Chapleau Under Drinking Water Advisory

The Township of Chapleau's under a water advisory after problems at the water treatment plant.

A statement from the Township explains the distribution system lost pressure because of equipment failure at the plant last night, and - even though pressure's been restored - a drinking water advisory's in effect until further notice.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts warns residents should not use the water for human consumption - such as drinking, making juice, infant formula, or ice, cooking, washing uncooked fruits and vegetables, or brushing teeth - further warning boiling the water still may not make it safe for drinking - instead, it advises an alternate source like bottled water should be used, though it should still be boiled for making infant formula.

The health unit does note the water can still be used for laundry or bathing, though not for bathing small children who could swallow the water.

Health Protection Division Manager Burgess Hawkins explains the advisory, noting "the loss of water pressure created conditions that compromised the safety of the drinking water", and "until bacteriological testing of the drinking water indicates a safe supply, the drinking water advisory will remain in effect as a precaution".

Those seeking more information about the advisory are referred to the health unit.

More COVID-19 Cases Confirmed in Neighbouring Regions

Dozens of new cases have been confirmed in the Thunder Bay area.

The neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting a total of 24 new cases - it's unclear how two of the people were exposed, while the others stem from close contact with a known case.

An outbreak's also been declared at a Thunder Bay long-term care home, as a staff member tested positive - so far, no-one else at the facility have been identified as showing symptoms.

This brings that health unit to 189 reported cases, 52 of which are currently "active" - including one in hospital.

The Porcupine Health Unit's reported its 105th case - leaving it with three "active" - while Public Health Sudbury and Districts still has 21 "active" and Algoma Public Health has four.

PHSD Reports 210th COVID-19 Case

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.

Figures on the Public Health Sudbury and Districts website show 210 total cases - up one from yesterday, evidently located in Greater Sudbury and stemming from close contact with a previously confirmed case.

Sixteen more cases are now considered "resolved", leaving the health unit with 27 "active".

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed five more cases in the Thunder Bay area - all stemming from close contact with known cases - bringing its total cases to 165, 41 of which are "active", all in the Thunder Bay area.

Algoma Public Health's recorded several more "resolved" cases - leaving it with four "active" - while the neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit has two "active" cases.

Chapleau to Seek PUC Board Members

Chapleau will be looking for prospective members of the Chapleau Public Utilities Corporation (Chapleau Hydro)'s board of directors.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains there are five members of the board, with three of those seats open, due to changes made early in his term, staggering their terms.

Mayor Michael Levesque on Chapleau PUC Terms
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Mayor Levesque says the three "civilian" members are able to re-apply, but all interested residents are encouraged to apply.

The other two seats are filled by Council members, which change in line with Council terms.

Wawa Council Holding Back-to-Back Meetings

Wawa Municipal Council's set to hold back-to-back meetings tonight.

First up is a Corporate Planning Committee meeting, with the agenda including a COVID-19 update, a "Continuity of Operations Plan", and annual review of the procedural by-law.

That'll be followed by a regular meeting of Council, set to include resolutions rescheduling December meetings and supporting a 2nd annual Ice Candle Celebration Day, and a by-law to adopt a new Code of Conduct and Ethics for Employees.

There are also four "in-camera" items: a personnel issue about staffing; a legal issue about employee benefits; a legal issue relating to a Code of Conduct complaint; and a "corporate matter" about "Municipal Transformation".

Aside from the "in-camera" portion, the meetings will broadcast on the Muncipality of Wawa's YouTube channel, starting at 6:30 tonight.

More COVID-19 Cases Reported in Algoma & Sudbury

Algoma's confirmed its 58th case of COVID-19.

The health unit says the case stems from close contact with a known case, and is located in the Central and East Algoma area - it adds there is evidence of community spread in that region, which has seen fewer than five cases since the beginning of the pandemic.

Combined with more recoveries, APH has ten "active" cases.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - meanwhile - has confirmed two more cases - bringing its total to 209 - one is located in Greater Sudbury and stems from an outbreak - the health unit's only reporting one at this time, at Pioneer Manor in Greater Sudbury - though details about the other case aren't being provided, as the health unit has changed how it reports cases, dropping individual case announcements in favour of twice daily updates of figures on weekdays, or once per day on weekends.

PHSD - which entered the province's yellow "Protect" category of restrictions at midnight this morning - currently has 43 "active" cases.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit confirmed twelve more cases in the Thunder Bay area over the weekend - leaving it with 37 "active" cases, while the Porcupine Health Unit has three "active" cases.

