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Some good news for those hoping to cool off at Chapleau's Waterfront on Canada Day.
While the Township had been concerned the "splash pad" wouldn't be able to run - due to issues stemming from high water levels on the Chapleau River - the splash pad is now up and running after all.
While Parliament is out for the summer - likely until after the fall election - a local MP is pressing for movement on universal pharmacare.
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat Carol Hughes is calling for the Liberal government to adopt the NDP's plan for universal pharmacare, delivering a petition that calls for public, universal, and comprehensive pharmacare - she emphasizes Canada's behind the times on this front.
Hughes claims replacing the current system with single-payer pharmacare would benefit everyone, saving the country $4.2-billion a year, especially as the collective purchasing power of Canadians would reduce drug costs and health care expenses.
Work has been approved for some docks in the Chapleau River.
Chapleau Town Council approved a $2000 quote for the work, which Mayor Michael Levesque says will address issues with the "Government Dock".
The work also includes the removal of anchor plates that had been used for another dock for a year, before Council decided to use floating docks instead, though Mayor Levesque notes the Township can't afford to convert all the docks this year so the dock will instead be removed for now, due to "safety considerations".
Some work is planned for Chapleau's recreation centre - to avoid leaks from the roof.
Council approved a proposal from Tulloch Engineering, which Mayor Michael Levesque says relates to three major parts.
The proposal approved by Council quoted nearly $18,000 for the work: $1200 for roof leak review and repairs recommendations; $4200 for compressor/condenser review nad design of steel support frame; and $14,200 for roof structural evaluation.
Chapleau's smoking by-law has been updated - and Council is warning some changes may surprise smokers.
Mayor Michael Levesque says the update aligns the municipal by-law with provincial regulations, though he notes Council had some questions about the restrictions.
Mayor Levesque suggests people may need to "speak up" and remind smokers they aren't allowed to smoke in some places.
Chapleau Town Council's putting off work for a few local bridges.
While this year's budget did account for the work, Mayor Michael Levesque says biannual inspections of the bridges suggested that plan could be delayed in favour of another project.
Levesque emphasizes the work on Dufferin Street is quite important.
Unfortunately, Mayor Levesque doesn't expect the Township to receive the funds for the Dufferin Street project until the fall, so the actual work likely won't happen until next year.
Wawa Municipal Council's approved the municipality's 2019 operating budget.
Council voted to pass the document during a special meeting last night, with no further discussion after it was presented June 6th - Council also made no comments when the budget was brought up last week.
The budget includes a 2.11% property tax increase, which CAO/Treasurer Maury O'Neill mostly attributes to lower provincial government funding.
O'Neill cites a reduction of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund grant - which was reduced by about $50,000, the equivalent of a one percent property tax increase - though she also notes Council is putting more money into reserves to cover unfunded infrastructure that needs to be maintained.
She also emphasizes that staff have done their best to reduce costs, not filling some vacant positions and cutting down on travel and training costs.
Along with the operating budget was a new schedule of fees for various municipal services - some staying the same, others rising 2-55, mostly to meet inflation - with water rates rising 4.5%.
O'Neill says that's because the water system is currently operating at a $200,000 deficit - even though provincial law requires it to pay for itself through user fees - but the Municipality didn't want to immediately implement the "substantial" increase that would be needed to eliminate that deficit.
O'Neill also notes hopes to soon bring forward a proposal to Council to use the Mission for a pilot of water meter-based billing.
Wawa's Town Hall and Library are closed today, due to a sewage backup.
Citing "unforeseen circumstances", the Municipality of Wawa says the Municipal Town Office and the Wawa Library are both closed for emergency sewer repairs.
There is some good news for those with invoices or bills due today (Wednesday, June 26th): they are now due tomorrow (Thursday, June 27th).
Chapleau Council is being warned against reverting some streets to gravel surface.
Mayor Michael Levesque says he'd requested the Public Works Superintendent look into the idea, as some roads are seeing pavement deteriorating "very badly", which is "pretty hard" on vehicles.
Mayor Levesque says the report concluded that would not help.
While Levesque admits repaving would likely be a good idea, he says there is "no money for it".
Some work is planned for Chapleau's sidewalks.
Mayor Michael Levesque says Safesidewalks Canada assessed sidewalks in the community and quoted $10,000 for the "trip hazard removal work".
Mayor Levesque adds the Township's also "in the middle of reprioritizing sidewalks".
The mayor says he believes the trip hazard removal work being done will focus on the "most urgent" spots.
CHADWIC Home is getting some federal support.
The federal government's announced $250,000 over four years for CHADWIC Home.
Executive Director Paula Valois says the funds are intended to "build capacity" to support women and girls in North Algoma.
Valois notes the exploration of online communications is meant to address a shift in the way people want to access services.
The federal funding is part of $2,700,000 announced for seven women's and Indigenous organizations in Northern Ontario, including CHADWIC Home.
Wawa Municipal Council is expected to approve the municipality's 2019 operating budget tonight.
Council's holding a special meeting with several items on the agenda, almost all relating to the operating budget, particularly resolution to approve the operating budget that was presented to Council on June 6th.
It proposes a 2.11% property tax increase, mostly attributed to lower provincial government funding or grants.
Also on the agenda is a new schedule of fees for various municipal services - some fees will be staying the same, though others are set to rise 2-5%, mostly to meet inflation.
