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Wawa's Business Improvement Association is set to look back at the last year and plan for this one, as they hold their annual general meeting tonight.
Expected to include the usual annual general meeting items, the BIA meeting will also include discussion about the Eat! Shop! Live! campaign, with guest speaker Heidi McLaren.
As it's being held via Zoom, anyone wishing to attend must email mbatovanja@wawa.cc to get an invite - it's best to email ahead of time.
The meeting starts at 6:30 tonight.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts says only that its 25th COVID-19-related death - its second in as many days - happened in Greater Sudbury, with no further details to be provided, "out of respect".
This comes as it's reporting fifteen new cases - all in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit to 1773 total, though the number "active" has fallen to 215.
It's also reporting 17 more cases screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 590.
Meanwhile, the Porcupine Health Unit's reporting three more cases in the Timmins area - bringing the health unit to 423, 45 "active" - while one more case screened positive for a variant of concern.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed its 24th COVID-19 death.
The health unit's only saying that the death is in Greater Sudbury and it offers condolences, but no further details will be provided "out of respect".
This comes as it's reporting seventeen new cases in Greater Sudbury and another in the Manitoulin District, bringing the health unit to 1758 total, though the number "active" has fallen to 244.
It's also reporting 39 more cases screened positive for a variant of concern - bringing that total to 573 - and it's warning of "potential low-risk exposure" to COVID-19 for those who attended Greater Sudbury's "Toys R Us" between April 5th and 7th.
Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's reporting six new cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area - one stemming from international travel - bringing the health unit to 279, though the number "active" has declined to 41 - one in hospital - with another case of a "non-resident temporarily in Algoma", also in hospital.
The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting three more cases in the Timmins area, two in the Hearst and Hornepayne area, and another in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, bringing it to 418 - 48 "active" - while confirming five more cases screened positive for a variant of concern.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting skyrocketing cases - 40 more in Greater Sudbury and another in an unspecified Sudbury District community - bringing it to 1740, with 263 currently "active", though it's also reporting 35 more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 534.
Algoma Public Health's reporting four more - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing the health unit to 273 - 41 currently "active", including one in hospital - though it's also reporting a non-resident case temporarily in Algoma, also in hospital.
Chapleau's sawmill is changing hands.
Rayonier Advanced Materials has announced a deal to sell its Ontario and Quebec lumber and newsprint facilities - and related assets - to Canadian lumber company GreenFirst Forest Products for about $214-million US, about 85 percent in cash, fifteen percent in commons shares of GreenFirst.
The deal includes RYAM's Chapleau, Cochrane, Hearst, and Kapuskasing lumber mills - plus two in Quebec - as well as its newsprint mill in Kapuskasing, related property, machinery, inventory, permits, and licences - it acquired them when it bought Tembec in 2017.
GreenFirst's also agreed to issue RYAM a "chip offset credit note" of $7.9-million Canadian - which may be set off against amounts owing to GreenFirst for chip purchases, equally over the next five years - while RYAM will retain all the cash generated by the purchased assets - plus all softwood lumber duties - through the closing date - estimated to be about $110-million - and they've reached a 20-year deal for GreenFirst to supply residual fiber for RYAM's High Purity Cellulose, High Yield, and Paperboard operations in Temiscaming, Quebec.
RYAM will maintain full operational control of the facilities until the deal closes, expected in the second half of the year - no earlier than July 31st - as it still requires regulatory approval.
Chapleau Town Council has a busy night ahead.
Included on the agenda for tonight's meeting is a by-law prescribing times for setting fires and precautions to be taken, as well as resolutions: amending the 2020 budget over replacement of the Recreation Centre condenser room heater and approving a related purchase order; authorizing a scope change for miscellaneous engineering services; and accepting recommendations on Canada Day activities and budget.
Council will also consider a Committee of Adjustment item for severance of a Highway 129 property, and will discuss the Chapleau High School 100th Reunion, plus there's an "in-camera" item relating to CAO recruitment.
Aside from that part, 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.
COVID-19 cases are rising across the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting four cases in the Sault Ste. Marie area, while declaring an outbreak at Echo Bay Early Learning Centre, closing its early learning and care program for two weeks.
This brings the health unit to 269 total cases - 41 currently "active", including one in hospital - though it's also reporting a non-resident case temporarily in Algoma, also noted to be in hospital.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed another case in an unspecified Sudbury District community and eighteen in Greater Sudbury, bringing its total to 1699 - 238 "active" - while four more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 499.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting thirteen new cases - including those that would've been reported yesterday, as it no longer issues updates on Sunday - including nine in the Thunder Bay area, three in unspecified First Nation communities, and one in an unspecified district community.
That brings its total to 2975, with 91 "active" - including fourteen in hospital, five in an ICU - while three more cases with variants of concern were identified.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit has 42 "active" cases at this time.
