleau Hydro's looking to increase rates.
In an email to JJAM FM News, the local utility confirms it's asking to increase rates for all classes, though it notes the application itself is part of a normal cost of service process - normally on a five-year cycle, but delayed by internal and corporate restructuring at Chapleau PUC.
The utility says current rates are based on 2012 capital and operational costs plus yearly inflation of about 1.5% - with the last increase in May 2015 - though they've $238,000 in assets since 2012, including depreciation expenses amounting to $45,000 - and there's been a general increase in costs due to regulation changes and the shift from the old structure of a "virtual" utility to a "traditional" utility, which meant $450,000 in assets previously owned by a now-defunct affiliate now belong to Chapleau Hydro.
If the application's approved as filed, a residential customer using 750 kilowatt hours a month is expected to see an increase of $2.88 per month - 2.5% - while a small commercial customer using 2000 kilowatt hours a month would see an increase of $21.09 a month - 7.4% - and large commercial users could expect an increase of $258.89, or 3.8%.
Details of the rate proposal are on the Chapleau Hydro or Chapleau P-U-C website, as well as the website of the Ontario Energy Board, which is holding a public meeting at the Chapleau Legion Hall, at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, February 5th - it'll be followed by an interrogatory phase involving registered interveners, then a settlement conference to negotiate final rates, which Chapleau Hydro says would be effective May 1st.
Computer problems are continuing to effect local hospitals - but the situation's improving.
Lady Dunn Health Centre CEO and Director of Patient Care Services Kadean Ogilvie-Pinter has confirmed to JJAM FM News that "much progress has been been made toward the restoration” of the Wawa hospital's “IT infrastructure", but it's still working through the process.
That means the hospital's Diagnostic and Laboratory services are still closed for outpatients, though an update is expected later today.
Speaking with JJAM FM News on Friday, Chapleau Health Services Interim CEO Natasha Comte confirmed the Chapleau hospital is working through the IT issues.
Sudbury's Health Sciences North confirmed last Thursday that all 24 of Northeastern Ontario's hospitals had been impacted by "IT challenges" from a "zero day virus" since Wednesday morning, though it has since reported progress on restoring systems that were put on downtime because of the virus.
Positive news is being reported for some local mines.
Alamos Gold is reporting it met production guidance last year, producing a record 505,000 ounces of gold, up 18 percent from the previous year - that included 125,600 ounces produced during the fourth quarter, marking record production at Island Gold near Dubreuilville.
As for this year, Alamos is keeping its production guidance consistent with 2018 - at 480,000 to 520,000 ounces - though it is hoping to grow over 600,000 a year in 2021, as it builds out new mines in Mexico and Turkey.
Wesdome Gold Mines is also reporting an increase in gold production at its local Eagle River Complex, which produced 17,254 ounces in the fourth quarter - up nine percent from the same time the previous year - bringing 2018's total production to 71,625 ounces, up 21 percent from 2017 and 50 percent since 2016.
It's hoping to outdo those numbers this year, setting production guidance for the entire Eagle River Complex at 72,000 to 80,000 ounces.
Red Pine Exploration - meanwhile - is reporting positive results from drilling at its Wawa Gold Project near Wawa, including intersection of high-grade gold within the current resource envelope of the Surluga Deposit, and discovery of another high-grade quartz vein in the Minto Stockwork.
A new health clinic's opened in Wawa, to offer services for local Indigenous people.
Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services and Michipicoten First Nation have announced the opening of their North Clinic at 3 Maple Street in Wawa.
Kasey Bissaillion, RPN and Diabetes Nurse Educator, highlights some of the services offered locally.
Bissaillion also notes the clinic has a mental health counsellor, who specializes in FASD, and provide counselling for a variety of issues such as job-related stress, family and children issues, depression and anxiety.
Registered Dietician Vicky Omeljaniuk explains services she offers locally.
Integrated Care Manager Irene Armstrong notes this offers services to "on-reserve citizens and the urban Indigenous population residing in Wawa and the surrounding area".
Armstrong adds that the office is open Monday to Friday, and emphasizes there's no cost, encouraging anyone wanting more information to go to maamwesying.ca.
The team also travels to the Brunswick House and Chapleau Cree First Nations, and serves Chapleau Ojibwe members and those in Chapleau itself.
A grand opening celebration will be held at the Wawa clinic on Thursday, January 31st from 11 am to noon, followed by a community feast.
Computer problems are continuing to effect local hospitals - but the situation's improving.
Health Sciences North had confirmed late yesterday that all 24 of Northeastern Ontario's hospitals had been impacted by "IT challenges" from a "zero day virus" since 8 o'clock Wednesday morning - 21 put the main electronic medical record system on downtime, 12 put the electronic medical record system for cancer programs on downtime, and ten put their medical imaging system on downtime, while four hospitals had their email and back office servers impacted, though the Sudbury hospital now says "good progress" has been made on the "progressive restoration of systems that are on downtime", "on track to begin partial restoration of some systems later today".
