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A recent Wawa tradition is going ahead this weekend - but in a different manner.
Wawa Cemetery Committee chair - and municipal councillor - Bill Chiasson explains shutdown regulations means the 2nd Annual Ice Candle Celebration Day will be held Sunday, but participants can't join in.
Chiasson notes "well over 251" ice candles were ordered this year - funds raised support cemetery beautification.
With Christmas nearly here, the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's asking residents to help grant a wish from the local hospital.
The foundation's annual "Wish Upon A Star" campaign continues through the holiday season, with Foundation Intern Angele Guy reminding it supports an important equipment purchase.
Guy notes there's a slight change due to COVID-19: rather than honouring donors with a star on a tree in the hospital lobby, the stars are sent to the donors to put on their tree.
Donations can be made online or via mail - even after Christmas - with the campaign ending the first week of 2021.
Local municipalities are closing for the holidays.
The Municipality of Wawa notes its offices and Information Technology/GIS Department are closed until January 4th, though Infrastructure Services is open today and most of next week - except New Year's Day - while the landfill is currently closed, but open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday next week.
The Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre's closed at noon today, and will stay closed as long as the provincewide lockdown's in effect - it expects to reopen January 11th.
Chapleau's AW Moore Arena, is also closed at noon today "until further notice", while the Chapleau Civic Centre and Library are closed now until January 5th, with the landfill closing tomorrow through Monday, and again from January 1st through the 4th.
Wawa's Catholic church is tightening its own restrictions amid the provincewide shutdown.
St. Monica's Parish has announced - for fourteen days, starting Boxing Day - all masses will be restricted to only ten parishioners, who must pre-register.
The church assures Christmas Eve and Christmas Day masses will be conducted as planned, though - as it announced last week - they're restricted to parishioners and guests who've pre-registered for those services.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting three new cases in Greater Sudbury - and another in an unspecified Sudbury District community, noting three stem from close contact with a known case, while the other is "travel related".
While this brings the health unit to 261 cases, it's also reporting four more are "resolved", keeping the number "active" at nine.
Algoma Public Health is currently reporting one "active" resident case in the Central and East Algoma area, but also two cases of "non-residents" temporarily in Algoma, more specifically the Sault Ste. Marie area.
Local hospitals are warning of changes due to the upcoming provincewide lockdown.
Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre warns certain non-urgent procedures and services will be suspended and others offered virtually - your health care provider should contact you directly if there's a change - while Laboratory and Diagnostic Imaging services follow holiday hours, but people are asked to follow provincial direction and "stay home as much as possible, if appropriate".
Visitations to Acute Care patients are suspended during the lockdown - except for compassionate reasons, to be determined by the health care team - while the Emergency Department and outpatient clinics will be limited to those seeking care, though vulnerable patients and those experiencing a "life-altering event" can be accompanied.
Pre-approved care partners can continue to visit long-term care through Christmas, but - as of Boxing Day - only "designated caregivers" are able to visit long-term care residents - exceptions may be made for those in palliative care.
Visitors outside the Algoma District - or those who've had close contact with someone outside of Algoma - are not able to visit.
Services de sante de Chapleau Health Services similarly warns the lockdown restricts long-term care and alternate level of care visitors to "essential caregivers", though visits to in-patients are not allowed during the lockdown, and residents and patients must stay in the home.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting 23 in Thunder Bay - 14 of them at a long-term care home in the city, where fourteen residents have died from COVID-related causes.
That brings the health unit to 545 cases, 106 of which are "active"
The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting two in Timmins, both from contact with a known case - this brings the health unit to 127 cases, nine "active".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts - which reported three more cases in Greater Sudbury last night - has nine "active" - with Vale confirming one at the Coleman Mine near Sudbury - while Algoma Public Health says a resident in the Central and East Algoma area is its 63rd case, though two "non-residents temporarily in" the Sault Ste. Marie area have also tested positive: it notes all three are "active", but only the resident counts toward its stats.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in Sudbury.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting three more in Greater Sudbury, but also four more "resolved" cases, leaving the health unit with nine "active".