COVID-19 cases are rising across the region.
Algoma Public Health reported eleven cases over the weekend - one in the Central and East Algoma area, the rest in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing its total to 265, with 37 currently "active", one in hospital.
The Algoma District School Board says two recent cases are linked with its Tarentorus Public School in Sault Ste. Marie, though it says the health unit's contacted close contacts.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts confirmed 61 cases - two in unspecified Sudbury District communities, two in the Manitoulin District, the rest in Greater Sudbury - bringing it to 1680 total, 244 "active".
It's also reporting 18 more cases screened positive for a variant of concern - bringing that total to 495 - though there's good news, as the number of people who've received at least one vaccine dose has hit 40,711, 4838 fully vaccinated.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit added 15 cases over the weekend - 11 in the Timmins area, the rest in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area - bringing its total to 407, 47 "active" while two more tested positive for a variant of concern.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported ten cases in the Thunder Bay area, two in unspecified district communities, and another in an unspecified First Nation community, bringing its total to 2962, 98 "active" - thirteen of those cases are in hospital, five in an ICU.
Wawa has a new municipal website.
The Municipality's formally launched a redesigned "user-friendly" site, with a statement quoting Mayor Ron Rody as saying it is "easier to use and provides much more information than the revious website", noting "our old websites were taken down by hackers" but "the tremendous efforts of our staff including Sue Lord and Anders Dereski" and eSolutions saw the "new and improved website...developed in record time".
Among the features: pictures of Wawa by local photographers; an events calendar; business listing; land information; and the ability to subscride to email updates for news releases, construction notices, community events, and recreation classes.
North Algoma's COVID-19 vaccination clinics are expanding in the region.
Organizers say appointments are now being booked for education workers who provide support to students with special education needs, in line with a move announced by the provincial government last week.
Clinics will further expand over the next couple weeks: adults 65 to 69 years old can start booking an appointment on April 21st, and those 60 to 64 can start May 5th.
Appointments are already open for adults 70 and older, health care workers, faith leaders, adult chronic home care recipients, Indigenous adults and their household members, and staff and caregivers in long-term care, retirement homes, and other congregate care settings.
To book an appointment, call Wawa's central appointment line at 705-914-0464, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre, or White River's Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.
Another COVID-19 death's been reported in a neighbouring region.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's giving no details about its 55th death, which comes as the health unit reports five more cases in the Thunder Bay area and seven in unspecified First Nations - it has seen 2949 cases since the pandemic began, with 101 currently "active", twelve in hospital, five in an ICU.
Algoma Public Health - meanwhile - has confirmed its 254th case - like most of its cases, it's in the Sault Ste. Marie area - leaving the health unit with 26 "active" cases, one in hospital.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has one case in the Sudbury District and eighteen in Greater Sudbury - bringing its total to 1619 - though the number "active" declined slightly to 262 - and it's reporting 20 more cases screened positive for variants of concern, bringing that total to 477.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reported three more cases in the Timmins area and five in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area - two of those linked to a newly declared outbreak amid employees of the Township of Black River-Matheson.
That brings the health unit to 392 cases - 32 active - though it's also noting eight previously-reported cases have screened positive for a variant of concern, expected to be B.1.1.7 - first detected in the U-K - though testing samples of non-residents currently isolating in the health unit's region have confirmed a variant type previously detected in South Africa and Brazil.
Algoma Public Health's reporting five new cases, all in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
That brings the health unit's total to 253, with 27 currently "active", one in hospital.
The Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed another case in Timmins - the health unit's 385th, leaving it with 31 "active".
Meanwhile, the nearby Marathon Family Health Team's confirmed three new cases in that community, which has seen 70 since the pandemic began, seven still "active".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting nineteen new cases: sixteen in Greater Sudbury, two in unspecified Sudbury District communities, and one in an unspecified Manitoulin District community.
The health unit's reported 1600 cases since the pandemic began, with 270 currently "active".
It's also reporting one more case screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 457.
The health unit has also started posting information about all outbreaks in its region - when there are no personal privacy concerns - with its site showing fourteen active community, long-term care, congregate living, hospital, or workplace outbreaks, all in Greater Sudbury.
This comes as the health unit's expanded vaccination eligibility, booking appointments for those 60 and older as of this calendar year.
Premier Doug Ford's declared Ontario's third COVID-19-related provincial emergency - and issuing a provincewide stay-at-home order.
Taking effect at midnight tonight and lasting at least 28 days, the order requires all Ontarians stay home except for essential purposes such as grocery shopping, accessing healthcare services - including COVID-19 vaccination - work that can't be done remotely, or exercise close to home with only those from one's household.
