Wawa Reopening Some Outdoor Amenities

Wawa's reopening some outdoor recreational amenities.

As the province has announced amenities such as sports fields, basketball courts, picnic tables and areas, and park shelters "may" reopen tomorrow, the Municipality says amenities will reopen with restrictions, including physical distancing and a limit of five people for outdoor gatherings.

That includes the Municipal Marina, allowing recreational boating, though only members of a household can gather on a boat.

Washroom facilities will also open, but not until some time next week.

This comes after Municipal Council voted to accept staff recommendations to keep the Tourism Information Centre closed for the season - at least for now - and to cancel this year's Canada Day fireworks.

COVID-19 Cases Reported Across Region, Particularly PHU

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting five more in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 382, with 36 "active", two in hospital - plus a non-resident case also in hospital in the region - while six cases screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 91.

It's also declared an outbreak at the Ontario Finnish Resthome in Sault Ste. Marie, as three residents and a staff member tested positive for COVID-19.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - meanwhile - has added three cases in Greater Sudbury - while removing one previously reported in the Sudbury District - bringing the health unit to 2063, though the number "active" has declined to 45.

It's also reporting six more cases screened positive for variants of concern - bringing that to 892 - while a seventh case with a variant of concern was identified.

The Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed eleven more cases in the James and Hudson Bay Region and five in the Timmins area, bringing it to 972 - it reported 225 were "active" yesterday, but before the latest cases were reported.

Safe Boating Week Begins With Victoria Day Weekend, Canada Road Safety Week Continues

With the long weekend here, Ontario Provincial Police are reminding boaters to be careful out on the water.

As tomorrow marks the start of Safe Boating Week, Superior East OPP Constable Trevor Tremblay urges boaters to be prepared while heading out on the water.

OPP note 2020 saw 32 boaters and paddlers die on OPP-patrolled waterways - a twelve-year high for marine deaths - with failling overboard and capsized vessels the lead primary causes.

Constable Tremblay further reminds drivers to be careful on the roads.

Canada Road Safety Week is also underway - running through the weekend - with local OPP watching for the "Big Four" causal factors in collisions - impaired, aggressive, or distracted driving, or lack of seatbelts - though Constable Tremblay also reminds drivers to be wary of fatigue and to "know your limits, don't push it".

OPP Bust Illegal Chapleau Grow-Op

Five Toronto-area residents are facing charges over an illegal grow-op in Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the North East Region Community Street Crime Unit executed a Cannabis Act search warrant at a commercial property on Martel Road yesterday afternoon, with the search revealing a large illegal cannabis growing operation.

Police seized more than 12,000 plants in various stages of growth - an estimated street value of $12-million - along with lighting and electrical equipment.

Arrested are five people from the Greater Toronto Area - ranging in age from 21 to 53 - with police laying charges of "cultivate, propagate, or harvest any cannabis plant at a place that is not their dwelling house", contrary to the Cannabis Act.

They're scheduled to appear in court in early July.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases & Possible Exposure, PHSD Reports New Cases

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

Algoma Public Health is showing five more in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing the health unit to 377, with 31 currently "active", one in hospital - while five more cases screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 85.

It's also warning of "potential low-risk exposure" on Sault Ste. Marie Transit May 14th, 15th, and 19th - the exact routes and times are on the health unit's website.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - meanwhile - has added six cases in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit to 2061, though the number "active" has declined to 48 - 40 of them are in Greater Sudbury, six in the western part of the Sudbury District, one in the northern part of the district, and the other in the Manitoulin District.

The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting nine more cases in the Timmins area and three in the James and Hudson Bay region - that brings it to 922 reported cases, though it's unclear how many are currently "active", as that was updated before these cases were reported, though the count at that time was 197, two outside the district.

Superior East OPP Watching Amid Canada Road Safety Week

Ontario Provincial Police are warning they'll be watching roads, trails, and waterways ahead of and over the upcoming long weekend.

Superior East OPP Constable Trevor Tremblay explains Canada Road Safety Week is now underway, with the OPP participating through enforcement and education, focusing on the "Big Four".