ADSB Students Staying Home for "Transition Day"

Algoma District School Board students are staying home today, as the board transitions its elementary schools to a hybrid learning model.

The English public school board says elementary and secondary students are staying home for a "transition" day, having been provided with work on Friday.

Students can have "touch base time" with teachers via Microsoft Teams - for elementary students, it's 1:30 pm to 2 pm and for secondary students, it's 11 am to 11:30 am with their morning teacher and 2 pm to 2:30 pm with their afternoon teacher.

The move comes as the board's reorganizing elementary classrooms to blend virtual and physical students into one class, expected to be the final re-shuffle of the year, helping alleviate a teacher shortage.

High school students are not swapping to a hybrid model, though they are transitioning to "a new quadmester", with the hybrid model to be considered for the second semester, which starts in February.

Chapleau Council Hopes for Improvements to Truck Load Check

Chapleau's hoping for some improvements to a truck load check just outside of town.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains Town Council is concerned that the spot on Highway 129 has been getting "ugly and messy" as there is no trash receptacle or porta-potty, unlike other areas.

Mayor Michael Levesque Explains CTC Truck Stop Request
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Mayor Levesque says Council's putting the request to the Ministry of Transportation.

PHSD Reports More COVID-19 Cases While Moving to Yellow "Protect" Category

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting a few more COVID-19 cases, as tighter restrictions are implemented for the region.

The provincial government announced late Friday that the health unit is entering the yellow "Protect" category of its recently implemented tiered restriction framework, limiting hours of operation for certain settings, reducing recreational program sizes, adding enforcement and fines, and enhancing education for high-risk settings.

Speaking Friday, the health unit's Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, noted case counts were at an all-time high with 42 of its 204 total cases reported over the previous week - and an average of 12 "high risk" contacts for each case - emphasizing the tougher restrictions "must be accompanied by a re-commitment of everyone to the basic public health prevention measures", limiting travel outside the home to essential purposes, limiting in-person social interactions to those in your household, staying home if you have any symptoms of illness - even mild - physically distancing and wearing proper face coverings properly while out, and practising proper hand washing.

The health unit reported three more cases over the weekend - two in Greater Sudbury, one in the Manitoulin District - one is outbreak-related, the other two still under investigation - the only active outbreak in the region is the Pioneer Manor long-term care home in Greater Sudbury, though the health unit warns of potential high-risk exposure for anyone who attended the Foothill Farm Service farm equipment garage in Massey between November 4th and 6th.

PHSD has reported a total of 207 cases, 51 of which are still "active", while Algoma Public Health has 12 "active" - it remains in the green "Prevent" category.

Local MP Wants Tourism and Hospitality Jobs Protected

Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing's NDP MP is calling on the federal government to protect tourism and hospitality jobs.

Citing speculation about bailouts for airlines, Carol Hughes notes travel-related businesses of all sizes are being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, warning over 200,000 Canadian workplaces that support 1.8-million jobs are in danger, with the employees already facing numerous challenges due to the part-time or seasonal nature of many of the jobs, let alone the closures, stunted openings, and changes to pandemic relief programs.

In response, Hughes is calling for "sectoral relief" for the hospitality and air transport sectors to be contingent on full participation in the federal wage subsidy program, tying existing jobs to recovery efforts and ensuring the workers continue to receive a paycheque, though she also wants the government to make support conditional on a right of first refusal for laid off hospitality and tourism workers, as they currently have no guarantee former employers will restore their jobs or offer them back when the pandemic subsides.

PHSD Reports 12 More COVID-19 Cases

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting several more cases.

The health unit has confirmed twelve more - nine in Greater Sudbury, three in unspecified Sudbury District communities - seven are outbreak-related - the health unit has reported one at the Pioneer Manor long-term care home in Greater Sudbury - while one stems from close contact with a known case, and the other four are still under investigation.

It brings the health unit's total to 204, 66 of which are currently "active".

Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting five more cases in the Thunder Bay area, bringing its total to 148, 29 of which are "active".

Algoma Public Health - which reported its 57th case Tuesday night - currently has twelve "active" - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - while the Porcupine Health Unit has four.

Deadline Nears for Prospective Chapleau Library Board Members

Time's running out for prospective members of Chapleau's library board.

A notice on the Township's website invites residents and ratepayers to volunteer, noting it's "an opportunity to learn about and work with Committee issues", requiring volunteers to devote at least two hours a month to the position.

Those interested are asked to submit a letter of intent by noon on Monday, November 16th - full details on how to apply are on the Township's website.