It also limits "non-essential" retailers to curbside pickup and delivery - with big-box retailers limited to selling "essential" items like groceries, household supplies, pharmacy items, and personal care items - while safety supply stores, optical stores, telecommunication retailers, and businesses selling motor vehicles, boat and other watercraft, vehicle repair and rental services are limited to appointment-only with 25% capacity, and garden centres and nurseries will be limited to 25% capacity.
Schools and childcare can remain open if allowed by their local public health unit - Toronto and Peel have ordered their schools to switch to virtual learning - and the emergency declaration also halts residential evictions.
This comes less than a week after the government implemented a provincewide "emergency brake", though the move was criticized as not enough, with the province's doctors, nurses, and hospital associations calling for a stay-at-home order instead.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is expanding COVID-19 vaccination eligibility.
The health unit says - starting today - individuals 60 and older this calendar year are now eligible to book an appointment, which can be done through the province's online booking system or the health unit's phone system.
According to the health unit, 37,227 people in its region had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of yesterday, with 4299 fully vaccinated.
Algoma Public Health's reporting another COVID-19 case in the Sault Ste. Marie area.
It's the health unit's 248th case, with 22 currently "active", one in hospital.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 24 in Greater Sudbury and three in the Sudbury District, bringing its total to 1581, 265 currently "active".
It's also reporting twelve more cases "screened positive for variants of concern", bringing that total to 456.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting five more cases in the Timmins area and two in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, bringing its total to 383 - 32 active - while two more cases screened positive for a variant of concern.
COVID-19 cases are rising across the region.
Algoma Public Health's confirmed six - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing its total to 247, 21 currently "active" including one in hospital.
The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board's confirmed one of Algoma's recent cases is an individual at St. Mary's College in the Sault, prompting two classes to be dismissed until April 15th.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 21 new cases - four in unspecified Sudbury District communities, the rest in Greater Sudbury - bringing its total to 1554 - 256 currently "active" - while 22 more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 444.
The Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed six more cases - all in the Timmins area - bringing the total to 376, 25 currently "active", though it is also reporting another Timmins case screened positive for a variant of concern - and it's warning of possible exposure on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Timmins Thursday night.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting just a single case in the Thunder Bay area - the health unit's 2919th - leaving it with 149 "active", fourteen in hospital, five in an ICU.
Following the Easter holiday, Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation is asking residents to "spring ahead to better health care".
The foundation's annual spring campaign is now underway, and Foundation Assistant Thea Desgagne explains that a letter's been mailed out to residents, outlining some ways to make a donation.
Vice-Chair Susan Switzer notes the mail-out campaign is particularly important, given conditions of the last year.
Switzer adds the winter "Wish" campaign was a "huge success" - letting the Foundation purchase a washer/disinfector/sterilizer for the hospital's Medical Device Reprocessing Department - with the new campaign focusing on a new capital cause, though donors can also request their donation be directed to a specific need for the hospital's long-term care, cancer care, or palliative care.
The campaign runs until Mother's Day, May 9th.
Wawa Municipal Council's got a busy night ahead, with a trio of meetings.
That includes a Committee of Adjustment meeting - which will consider a minor variance for a property along Highway 101 - as well as a Corporate Planning Committee meeting including presentations on the School Safety Zone Project and a new municipal website, plus discussion about trees at the Tremblay Flats Road Cemetery, the draft operating budget and schedule of fees, and a new OPP detachment.
Those meetings will be followed by a regular meeting that includes a resolution to accept the 2020 statement of remuneration and expenses for Council and municipal boards, as well as three "in-camera" items, all explained as Council training for policies.
Aside from the in-camera portion, the meetings will be broadcast on the Municipality's YouTube channel, starting at 6:30 tonight.
COVID-19 cases are rising across the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts confirmed three more deaths over the Easter weekend, bringing its death toll since the pandemic began to 23 - seven of those deaths happened over the last week.
The health unit's also reported a total of 94 cases since Thursday - seven in unspecified Sudbury District communities, the rest in Greater Sudbury - bringing its cumulative cases to 1533 - 266 currently "active" - while fourteen more screened positive for a variant of concern - it now totals 422.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported two deaths over the weekend, bringing its total death toll to 54 - seven over the last week - while confirming 35 new cases - two in unspecified First Nation communities, the rest in the Thunder Bay area - bringing its total to 2918, 163 "active", fourteen in hospital, four in an ICU.
Algoma Public Health reported twelve cases over the weekend - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing its total to 241, 20 "active".
It's also warning of possible exposure at a Tim Hortons in Sault Ste. Marie on March 25th and 26th and at the Pino's Grocery Store, Sault Ste. Marie's Senior's Centre, and the Algoma Treatment and Remand Centre from March 29th to April 1st.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit reported eleven more cases over the weekend - with four screening positive for a variant of concern - leaving it with 20 "active".
