Chapleau Council to Discuss CAO Recruitment & Water Treatment

Chapleau Town Council's set to meet for the second time this month.

The agenda for tonight's meeting includes a delegation from the Ontario Clean Water Agency, with a by-law for an agreement with respect to the Township’s Water and Sewage Treatment facilities and Pumping Stations, along with correspondence about revised pricing from the agency.

There's also an "in-camera" item about CAO recruitment - Council earlier this month relaunched efforts for a new top administrator after previous attempts failed to secure a hire.

Aside from the "in-camera" portion, the public can listen in on tonight's meeting by calling 1-800-974-5902, entering conference ID 5116623.

The meeting starts at 6:30.

Wawa's Wild Goose Chase Nearing End

Time is running out to join in Wawa's virtual winter celebration.

Held as a COVID-safe alternative to the Wawa Winter Carnival, the Wawa Wild Goose Chase encourages residents to undertake various activities - including stargazing, board games or puzzles with the family, and a special scavenger hunt - though Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White notes there's also a "Made By Me" Contest.

White explains creations are posted on Facebook, so people can vote for their favourite.

The Wawa Wild Goose Chase ends this Sunday - completed pamphlets must be submitted by Monday to be eligible for prizes.

LDHCF Thanking White River Forest Products for Major Donation

Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation is touting major support from White River's sawmill.

The hospital foundation's thanking White River Forest Products Ltd. for "generously" donating $4000 to support health care services at the local area hospital - that's on top of a $1000 donation previously made by the company.

This comes just weeks after the Foundation announced that it had raised enough to purchase a new washer, sterilizer, and disinfector for the hospital's Medical Device Reprocessing Department.

PHSD Confirms New COVID-19 Cases, More in Neighbouring Regions

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed two more cases in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit's to 575, 37 "active".

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reported three more in Hearst and Hornepayne - one related to international travel - bringing the health unit to 310, 13 "active", two in hospital.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting sixteen more in the Thunder Bay area and one in an unspecified First Nation community, bringing its total to 1240, 170 "active" including eight in hospital, two in the ICU.

PHSD Provides Update on COVID-19 Vaccination Plans

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is outlining plans for the next round of COVID-19 vaccinations.

The health unit says the round will focus on those at greatest risk of severe COVID-19 illness - and those who care for them - with vaccine doses expected next week, though it does note the vaccine's "in high demand and short supply right now".

Noting all residents of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts have received at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the health unit says the next round will be available for staff and essential caregivers of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes, though it will also be working to provide vaccine to alternative level of care patients in hospitals if they have a confirmed admission to such a home, plus health care workers in the Ministry of Health's "highest priority" category, then those in the "very high priority" category, and Indigenous adults in higher risk communities.

Once residents, staff, and essential caregivers of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes are immunized, the focus will turn to other retirement home residents, staff, and caregivers, adults 80 or older, recipients of chronic home care, health care workers in the "high priority" category, and all other Indigenous adults.

It notes plans are being made for clinics, with details to be shared in the future, though there is a goal of getting vaccine into arms as quickly and safely as possible.

This comes as the health unit's reported two new cases in the Greater Sudbury area, though six more cases are now considered "resolved", leaving the health unit with 37 "active".

Wawa Council Holding Special Meeting to Discuss School Zone Project

Wawa Municipal Council's meeting for the second time this week - this time to discuss a major capital project.

After Tuesday night's back-to-back-to-back meetings, Council's holding a special meeting tonight, with two items on the agenda: an "in-camera" legal issue about staffing and a presentation from Tulloch Engineering about the School Safety Zone Project, which would see nine roads - Magpie, Churchill, Boyer, Spruce, Arnott, Ross, Darwin, Parkhill, and Grace - reconstructed, along with repair and replacement of curbs, sidewalks, ramps, and gutters, and the addition of pedestrian crossings and bike lanes.

Aside from the "in-camera" portion, tonight's meeting will be broadcast on the Municipality's YouTube channel, starting at 6 o'clock.

PHSD Confirms 6 New COVID-19 Cases

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed six more COVID-19 cases in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit's total to 573, with 41 "active".

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed 20 more in the Thunder Bay area and one in an unspecified First Nation community, bringing its total to 1223, 166 "active" including eight in hospital, two in the ICU.