Constable Tremblay adds that another focus is fatigue, noting Superior East OPP see "a lot of non-fatal collisions" that can be attributed to the problem.

Constable Tremblay urges drivers to "know your limits, don't push it", acknowledging it can be tempting - and most of us have pushed it at one time or another - but "you don't want to end up killing somebody or ending up with a wrecked vehicle".

He also notes that Safe Boating Week's also set to arrive with the long weekend, urging safety on the water, as well.

APH Reports New Cases, None for PHSD

Algoma Public Health's reporting five new cases - all in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 373, with 30 currently "active", one in hospital.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts isn't reporting any new cases - for the first time in some time - though it is reporting four more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 886.

The health unit's also showing six more "resolved" cases, bringing it down to 50 "active" - 42 are in Greater Sudbury, six in the western part of the Sudbury District, one in the northern part of the district, and the other in the Manitoulin District.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added four more cases in the Timmins area and two in the James and Hudson Bay region, bringing it to 893 - it last reported 218 "active", but that was updated before those cases were reported.

OPP Investigating Theft From Chapleau Area Tourist Outfitter

Police are asking for public help finding out who stole from a tourist outfitter near Chapleau.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say that - sometime between November 2020 and this month - unknown person(s) attended a tourist outfitter camp on Adams Lake Road in Borden Township, about 20 kilometres east of Chapleau.

The main lodge and two outbuildings were forcibly entered, with several items taken: a red Honda 2200 Companion Generator; an Excalibur Micro 350 Crossbow, camouflage colour; a Dewalt 20 volt Cordless Tool Set - drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw; five Trail Cameras; a Range Finder; three 20-pound propane tanks; and two 5-gallon gas cans.

Investigators currently have no suspects, and ask anyone with information call police or Crime Stoppers.

PHSD Expanding COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic Eligibility to 18+

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is expanding COVID-19 vaccination eligibility - and speeding up second shots for another group.

The health unit says residents turning 18 or older this year can now book an appointment through the province's online booking system or by calling the health unit at 1-800-708-2505.

It further notes it now has a vaccination standby list for any remaining doses at the end of each clinic day, if you have yet to receive your first dose - the list's renewed daily, so you need to register on the health unit's website each day to stay on the list.

The health unit's also announced that urban Indigenous individuals are now eligible to receive their second dose at an interval shorter than the four month guideline for most everyone else, the latest group added to the list after "high risk" health care workers.

APH Reports 4 COVID-19 Cases, PHSD More 1

More COVID-19 cases are being reported across the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting four in the Sault Ste. Marie area - bringing the health unit to 368, 28 "active", one in hospital - while five more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 80.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - meanwhile - has added just a single case in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit to 2055, 56 "active" - while five more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 882.

The health unit reported its 29th COVID-19 death yesterday, saying only that it was in Greater Sudbury.

Wawa Council Holding Back-to-Back-to-Back Meetings

Wawa Municipal Council has a busy night ahead, with a trio of meetings.

That includes a Committee of Adjustment meeting which will see discussion about a minor variance application, followed by a Corporate Planning Committee meeting, which will see discussion about the OPP Detachment Board, records retention, a draft by-law on camping, updates on the Community Well-Being Safety Plan and the Municipal Marina's operation, and a planning report about a zoning by-law amendment.

The OPP Detachment Board will come back up in the final meeting, a regular meeting of Council, along with resolutions to cancel this year's Canada Day fireworks, keep the Tourist Information Centre closed this year, and accept and adopt a Municipal COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Council will also consider granting a temporary Zoning By-Law amendment to allow for three "SeaCan" storage containers on a McKinley Avenue property for up to 36 months, with the possibility of one extension of another 36 months.

