OPP Investigating Death at Barrick Gold Mine

Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a death at the Barrick Gold Mine in Hemlo.

Marathon OPP say emergency services responded to a report of a possible fatality at the mine shortly before 10 o'clock Wednesday night, with medical staff advising police on scene that the victim was deceased - he's been identified as 48-year-old Troy Cameron of Marathon.

An investigation has been launched by Marathon OPP - in conjuction with Ontario's Ministry of Labour - with a post-mortem to be conducted in Toronto, to confirm cause of death.

OPP are asking anyone with information call police or Crime Stoppers.

Small Forest Fire Reported in Wawa District, Nearer to Marathon & RFZ

A small forest fire is being held in the Wawa district - but not very close to town.

Ontario's Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry is reporting "Wawa 6" is being held at a tenth of a hectare in size - it's located northeast of Marathon, and just east of the Restricted Fire Zone.

The Ministry notes there are eleven active fires across the Northeast - including Timmins 10, which is not yet under control at 136 hectares, but recent rainfall has helped crews make progress - while the fire hazard is mostly low to moderate, though the Wawa district is seeing a high hazard.

Ontario's Northwest saw 29 new fires confirmed yesterday - with more reports yet to be investigated - leaving it with 97 active: 39 not yet under control; 10 "being held"; 20 under control; and 28 simply "being observed".

Wawa Public Library Launches Family Photo Scavenger Hunt

The Wawa Public Library's encouraging families to take some photos in a special scavenger hunt.

Assistant Librarian Suzie Jarrell explains the week-long event has a family-based theme, asking families go out and take some photos.

While she emphasizes it's meant to be a fun time for families, Jarrell notes there are some incentives.

Jarrell notes details and forms will also be available at the library.

The Wawa Public Library's Family Photo Scavenger Hunt launches today, and continues to 6 pm next Thursday, July 22nd.

Chapleau Council Accepts Revised OCWA Expenditure Request List

Some issues have led to changes to certain planned capital expenditures in Chapleau.

Mayor Michael Levesque says a discrepancy was detected with the 2021 Capital Expenditure Request List from the Ontario Clean Water Agency, which operates the Water Treatment Plant.

Mayor Levesque suggests better "bookkeeping" or reporting is needed.

Chapleau Town Council has accepted the revised expenditure request.

Chapleau Council Approves Multiple Purchase Orders/Contracts, Accepts Tenders

Chapleau Town Council's approved a number of purchase orders for infrastructure or other work.

Among the items approved last night were tender results for washroom upgrades at the Chapleau Recreation Centre - a project Mayor Michael Levesque says stems from work done at the facility in recent years.

Mayor Levesque notes Council also approved a construction contract agreement for the Water Treatment Plant High Lift Header Replacement, purchase orders for guard rail replacement on the Lisgar Street bridge, the recent hazardous waste collection, and annual items: road salt; winter sand; and vac truck services.

Driver Charged in Collision With Tractor-Trailer North of SSM

A young Sault Ste. Marie man's been charged with careless driving after a collision between a tractor-trailer and a motor vehicle north of the Sault.

Sault Ste. Marie Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to the collision in Aweres Township on Friday, with investigation revealing a southbound vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a northbound tractor trailer.

According to police, the tractor-trailer driver was taken to hospital with "major" injuries, while the other driver sustained "minor" injuries.

The 20-year-old driver was charged with "careless driving - cause bodily harm", with a court appearance set for September.

Wawa Council Holding July's Back-to-Back Meetings

Wawa Municipal Council's set to hold its sole meetings of the month.

First up will be a Corporate Planning Committee meeting, with the agenda including a delegation from Camexicanus about a rural youth arts program in Wawa, as well as discussion about: "Speed Spy" traffic studies; recruitment for the Lady Dunn Health Centre; a new optional small business property subclass; and an update on COVID-19 related issues - that’s expected to include discussion about the possible reopening of the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre and recreation programming.

Most of those will come back up in tonight's regular meeting of Council, which also includes by-laws to purchase property at 84 Broadway Avenue and sell municipal land at 300 and 314 Blue Avenue in the Michipicoten River Village and at 39 Broadway Avenue.

There is a single "in-camera" item, a personnel issue relating to employee negotiations.

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

PHSD Confirms 2172nd COVID-19 Cases, More Than A Week After Last Case

For the first time in nine days, Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting a new case of COVID-19.

The health unit's 2172nd, the case is located in Greater Sudbury, though the probable exposure is still under investigation.

It's also reporting another "resolved" case - keeping it at two "active" - while showing a total of 212,180 vaccine doses have been administered, with 127,231 people getting at least one dose, and 84,949 considered "fully vaccinated".

Chapleau Council Set for July Meeting

Chapleau Town Council's set to hold their sole meeting of the month.

Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting is a by-law for a construction contract agreement for key equipment replacement at the Water Treatment Plant, as well as resolutions on tender results for the Chapleau Recreation Centre washroom upgrades and purchase orders for rock salt, road sand, guard rail replacement, hazardous waste collection, and vac truck services.

The public can listen in on the meeting by calling 1-800-974-5902, entering conference ID 5116623 - it starts at 6:30 pm.

OPP Warn of Changes to Stunt Driving Penalties

Ontario Provincial Police are warning of recent changes to "street racing" penalties.

Superior East OPP Detective Constable Trevor Tremblay notes the penalty for "stunt driving" offences has increased - with a change in the speed threshold, too.

OPP warn aggressive driving is a "leading causal factor" in fatal motor vehicle collisions on OPP-patrolled roads, with excessive speeds "one of the most dangerous aggressive driving behaviours on our roadways".