Local School Boards Move Up PD Day As Spring Break's Delayed

Local school boards are moving a planned PD Day due to the delay in March Break.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced last week that the weeklong spring break's been moved from the week of March 15th to the week of April 12th, with all four local school boards shifting their schedule to accommodate.

The boards have - however - decided to move a Professional Development day scheduled for April 30th to March 19th, as students would otherwise have eight days off in April, due to the delayed spring break and the Easter weekend, which is April 2nd to 5th.

MMCC Reopens After Provincial Shutdown & Stay-at-Home Order Ends

Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre's reopening after nearly two months.

Closed since Christmas - due to the provincial lockdown and stay-at-home order - the facility's open today, as the Algoma Public Health region is now in the "Yellow-Protect" category of Ontario's tiered restrictions framework.

Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson says things are similar to how the facility functioned before the shutdown - with the gym open, hockey and curling, and the same programming as before - though the "Yellow" category does have some specific restrictions for fitness, dance, and karate classes.

Patterson adds user groups are also asked to submit contact forms for screening and tracing, and notes the facility's technically open for private rentals, but availability's very limited as it accommodates regular activities like fitness, hockey, and curling.

While he emphasizes the best people to contact about restrictions for an activity would be the relevant user group, Patterson notes you can call the Pro Shop or contact the Wawa Recreation Facebook page for information about restrictions or schedules.

Ontario's Stay-at-Home Order Lifted, Algoma in Yellow, Sudbury District in Orange

Ontario's stay-at-home order has been lifted for all but the North Bay Parry Sound, Peel, Toronto, and York health unit regions.

Locally, Algoma Public Health's now in the "Yellow-Protect" category of the province's tiered restrictions framework - its second lowest level - allowing public events and social gatherings of up to ten people indoors or 25 people outdoors - doubling for staffed businesses and facilities - while religious ceremonies - including weddings and funerals - can have 100 people outdoors or 30 percent capacity indoors with physical distancing, up to six people may be seated together in restaurants without buffet-style service, and sports and recreational facilities can reopen with restrictions.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - which includes Chapleau - is in the next level up, "Orange-Restrict", further limiting restaurant seating including to only four people per table, with most other restrictions about the same.

While restrictions have loosened, Algoma Public Health's urging everyone to stay at home as much as possible and avoid close contact with others outside your household, noting evidence of community spread in recent cases and warning that variants of concern spread much more quickly and aggressively - while they have not been detected in Algoma, variants first detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa have been confirmed in other parts of Northern Ontario.

Algoma's 3rd COVID-19 Death Reported in Elliot Lake

Algoma's third COVID-19 death was in Elliot Lake.

While Algoma Public Health gave no details when it reported the death yesterday, St. Joseph's General Hospital Elliot Lake has confirmed that it was the city's first COVID-19 death, "a patient previously treated" at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed the sixteenth death linked to the Extendicare Kapuskasing outbreak, the 25th for that health unit, which as seen 307 cases, eleven currently "active" including two in hospital.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting 27 new cases in the Thunder Bay area, bringing the region to 1202, 159 still "active" including seven in hospital, three in the ICU.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed its 567th case - the 525th in Greater Sudbury - keeping the number "active" at 37.

APH Reports 3rd COVID-19 Death, PHSD's 12th

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

Algoma Public Health is giving no details about its third death linked to the illness, reported Monday.

The health unit had reported three new cases Friday night - one each in North Algoma, Central and East Algoma, and the Elliot Lake area - bringing its total to 193, 19 "active" including one in hospital.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts confirmed its twelfth death linked to the illness, noting it's linked to an outbreak at Pioneer Manor in Greater Sudbury.

The health unit reported ten new cases over the weekend, though the number "active" only rose slightly, to 37.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit reported five cases over the weekend - all in the Hearst and Hornepayne area - as it declared an outbreak at the Foyer des Pionniers long-term care home in Hearst, though it did have some good news: it turns out a "variant of concern" is not linked to the Extendicare Kapuskasing outbreak, though it is still awaiting results for two possible cases in Timmins.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit confirmed 45 cases over the weekend - two in unspecified "district" communities, two in unspecified First Nation communities, the rest in the Thunder Bay area - bringing it to 1175, with 152 "active", including four in hospital, one in the ICU.

Wawa Council Holding 3 Consecutive Meetings

Straight off the Family Day long weekend, Wawa Municipal Council's set for back-to-back-to-back meetings.