Natasha Comte, the Interim CEO at Services de Santé de Chapleau Health Services, explains the Chapleau hospital's affected by the IT issues, but is continuing through.
Lady Dunn Health Centre CEO and Director of Patient Care Services Kadean Ogilvie-Pinter says the Wawa hospital's regained access to some systems, but not the important electronic patient records, though there are tentative timelines for progress.
In response to the issues, the Wawa hospital's temporarily closed its laboratory for outpatient services and the diagnostic imaging department will not be performing outpatient ultrasounds or x-rays, though it has promised to accommodate Cancer Care patients and has asked anyone with an ultrasound appointment to call the hospital to confirm the appointment's status - and the Emergency Department remains open, regardless.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police have charged a 61-year-old Quebec man after a single vehicle collision along Martel Road in Chapleau.
Police say a transport truck carrying a load of lumber went into the ditch around 4:15 Wednesday afternoon, with officers charging the driver with fail to drive in marked lane.
The investigation's concluded, and no further charges are expected.
A partnership of six First Nations is panning delays to construction for a major northern Ontario powerline - calling on the province's energy regulator to let the original proponent move forward.
The release from Bamkushwada Limited Partnership - of which the local Michipicoten First Nation is a member - calls on the provincial government to "fix a broken process created by the Ontario Energy Board", and grant NextBridge leave to construct the East-West Tie transmission line between Wawa and Thunder Bay.
While NextBridge was originally awarded the project, the previous Liberal government ordered a review of options after the project costs nearly doubled.
Hydro One's since put forward its own proposal - which it claims would have "significant cost savings" while minimizing the "environmental footprint" - but BLP says Hydro One has not carried out the constitutionally-required duty to consult and accommodate the First Nations - unlike NextBridge, which has an agreement with BLP - and they're concerned that the Hydro One proposal would be built much later than NextBridge's.
They emphasize the project is a priority initiative of the province, to ensure the reliability of electrical service in Northwestern communities.
Wawa's hospital is experiencing computer problems, affecting some local services.
A release from the Lady Dunn Health Centre confirms "technical difficulties" affecting the IT system started Wednesday, with CEO and Director of Patient Care Services, Kadean Ogilvie-Pinter, explaining the local problems stem from issues at Sudbury's Health Sciences North.
While the hospital remains open, Ogilvie-Pinter notes there are some changes to services available.
The release assures cancer care patients will be accommodated, and asks anyone with an ultrasound appointment to call the hospital to confirm the status of the appointment.
Ogilvie-Pinter notes services offered outside of the Wawa hospital are also affected.
Despite the issues, Ogilvie-Pinter emphasizes the ER is still open.
As Health Sciences North also administers the servers for the Lady Dunn Health Centre's website, that is also down at the moment.
The local hospital CEO says meetings are being held to address challenges stemming from this situation, with hopes to get out updates when possible.
Update at 4:10 pm: Health Sciences North Communications Specialist Jason Turnbull has sent the following update:
“Since Wednesday morning at 8:00, all 24 Northeastern Ontario hospitals have been impacted by IT challenges, caused by a zero day virus, as in a virus with no previous patches or solutions. As a preventive measure, all systems were put on downtime, successfully avoiding the dissemination of the virus. As a result, 21 of the 24 Northeastern Ontario hospitals have seen their main electronic medical record system, Meditech, put on downtime. The electronic medical record system for cancer programs in 12 hospitals, Mosaiq, is on downtime. Ten hospitals have their medical imaging system on downtime. Four hospitals have their email and servers for back office impacted. At HSN, about 75% of the systems are impacted by the downtime. HSN is working to begin restoring critical systems by tomorrow and planning to re-schedule cancelled chemotherapy and radiation treatments this weekend. We have no evidence to suggest that privacy of patient information has been breached.”
Chapleau is preparing to burn rubber at the airport - moving forward with plans to host a drag race event.
Mayor Michael Levesque explains the idea comes from the Chapleau Regional Development Corporation.
Mayor Levesque says the expectation is that the drag races will start this year, taking place the third weekend of August, a week after Wawa's Northern Nationals Drag Race.
It'll be supported by Luskville Speedway - the same company that helps host Wawa and Elliot Lake's drag races - and Levesque believes there will be volunteers from both communities assisting with the Chapleau event.
Wawa's fire chief is adding a new job to his resume: a regional role.
Council's approved the appointment of Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin - the municipality's Assistant Director of Protective Services - as the "Mutual Aid Coordinator" for the Algoma Mutual Aid Association, a role Sabourin explains as a coordinator for the region.