Chapleau Council Addresses Multiple Fire Department-Related Items

Chapleau's fire department was a key focus in this week's Council meeting.

Several fire department-related items were discussed Monday night, and Mayor Michael Levesque explains one was a purchase order for a replacement pump for pumper number three, financed by the Fire Department Reserve Fund.

Mayor Michael Levesque on Purchase Order for Fire Pumper Pump
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Mayor Levesque notes Council also approved a change in the fire department ranks.

Mayor Michael Levesque Welcomes New Chapleau Firefighter
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Mayor Levesque says Council was also advised of an increase in pay for firefighters.

Mayor Michael Levesque on Firefighter Honorarium Increase
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM Radio

In addition to the fire department-related items, Council also approved a $12,700 purchase order to replace the airport garage furnace, which was included in this year's capital budget.

Wawa Food Bank Cancels 2020 Feed The Need

The Wawa Community Food Bank has cancelled a major holiday season fundraiser.

Citing the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the local food bank says volunteers have made the "difficult decision" to cancel this year's "Feed the Need" event, which is traditionally held later this month - the organization notes concerns about the safety of sponsors, attendees, and volunteers, saying that comes first, though it suggest a possible event in the spring.

Last year's "Feed the Need" raised over 800 items for the food bank, with more than $1900 in monetary donations.

This does, however, come less than two weeks after Northern Lights Ford dropped off two trucks of donations stemming from its October-long "Northern Lights Ford Scares Hunger" campaign, which was supported by local schools, health care workers, and residents.

PHSD Reports 6 More COVID-19 Cases

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting six more - five from Greater Sudbury, the other from an unspecified Sudbury District community - three stem from close contact with known cases, the other three are "outbreak related".

The health unit's declared an outbreak at the Pioneer Manor long-term care home in Greater Sudbury, while an outbreak at a Sudbury high school was declared over Monday.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the health unit's reported 192 cases - 66 of them in November alone - with 62 currently "active".

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting three more cases in the Thunder Bay area, bringing its total to 143, 25 of which are "active".

Algoma Public Health - which reported its 57th case Tuesday night - currently has twelve "active" - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - while the Porcupine Health Unit has four.

APH & PHSD Report More COVID-19 Cases

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.

Algoma Public Health confirmed its 57th case Tuesday night, stemming from close contact with a known case - the health unit's reported eleven cases over the last week, with fourteen currently "active", all in the Sault Ste. Marie area.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has reported five more - all in Greater Sudbury - four from close contact with known cases, the other are still under investigation.

It's also warning of potential high-risk exposure for anyone who attended a party held in Greater Sudbury on Halloween - without the homeowner's knowledge - and has declared an outbreak at Pioneer Manor in Greater Sudbury, after an employee tested positive.

The health unit's reported a total of 186 cases, with 56 currently "active", two of them in unspecified Sudbury District communities and the rest in Greater Sudbury.

The Porcupine Health Unit's also confirmed its 102nd case, leaving it with four "active", while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit still has 23 "active", all in the Thunder Bay area.

Wawa Legion Reminds of Changes for This Remembrance Day

With Remembrance Day almost here, Wawa's Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 is reminding this year will be quite different.

Larry Harvey explains tomorrow won't see the usual public ceremonies.

Larry Harvey on Wawa's 2020 Remembrance Day Ceremony
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Harvey further reminds everyone to wear a poppy, noting funds raised through donations to the Poppy Fund support veterans and more.

Larry Harvey Explains the Legion's Poppy Campaign Fund
Daniel Walker/JJAM FM News

Poppies are available throughout the community.

JJAM FM will air our annual Remembrance Day special from 11 am to 12 noon on Remembrance Day.

PHSD Reports Six New COVID-19 Cases

Even more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting six more - four in Greater Sudbury, two in unspecified Sudbury District communities - two of the cases are from close contact with known cases, the others are still under investigation.

It brings the health unit's total to 181 since the pandemic began.

Having reported 54 cases in the last week - all of which are currently "active" - the health unit's reminding everyone it is safest to avoid non-essential travel, limit indoor gatherings to your own household, and "otherwise be outdoors or go virtual", practise physical distancing, masking, and handwashing, and "of course, stay away if you have any symptoms".

Meanwhile, the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reported eight more cases - bringing its total to 140 - all are in the Thunder Bay area, stemming from close contact with a known case - that leaves the health unit with 23 "active" cases.

Algoma Public Health reported its 56th case last night, leaving it with thirteen "active" - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - while the Porcupine Health Unit has three "active".

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