When it was discussed in a Planning Act meeting two weeks ago, it was noted the containers - being used by Canadian Tire Wawa for storage - are already on the property, though a neighbour had raised concerns - that such containers don't belong in a residential area, may reduce their property value, will lead to increase forklift and truck traffic, and that an "appropriate building" should be put there instead, improving the lot's value and netting the municipality higher taxation of the property - though assurances were given that attempts would be made to address concerns about traffic and noise, while councillors wanted to see the Municipality's policy on such storage containers before making a decision.

The meeting also includes several "in-camera" items: a legal issue about a legal opinion; two legal issues about offers to purchase property; a Council procedural item; and a legal issue about a citizen concern.

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

PHSD Speeding Up 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for High-Risk Health Care Workers

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is speeding up second shots for "high-risk" health care workers.

The health unit says the group - which includes "highest priority" health care workers, long-term care and retirement home staff, and essential caregivers - is eligible to book the second dose at an interval shorter than the four month window for most of the population, with the health unit vowing to "work to reschedule as many individuals as possible based on vaccine availability", though only those eligible who are scheduled for clinics that are being rebooked will be contacted - if you fit the criteria and aren't contacted by Thursday (including if you hadn't booked the 2nd dose yet), contact the health unit's booking centre.

PHSD Reports 29th COVID-19 Death, More Cases Across Region

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says only that its 29th COVID-related death happened in Greater Sudbury, giving no other details "out of respect".

The health unit is - however - reporting five more cases in Greater Sudbury and two in the Sudbury District - bringing it to 2054, 60 currently "active" - while one more screened positive for a variant of concern, to 877.

Algoma Public Health's confirmed one case in the Elliot Lake area, but it also says two reported in that area on Friday do not actually "meet case definition" and are no longer considered cases, so they've been removed from the health unit's case count.

That's brought the health unit's total down slightly - to 364 - with 30 "active", one in hospital.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added two cases in the Thunder Bay area and another in an unspecified First Nation community - bringing it to 3168, with 29 "active", four in hospital, one in an I-C-U - while five more cases with variants of concern were identified.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added sixteen cases in the Timmins area, six for Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls, two in the James and Hudson Bay region, and one in the Kapuskasing, Opasatika, Val Rita-Harty, Moonbeam, and Fauquier-Strickland area.

That brings it to 881, with 250 active - the most of any health unit in Northern Ontario - two are currently "outside the district".

It's also declared an outbreak at the Pick of the Crop specialty grocery store in Timmins.

North Algoma COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Expanding Eligibility to 50yo, At-Risk Health Conditions & More Essential Workers

Eligibility's expanding for North Algoma's COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Organizers say a wide range of people are now able to book an appointment, including adults 50 and older and people with certain "at-risk" health conditions, such as: immune deficiencies and autoimmune disorders; stroke and cerebrovascular disease; dementia; diabetes; liver disease; cancer; respiratory diseases; heart disease; sickle cell disease; substance use disorders; diagnosed mental disorder; and disabilities requiring direct support care in the community.

They're also booking appointments for a broader range of "essential" workers who cannot work from home, such as: essential and critical retail workers, including grocery, wholesale, pharmacy, restaurant, LCBO, and food bank; workers in manufacturing industries directly involved in supporting the COVID-19 response, construction and other essential businesses and services where facilities are at a heightened risk of COVID-19 spread or outbreak; social workers and social services staff who provide in-person client services; warehousing, distribution, and transportation workers, including public transit and taxi drivers, as well as highway and rail maintenance; natural gas, propane, and oil and petroleum workers; electricity delivery workers; water and wastewater management workers; waste management workers; communications infrastructure workers; financial services workers, including bank branch staff; court and justice system workers; veterinarians and veterinary teams; mine workers; and uranium processing workers.

This follows a similar expansion across the province, including with Public Health Sudbury and Districts.

To book an appointment for North Algoma's clinics, call Wawa's central appointment line at 705-914-0464, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre, or White River's Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

LDHC Board of Directors Meeting Via Videoconference

Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre board of directors is meeting by videoconference at 7 tonight.

For more information, call Hannah Garland at 705-856-2335, extension 3210.

COVID-19 Cases Reported Throughout Region

More COVID-19 cases are being reported across the region.