It has seen 257 cases since the pandemic began.
Algoma Public Health reported its 63rd case late yesterday - it's in the Central and East Algoma area - though it's also reporting two other "active" cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, both noted to be "non-residents" temporarily in Algoma.
The Municipality of Wawa's seeking public input, as Council considers next year's capital projects.
In a recent meeting, staff presented Council with a draft 2021 Capital Budget, which includes over $10-million in proposed projects, nearly $3.4-million in projects Council approved in previous years, $1.6-million in recommended "high priority" projects, and more than $5-million that's "subject to funding".
Projects already approved to some extent include: a Strategic Plan and Corporate Review; work at Scenic High Falls Park, which was paused amid the COVID-19 pandemic; remaining work from the Connecting Link project; School Zone rehabilitation; sidewalk rehabilitation; water main valve replacement; a new fire hydrant in the Michipicoten River Village, near the water tower; and landfill expansion.
Other "high priority" projects discussed: new municipal financial software; an asset management update; Community Centre improvements and Arena modernization; a new parks mower; a new pump for a fire truck that otherwise can't be certified; a new tandem truck for Infrastructure Services; cemetery expansion, as only 75 plots remain at this time; asphalt preservation; a municipal phone system upgrade; firewall and security network; and a wireless mesh network for the municipality's network.
In an effort for long-term planning, the draft also outlines some projects through 2024, including a new Fire Pumper Truck, a new Fire Hall, and pavement rehabilitation.
Much of the project costs would be covered by grants or donations, followed by contributions from reserves, with a low amount expected to come directly from taxation, while items relating to the water system would at least partly draw on water and sewer fees.
The presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel - plans are to accept public input into January, in hopes Council will approve the capital budget January 19th, then receive the draft operating budget in mid-February, for approval in mid-March.
Algoma Public Health is reporting a new case of COVID-19.
Located in the Central and East Algoma region, this is the health unit's 63rd and only "active" resident case, though it's also reporting two cases of non-residents "temporarily in Algoma".
Chapleau's arena is extending its upcoming holiday break - indefinitely.
As planned, the AW Moore Arena will close at noon on Thursday, December 24th (Christmas Eve), but - instead of reopening days later - it's now set to stay closed "until further notice", depending on when the provincewide lockdown is lifted, and restrictions in force for the region at that time.
Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre's expecting to reopen January 11th, but may stay closed longer, depending on restrictions.
Ontario's upcoming COVID-19 shutdown is forcing changes to Wawa's 2nd Ice Candle Celebration Day.
Wawa Cemetery Committee chair - and municipal councillor - Bill Chiasson explains shutdown regulations means participants can't join in, but the candles will still be placed.
Chiasson notes "well over 251" ice candles were ordered these year, with funds raised by those orders supporting cemetery beautification.
Another COVID-19 death's been reported at a Thunder Bay long-term care home.
Southbridge Roseview's website now shows 14 residents have died from the virus, while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed the 16th death in its region.
The health unit - meanwhile - reported fourteen new cases in the Thunder Bay area, bringing the health unit's total to 522, 98 of which are "active", including fourteen residents and eight staff at Southbridge Roseview.
The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting three more cases in the James and Hudson Bay area, and one in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area - that brings the health unit to 125 cases, eight "active".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts still has ten "active", while Algoma Public Health says there's no cases among residents, though it is reporting two cases of non-residents "temporarily in Algoma", in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
A speeding stop near Chapleau has resulted in drug trafficking charges.
Superior East OPP say an officer conducting traffic enforcement on Highway 101 west of town shortly after 10 Friday morning observed a vehicle travelling nearly 120 kilometres an hour in a posted 80 km/h zone.
The officer stopped the vehicle, and - while speaking with the driver - detected the odour of cannabis, leading to a search of the vehicle, which yielded about $10,000 in cash, prohibited weapons, and a quantity of suspected cocaine - the total value of the seizure's estimated around $18,000.