Water rates are set to rise 4.5%, a rise questioned by some councillors, though C-A-O-Treasurer Maury O'Neill explained that the water system is currently operating at a $200-thousand deficit - even though provincial law requires it to pay for itself through user fees - but a 10-20% rate increase would be needed to eliminate that deficit, a rise considered too harsh - instead, smaller but steady increases are planned to eliminate that deficit.
O'Neill also noted plans to use the Mission for a pilot of water meter-based billing, hoping a proposal for that project will be brought to Council in July.
Council's already approved this year's "capital budget", which covers infrastructure projects like the Waterfront Project and Toronto Avenue.
Tonight's meeting is open to the public, starting at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police have a new boss - but a familiar face in Wawa.
The OPP North East Region says Richard - or "Rich" - Bordin has been promoted to Staff Sergeant and - effective July 1st - will be Detachment Commander for the Superior East detachment, which covers Wawa, Chapleau, White River, and Hornepayne.
Though Bordin was promoted to Sergeant when he was transferred to the Superior East Detachment in Wawa in October 2016, he's been "Acting Staff Sergeant" while serving as acting Superior East detachment commander since June 2018.
He's been an OPP officer since September 1996, starting in Killaloe before transferring to Thessalon in 1997, staying for eight years before transferring to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie.
He was also seconded to the OPP Drug Enforcement Section from 2008 to 2010 and worked as part of the North East Regional Critical Incident Stress Response Team in 2016.
Bordin replaces Megan Cavanagh, who was just announced as the new Manitoulin Detachment Commander, even though the OPP say she was appointed to the role in mid-April - and promoted to Inspector at the same time.
Cavanagh was appointed Superior East Detachment Commander in 2015, but was seconded to serve as acting Detachment Commander for the James Bay and Manitoulin Detachments in 2018 and 2019.
New commanders were also announced for three other North East Region detachments on Monday: Almaguin Highlands; James Bay; and North Bay.
Local police have announced multiple charges against a Chapleau man after an incident outside of town.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were called about an assault at Seven Mile Lake around 10 am Saturday, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 40-year-old on charges of assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
The man's been released from custody with a court date in mid-August.
A Chapleau resident's facing a mischief charge after a domestic dispute.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to an incident in Chapleau around 9 pm Friday, leading to the arrest of a 34-year-old on a charge of "mischief - domestic".
The person - who is not identified, in order to protect the victim's identity - has been released with a court date in mid-August.
Superior East OPP emphasize victims in abusive relationships are not alone and there are local resources to help, such as Wawa and Area Victim Services and CHADWIC Home.
The local English Catholic school board has chosen a new Superintendent of Education.
The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board says Christine Durocher will start the job August 1st.
Durocher was hired by the board in 1997, working as a teacher before becoming a vice principal and later principal, most recently for St. Mary's French Immersion in Sault Ste. Marie.
She'll be one of three Superintendents of Education at the HSCDSB, replacing Maria Esposito, who's retiring at the end of June, after more than 40 years with the board.
Chapleau Town Council has a busy night ahead, with another regular meeting.
Included on tonight's agenda is a presentation from Newmont Goldcorp - which owns the nearby Borden Gold Mine - as well as a by-law to regulate smoking in public places, and resolutions approving: a $10,000 quote for trip hazard removal work; nearly $8000 for zamboni conditioner rebuild and ice power edger repairs; detailed designs for the Downtown Revitalization project; a $2000 proposal for removal of anchor plates and repairs of the dock at the rear of the Civic Centre; and a total of nearly $20,000 in evaluations of equipment and infrastructure at the Recreation Centre.
Council will also consider deferring 2019 bridge rehabilitation work and instead approving the replacement of the Sanitary Forcemain and other "aged infrastructure" on Dufferin Street, which would be backed by outside funding.
There's also a single "in-camera" item, a "personal matter about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees".
Aside from the "in-camera" portion, tonight's meeting is open to the public, starting at 6:30 pm in Civic Centre Council Chambers.
A Sudbury-based miner's touting the acquisition of mining lands near Wawa.
Manitou Gold says it has acquired "two important packages of mining lands", extending its property along the Goudreau-Localsh deformation zone by 27 kilometers - Manitou's properties are located north of Wawa, extending from just east of the former Cline Mine beyond the Renabie Mine 37 kilometres to the east.
Both of the new properties cover documented deformation zones which are extensions of the Goudreau-Localsh zone or related zones.
A Dubreuilville school's holding an event welcoming children starting kindergarten next fall.
École St-Joseph is inviting upcoming students and their families to show up for a "Welcome to Kindergarten" event, meant to promote a smooth transition to kindergarten.
It will include several activities for children and parents while providing parents important information about speech development, social and daycare services, and school transportation.
The event starts at 1 o'clock this afternoon.
Some Wawa students will be washing cars this weekend to raise funds for a big trip.
St. Joseph French Immersion Catholic School Grade 6, 7, and 8 teacher Adam Cariccato explains the car wash fundraiser will support next year's Grade 7 and 8 trip.
Cariccato says any donation will be accepted - all proceeds go to cover costs for the trip - and suggests the event will also serve as a fun team-building exercise.
The students will be set up in the Community Centre parking lot from 10 to 2 tomorrow.