That includes a Corporate Planning Committee meeting with: a presentation from Confederation College about its strategic plan; an update on the Northeast Superior Regional Broadband Network; discussion about mental health and community wellness; a memorandum of understanding with the Lady Dunn Health Centre for funding assistance; and a request for a defibrillator at the Municiality's property at 96 Broadway Avenue.

It'll be followed by a regular Council meeting, which includes a resolution to purchase a compressor for teh Water Treatment Plant and a by-law to provide GIS and related services to Chapleau, Dubreuilville, Hornepayne, and White River.

A Committee of Adjustment meeting's also planned, with a single item.

Tonight's meetings will be broadcast on the Municipality's YouTube channel, starting at 6:30 pm.

Ontario's Stay-at-Home Order to End After Family Day

Restrictions are loosening for most of Ontario.

Premier Doug Ford's announced plans to transition most of the province out of the current shutdown right after the Family Day weekend, with all but the North Bay Parry Sound, Peel, Toronto, and York health unit regions moving back to the province's tiered restrictions framework on Tuesday, February 16th.

Locally, Algoma Public Health's region - including Wawa, Dubreuilville, Hawk Junction, and White River - moves into the "Yellow-Protect" category, the second lowest, while Public Health Sudbury and Districts - including Chapleau - moves into the next level up, "Orange-Restrict".

The Porcupine Health Unit will also be in Orange, while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit - which includes Marathon - will be the next level up, "Red-Control".

Each region will stay at those levels for at least two weeks, after which they may move to a lower level depending on various indicators, though they could be pushed to higher levels at any time, if their situation worsens.

PHSD Confirms 11th COVID-19 Death

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about its eleventh death linked to the illness, except that it's linked to an outbreak at Health Sciences North.

This comes as the health unit's reporting ten new cases in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit to 556, 35 "active".

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's confirmed three in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit's total to 190, 22 "active" including two in hospital.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting one more linked to the outbreak at Extendicare Kapuskasing - which has seen fifteen residents die from the illness - bringing that health unit to 302, 27 "active" including one in hospital.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed 26 more in the Thunder Bay area, bringing it to 1130, with 121 still "active", including three in hospital, one in the ICU.

Wawa's Wild Goose Chase Launches In Lieu of Winter Carnival

A Wawa tradition's launching in a different manner this year.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, organizers of the Wawa Winter Carnival have opted not to hold the usual festivities - but Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White says an alternate is happening instead.

White says the more "self-guided" activities include stargazing, board games or puzzles with family, and some historical or cultural items, though there is also a special scavenger hunt and a "Made By Me" contest, both of which have additional prizes.

The Wawa Wild Goose Chase runs from today to Sunday, February 21st, giving residents more than a week to complete activities.

Ontario Ice Fishing Challenge Set to Begin

Just in time for Family Day, anglers are being encouraged to get out on the ice with a special COVID-safe ice fishing tournament, spanning nearly a month.

While local ice fishing derbies have been cancelled this year because of the pandemic, the Ontario Ice Fishing Challenge starts tomorrow, encouraging anglers to fish locally and help their community compete to be crowned the "Ice Fishing Capital" of Ontario.

Participants simply need to register through the Angler's Atlas website and the MyCatch app - there's a fee of $20 - with a rules meeting happening on Facebook at 7 o'clock tonight.

Once the challenge launches at 6 o'clock Saturday morning, anglers can go out on the ice and log their catch with the app, with local leaderboards while participating communities compete to be Ice Fishing Capital, based on "collective catch" - anglers will also be up for prizes.

Several communities are participating, with sponsors: Wawa Motor Inn for Wawa, the Chapleau Rotary Club for Chapleau, and the Township of Dubreuilville for Dubreuilville.

The Ontario Ice Fishing Challenge runs from February 13th to March 7th.

PHSD Meets COVID-19 Vaccination Goal

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is touting an important milestone in fighting COVID-19.

The health unit says it has successfully immunized all consenting residents of long-term care and high-risk retirement homes in its region - as well as residents and staff of Elders' lodges - with a total of 1729 individuals getting their first dose of Moderna's vaccine.

It adds residents of the Wikwemikong Nursing Home - the first people in the region to get the vaccine - have now received their second dose, with second doses for all other residents to be scheduled over the coming weeks, in accordance with requirements.

This comes as the health unit's reporting five new cases in Greater Sudbury - the health unit's reported 546 cases since the pandemic began, though it only has 27 considered "active" at this time.

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