Four people were arrested: a 21-year-old from Trent Hills, a 20-year-old from Markham, a 21-year-old from Markham, and a 21-year-old from Scarborough.
Charges laid include trafficking in schedule I substance - cocaine; possession of a schedule I substance - cocaine - for the purpose of trafficking; obstruct or resist peace officer; carrying concealed weapon; unauthorized possession of weapon; personation with intent to avoid arrest, prosecution or obstruct justice; and failure to comply with release order.
The Trent Hills man's staying in custody for a bail hearing, while the other three have been released with a February Chapleau court date.
The Municipality of Wawa has confirmed the provincewide COVID-19 shutdown means the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre is taking an extended holiday break.
As planned, the facility will close at 12 noon on Thursday, December 24th - Christmas Eve Day - but now it will stay closed until 6 am Monday, January 11th.
Updates will be provided if those plans change.
Wawa photographers have extra time to get their pictures on the municipal website.
As part of the redesign of its website, the municipality's launched a photo contest in search of fifteen to twenty high-resolution photos of the community in all four seasons - last Friday was the deadline, but that's now been extended to January 8th.
To submit a photo, email info@wawa.cc with "Photo Contest" in the subject line.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the Sudbury area.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting one new case in Greater Sudbury and another in an unspecified Sudbury District community, bringing the health unit's total to 254, ten currently "active".
It's also warning of a potential "low-risk" public exposure on an Ontario Northland bus that left Toronto Tuesday, December 15th around 2 o'clock that afternoon, scheduled to arrive in Sudbury around 7:15 that evening - anyone who was on board is advised to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and self-isolate immediately if any develop, seeking testing.
This comes as restrictions have loosened for the health unit, which is back in the "Green-Prevent" category, the lowest level of the province's tiered restrictions framework.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit - which remains in the "Orange-Restrict" category - has reported five more cases - two at a Thunder Bay long-term care home where there's been thirteen deaths - though 21 more cases are now considered "resolved", so the health unit only has 89 "active".
The Porcupine Health Unit still has four "active", while Algoma Public Health has none - both regions are still in the "Green-Prevent" category.
Ontario Provincial Police have identified the tractor-trailer driver killed in Friday's single-vehicle collision with a rock cut near Wawa.
Superior East OPP say 55-year-old William Magnusson of Libau, Manitoba, was pronounced dead at the scene of the late morning crash, along Highway 17 about ten kilometres south of town.
A passenger - who has not been publicly identified - was taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries before they were released.
The OPP's North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement - TIME - are still investigating the crash.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal single-vehicle collision south of Wawa.
Superior East OPP say a tractor-trailer struck a rock cut along Highway 17 about ten kilometres south of town around 11:30 Friday morning, with the driver pronounced dead at the scene - their name is being withheld at this time.
A passenger was also taken to hospital with unknown injuries.
OPP North East Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement are investigating.
Another COVID-19 death's been reported at a Thunder Bay long-term care home.
Southbridge Roseview's website now shows 13 residents have died from the virus, while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's total is now up to 15.
The health unit - meanwhile - reported twenty-six cases over the weekend - one in an unspecified First Nation community, the rest in Thunder Bay, including ten at Southbridge Roseview, which currently has 13 "active" resident cases and 14 staff cases.
That brings the health unit's total to 503, including 103 "active".
It has also declared outbreaks at two Thunder Bay long-term care homes, though it has declared an end to outbreaks at Marathon's Holy Saviour Catholic School an a Geraldton long-term care home.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported two more cases late Friday - bringing its total to 252 - though it also reported four more recoveries over the weekend, leaving it with only eight "active".
This comes as the provincial government's announced restrictions are loosening for that health unit, which is returning to the "Green-Prevent' category, the lowest of the province's tiered restrictions framework.
The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting two more cases - both in the James Bay/Hudson Bay area - bringing its total to 121, five of which are "active".
Algoma Public Health - which last reported a case over a week ago - no longer has any "active" cases.