As an example, Sabourin references the Elliot Lake mall disaster, which saw fire services from nearby communities help in the city, while other nearby fire services had to help cover the communities that were providing help in Elliot Lake.
Sabourin told Council he expects the role to require one or two hours a week of work with very little travel, able to do most of the work remotely or by combining it with other meetings.
Council's also approved another regional appointment: Councillor Mitch Hatfield as council representative to the Algoma Public Health Board of Directors.
Chapleau Town Council's approved a substantial change to the budget for a key system at the local water plant.
During their meeting Monday, Council approved an amendment to the SCADA project budget, which Mayor Michael Levesque says was a necessary expenditure.
While the original budgeted cost was $170,000, Council approved a new budget of $234,135 - an increase of $64,000, more than a third of the original budget - which Mayor Levesque attributes to unspecified "oversights" in the original quote for the work, as the company did not contemplate certain obstacles that were encountered.
Levesque does note the work has been completed, adding the township "had no choice" but to get it done.
Wawa Municipal Council will allow private cannabis retail stores in town - but they're casting doubt on the chances it'll happen.
As the provincial government's given municipalities until next Tuesday to "opt out" of allowing such stores when they start opening in April, Wawa Council's confirmed that they'll allow the stores, with Mayor Ron Rody suggesting a primary reason is possible funding support stemming from the move.
While the recent licence lottery saw only 2 of 25 licences across the province go to the North - restricted to municipalities with at least 50,000 people - Mayor Rody assures the municipality will have "all the proper policies in place" for authorizing private cannabis stores in town, should anyone receive a licence.
The resolution approved last night does direct staff to prepare a policy to assist with the authorization process for any applications received, and - while Rody says there's no exact timeline for the policy - he does say it will be a priority for Council, expecting it "for sure before spring".
Chapleau Council made the opposite decision on Monday, deciding to "opt out" of allowing the stores, though Mayor Michael Levesque has suggested the decision may be reversed at some point in the future, after Council's learned more about provincial rules for the stores and possibly updated local by-laws.
Chapleau Town Council's rejecting cannabis retail stores - for now, at least.
Mayor Michael Levesque says Council has decided to "opt out" of allowing private cannabis retail stores in the community.
Mayor Levesque says the concerns are about the rules regarding the stores, not about the rules for legalized cannabis use.
Mayor Levesque notes - while Council has decided to opt out for now - there is the possibility Council will decide to "opt in" at some point in the future, but last night's decision will allow councillors more time to learn about provincial rules for cannabis retail stores and possibly update by-laws.
The provincial government has given municipalities until January 22nd to "opt out" of hosting private cannabis retail stores, with the ability to "opt in" at a later date, though once a municipality has opted in, it won't be able to opt back out.
Just hours are left to get registrations in for Wawa's annual ice fishing derby - if you want to be considered an early bird.
Today is the deadline for Early Bird registrations - those who've registered or have their registration postmarked by today will be eligible to win one of five $1000 cash prizes, which will be given away during the derby.
In addition to warning anglers about the early bird deadline, Derby Chairperson Scott Popert notes - with the derby a-month-and-a-half away - the committee's also looking for people interested in helping with the event.
Popert encourages anyone interested in volunteering to contact him.
The 28th annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby will be held March 1st through 3rd.
A major Canadian mining company with local interests is being bought by an American rival.
In a $10-billion US deal, Newmont Mining will buy Canadian miner Goldcorp, forming what will be one of Canada's largest gold producers - the combined company will be named "Newmont Goldcorp", with current Newmont shareholders to own 65%, and Goldcorp shareholders to own the remaining 35%.
While directors of both companies have given their unanimous support, shareholders must still give approval, and there will be regulatory hurdles in multiple countries, as both companies have operations in several countries.
Goldcorp has four operating mines in Canada - three in Northern Ontario - with work underway on the Borden Gold project in Chapleau, set to be Canada's first all-electric underground mine.
A suspended Toronto driver's facing a stunt driving charge in White River.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers conducting stationary radar on Highway 17 observed an eastbound vehicle travelling a high rate of speed on Thursday, January 10th, leading to a traffic stop.
Officers charged the 21-year-old from North York with driving a motor vehicle and performing stunt-speeding by more than 50 kilometres an hour or more, as well as driving while under suspension.
The vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days, while the man's set to appear in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice next month.
Organizers of Wawa's annual ice fishing derby are reminding there's a bit more time left to qualify for the derby's early bird draws.
The Derby Committee emphasizes the deadline to get tickets and still qualify for the early bird is tomorrow - not today - and Chairperson Scott Popert notes sales are strong so far.
Popert notes the committee is also looking for volunteers to help with the event - including as lake patrollers and hut attendants - and encourages anyone interested to contact him.
The 28th annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby will be held March 1st through 3rd.