Algoma Public Health's confirmed two in the Sault Ste. Marie area and two in the Elliot Lake area, bringing it to 365 total - 31 "active", one in hospital - while one more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 75.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported ten more cases in Greater Sudbury and three in the Sudbury District - it also decreased the number reported in the Manitoulin District, though it's unclear if that shifted to Greater Sudbury or the Sudbury District - bringing the health unit to 2047, 57 currently "active".

Seven more cases screened positive for a variant of concern - bringing that to 876 - while an outbreak's been declared at IAMGOLD's Côté Gold Project in Gogama.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reported one case in the Thunder Bay area, one in an unspecified district community, and two in an unspecified First Nation community, bringing the health unit to 3165 - 32 "active", including four in hospital, one in an ICU - while six more cases with a variant of concern were identified, bringing that to 74.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's added 38 cases in the Timmins area, four 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 856 cases, though it hasn't updated its "active" case count since Friday, when it reported 194 - two "outside the district" - that is the most of any Northern health unit at this time.

The health unit's also declared outbreaks at the Monteith Correctional Centre and an off-site facility of the Timmins and District Hospital, while warning of potential exposure from Vet's Taxi in Timmins May 6th to 8th.

New COVID-19 Cases Reported Across Region

COVID-19 cases are rising across the region.

Algoma Public Health's reporting two in Sault Ste. Marie and another in the Central and East Algoma area, bringing it to 361 total, with 27 currently "active", one in hospital.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added one case in Greater Sudbury and another in the Manitoulin District - bringing it to 2035, though the number "active" has dropped to 66 - while four more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 869.

The Porcupine Health Unit's reporting 22 in the Timmins area, three in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area, and another in the James and Hudson Bay region, bringing it to 813, with 194 currently "active" - that's the most of any Northern Ontario region at this time.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed three new cases in the Thunder Bay area and another in an unspecified First Nation community - bringing it to 3161, with 34 "active", four in hospital, one in an ICU - while seven more cases with variants of concern were identified, bringing that to 68.

AMK MP Again Proposes Medal for Those Who Served Amid Cold War

A local New Democrat's once again looking to create a medal to honour those who defended Canada from potential attack during the Cold War.

Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes has tabled a bill to establish a "Defence of Canada Medal" for those who served amid the Cold War, noting a fresh perspective amid the pandemic.

Hughes adds this has wide support.

This is the third time she's introduced such a bill, though neither previous attempt made it to debate.

PHSD Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Eligibility to 40 y.o.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has expanded eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination.

The health unit says individuals as young as 40 can start booking an appointment today, through the province's online booking system or by calling the health unit's number, 1-800-708-2505.

This comes just two days after it expanded eligibility to those with "at-risk" health conditions and "Group Two" of people who can't work from home.

In addition, the health unit's noting select groups - including those on hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis - will be able to get their second dose sooner than expected, as they face a greater risk of contracting and suffering serious illness from COVID-19.

North Algoma's vaccine clinics - which do not use the province's booking system - has yet to announce plans to expand eligibility.

APH, PHSD, and PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.

Algoma Public Health's confirmed four in the Sault Ste. Marie area, bringing the health unit to 358 total - 24 are currently "active", two in hospital, plus two "non-resident cases temporarily in Algoma" in hospital.

Eight recent cases have been linked to the Tenaris AlgomaTubes mill in the Sault, according to a Facebook post from the company, which is increasing availability of on-site testing and encouraging workers to use it frequently.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts - meanwhile - has added eight cases in Greater Sudbury and another in the Sudbury District, evidently in the North part of the district, as it now shows a single "active" case in the area, which includes Chapleau, Foleyet, Gogama, Cartier, and surrounding areas.

The health unit's seen 2033 cases, with 84 currently "active".

In addition, two more screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that to 865.

The Porcupine Health Unit's also reporting a case in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area plus another in the Timmins area - bringing its total to 771 - while declaring an outbreak at EACOM Timber in Timmins, which has shut down after four cases were linked to the workplace.