Father Michael of Wawa's St. Monica's Parish Collecting Donations for Ghana

Wawa's being encouraged to donate items to support Ghana.

Father Michael Asorgoe of St. Monica's Parish says he has been collecting items to send back to Ghana for the last five years, as a way to pay back his community and the needy.

Asorgoe notes he is looking for women and children's "summer weight" clothing - inner and outer wear - as well as linens like bedding and towels, plus small hand tools like hammers, saws, or masonry tools, which could help street children learn a trade and help take care of their family.

Father Asorgoe thanks the community for their support in the past, including Ray and Christine Parisee, Andy Stevens, and the United Church, which usually donates items from its Thrift Shop, which is not possible this year, given COVID restrictions.

Donations can be dropped off at the Rectory porch - on Caverhill across from the Royal Bank - by July 25th, at latest.

Pair of Wawa Graduates Honoured With Scholarships

A pair of Wawa students are being honoured with special scholarships.

The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says seventeen students across the board have been awarded a "Bishop Alexander Carter Foundation Scholarship" valued at $1000 each - the scholarship recognizes Catholic secondary school graduates in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie who "distinguished themselves as [an]: enlightened believer, effective communicator, thoughtful thinker, independent learner, collaborator, considerate person, and responsible citizen".

Two graduates of Wawa's Ecole secondaire Saint-Joseph - Haley Fortin and Matthew Schumacher - are among the recipients - Fortin also received a "Vision Scholarship" of $500 for reflecting the board's vision of "thriving French-language Catholic students, proud and ready to take place in their society".

Algoma Steel Getting Federal $ to Become Greener

Algoma Steel's getting federal backing to become one of the "greenest" steel producers in North America.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Sault Ste. Marie Monday to announce up to $420-million for the Sault steelmaker to buy new "state-of-the-art equipment" so it can transition to electric arc furnace-based production, which Trudeau says will give them "an even greater competitive edge over imported steel", adding "that's not just good for business - that's good for the environment", as it is expected to cut Algoma Steel's carbon emissions by as much as 70 percent, making it the lowest cost per tonne of greenhouse gas reduction in Canada.

$200-million of the funds comes from Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund through the Net Zero Accelerator to "rapidly expedited decarbonization projects and accelerate Canada's industrial transformation", while the other $220-million comes from an investment agreement in principle with the Canada Infrastructure Bank, which will provide the funds over four years.

PHSD Reports More Resolved COVID-19 Cases, Increased Vaccination

Some good news on the COVID-19 front locally.

For the second straight day, Public Health Sudbury and Districts isn't reporting any new cases - and unlike the previous day, no more screened positive for a variant of concern - though it is reporting two more "resolved" cases, leaving it with only seven "active": one in the eastern part of the Sudbury District, and six in Greater Sudbury.

It's also reporting the total number of vaccine doses administered reached 200,592 yesterday: 126,013 people in the region have now received at least one shot, with 74,579 now "fully vaccinated".

PHSD Reports COVID-19 Variant Case, More New Cases in Neighbouring Regions

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

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting two in the James and Hudson Bay region - bringing the health unit to 2087, with 58 currently "active" - while the Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added a single case in an unspecified First Nation community - that health unit's seen 3338 cases, with three currently "active".

Public Health Sudbury and Districts isn't reporting any new cases, but it is showing a 978th case screened positive for a variant of concern - it has nine "active" cases at the moment: one in the eastern part of the Sudbury District, the rest in Greater Sudbury.

Algoma Public Health currently has none.

Wawa Launching Tourism-Focused Initiatives

Wawa's taking a different approach to tourism this year - and into the future.

While the Tourist Information Centre is closed for the season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson explains the Municipality's decided to "transform" some positions there is normally funding for, making them "tourism ambassadors".

Patterson emphasizes these positions will not only provide travellers with information but also help people travel in the area in a safe way, advertise the community, and gather information on the people coming through the area, to inform future tourism activities.

This comes as the Municipality's also looking into how to transform local tourism, as Patterson says the pandemic's caused a shift from American tourists to Canadians - to a higher volume than expected - and it's expected to leave "a new reality", requiring a change in Wawa's tourism marketing.

Patterson notes data gathered by the tourism ambassadors will help develop a plan as the Municipality considers its role in encouraging tourism sector recovery over the next several years.

A Few COVID-19 Cases Reported Over Canada Day Weekend

A few COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region in recent days.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added five in Greater Sudbury - bringing the health unit to 2171 total, with 15 "active" - while a 977th case screened positive for a variant of concern.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's confirmed seventeen new cases - seven in the James and Hudson Bay region, seven in the Timmins area, three in the Cochrane area - bringing it to 2084 total.

It last reported 70 "active", but that was before many of the cases were reported over the weekend.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit reported a single case Friday - in the Thunder Bay area, stemming from travel outside northwestern Ontario - bringing it to 3338, with four "active", though it no longer issues weekend updates.

Algoma Public Health was quiet, reporting no new cases - it currently has none "active".

Wawa Offering Recreation Options in Step Two of Provincial Reopening

Some recreation options are opening up in Wawa.

As the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre can't reopen until at least Step Three of the province's "Roadmap to Reopen", Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson says his department's looking to facilitate outdoor activities - particularly after the "great uptake" during last month's ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge - with this year's recreation programming shifting to "pop up" events, given the flexible situation.

Patterson adds plans are also for "more informal" options, making amenities open to people rather than scheduling a program.

Patterson notes further details will be available through the Wawa Recreation Facebook page or by contacting the MMCC.

Cart (0)