Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
Wawa's building department is planning to close for the final week of the month.
A notice on the municipal website warns the Building Department will be closed this Monday, August 23rd through the 31st, so no municipal building permits, fire permits, inspections, or similar services will be available during that time.
In the case of an emergency, however, the Municipal Office could be contacted.
A few more COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added two in Greater Sudbury, and another in the Manitoulin District, bringing it to 2227, with 22 "active".
It's also reporting two more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1031.
The health unit's holding an "appointment-only clinic" in Chapleau today.
While Algoma Public Health isn't reporting any new cases, it is warning of potential public exposure on Air Canada Flight AC 8320 from Sault Ste. Marie to Toronto on Saturday - passengers who sat in seats 2 to 8 should contact the health unit for further information, while anyone who was on the plane is advised to self-monitor for symptoms for ten days after the potential exposure and self-isolate immediately and get tested if symptoms develop.
It's also reporting a major vaccination milestone: 75% of the region's eligible population are now considered "fully vaccinated", while 82.7% of the eligible population have received at least one dose.
Fishing is coming to an end ahead of the Wawa Salmon Derby.
Today's the last day in the five-day pre-derby fishing contest ahead of the 39th annual derby, offering any anglers registered for the derby a chance at a prize for the largest fish caught today.
The "modified" derby will be held this Friday, August 20th, through Sunday, August 22nd.
One person is dead after an ATV collision in the Chapleau area.
Superior East OPP say they responded last night to the collision near Nagasin Lake in Caverley Township - the driver was pronounced dead at the scene, identified as 86-year-old Andre Vanmaele of Tillsonburg.
An investigation is underway, with assistance from the North East Region Traffic Incident Management Enforcement (TIME) Team, including a Technical Collision Investigator (TCI) and a Reconstructionist.
Wawa Municipal Council will reopen meetings to the public next month.
A notice on the Municipality's website says meetings will reopen September 7th, with some conditions: Council Chambers will be limited to 50 percent occupancy, while those attending will need to maintain physical distancing of two metres, sanitize hands on arrival, wear a proper mask, and complete a self-screening questionnaire prior to entry - those showing symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed entry.
When discussed last week, Council was told meetings will still be livestreamed on the Municipality's YouTube channel.
Several COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting one in the Sault Ste. Marie area, but it's also notes one of the two cases reported on Friday has been removed from the health unit's case count and transferred to an unspecified other jurisdiction - as its figures still show six cases reported in North Algoma, it appears that it was the Sault case that has moved.
This brings the health unit to 410 cases, with four currently "active".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts - on the other hand - has added six cases in Greater Sudbury, two in the eastern part of the Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District, bringing the health unit to 2224 total, though the number "active" has dropped to 21.
The health unit's also reporting eight more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1029.
It's holding a series of COVID-19 vaccination clinics this week, including an "appointment-only clinic" in Chapleau on Wednesday.
While Canada's 44th federal general election is now underway, it's unclear who will be vying to represent this riding.
So far, only two parties have announced their candidates for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing: the Conservatives have picked professional engineer John Sagman while the NDP are sticking with incumbent Carol Hughes, who's running for her fifth term.
Neither are listed on Elections Canada's website at this time, though it notes the nomination process is still open until August 30th - three weeks before the September 20th election day - with a complete list of confirmed candidates to be released September 1st.
Another COVID-19 case's been reported in the region.
The Porcupine Health Unit's added one in the Cochrane, Matheson, Iroquois Falls, and Smooth Rock Falls area - bringing the health unit to 2154, with only three "active" - while reporting five more cases of the "Delta" variant were confirmed in Timmins and two in Smooth Rock Falls, bringing the health unit's total to 59.
While it isn't reporting any new cases today - after reporting one in North Algoma and another in the Sault Ste. Marie area heading into the weekend, leaving it with four "active" - Algoma Public Health's warning of potential public exposure at Uncle Gino's Cafe and Ristorante in the Sault on August 8th, between 3 and 4 pm and potential "low-risk" exposure at a wedding reception in Bruce Mines on August 7th.
A little more time's being offered to those wishing to join in a Wawa tradition honouring those who've passed.
While the deadline to purchase a painted butterfly kit for the Lady Dunn Health Centre Palliative Care Program's third annual "Memorial Butterfly Release" was today, it has been extended to this Friday, August 20th.
Orders can be made online, through Eventbrite.
The event will be held next week, on Wednesday, August 25th.
Some important work's planned in Wawa.
Wawa Municipal Council's approved a $51,205 proposal from Kurt Geldart General Contracting Ltd. Wawa, which Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson says includes bringing washrooms back to Scenic High Falls.
Patterson adds the project also includes a new roof for the pavilion, as its shingles are peeling off and any resulting leaks put the timbers below at risk.
The work's expected to start in mid-September, concluding "before the snow flies".
In addition, Council's approved plans to replace the airport's runway lights with new LED lighting, accepting one of two RFPs received: a $391,264 proposal from Tristar Electrical.
Council was told the current lights were installed in 1988 but have now surpassed their useful life and it's become quite difficult to locate replacement parts.
While the resolution passed by Council notes the Municipality's applied for funding under FedNor's Regional Air Transportation Initiative Program, it commits the Municipality to fund the project through general reserves, if it is unsuccessful.
A few more COVID-19 cases have been reported in the region - including one locally.
Algoma Public Health's added one in the Sault Ste. Marie area and another in North Algoma - the exact community isn't specified, but the region includes Dubreuilville, Michipicoten First Nation, Missinabie Cree First Nation, Wawa, and White River.
This brings the health unit to 410 total, with four "active".
It's also warning of potential public exposure at Uncle Gino's Cafe and Ristorante in the Sault on August 8th, between 3 and 4 pm.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts added two cases in Greater Sudbury and another in the Manitoulin District - bringing it to 2214, with 26 "active" - while reporting four more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1021.
Wawa Municipal Council discussed several items in a pair of back-to-back meetings this week.
The meetings began with Deputy Mayor Pat Tait reading a tribute to longtime municipal worker Marc Liard, who died last weekend...
Wawa Municipal Council then heard a presentation from Beverly Boyd of Wawa and Area Victim Services on a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan - public sessions on the draft are planned before it is finalized - and discussed topics including the filling of potential Council vacancies.
While there is no vacancy at this time, Clerk Cathy Cyr said advice was requested, noting Council has two main options: a byelection or an appointment, though there are many methods to determining an appointment, such as requesting expressions of interest or simply choosing a new councillor, perhaps the runner-up from the last election.
Cyr noted a byelection "may appear to be the best choice" by allowing the public to choose through a democratic process but it could take more time than an appointment and would cost about the same as an election, which could pose a particular issue next year, as the next municipal election will be held in October 2022.
As there is no current vacancy, the report was only for information, with no decision made.
In a separate item, Cyr also noted plans are to reopen Council meetings for limited public attendance with rules such as masks required, starting next month - they will still be livestreamed on the Municipality's YouTube channel, however.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed a few more COVID-19 cases.
The health unit's added four cases in the Manitoulin District and two in Greater Sudbury, but removed a resolved previously reported in the Sudbury District - saying the case was "reported in error" - bringing its total to 2211, with 25 "active": seven in Greater Sudbury, the rest in the Manitoulin District.
It's also reporting four more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing that total to 1017.
Anglers will start hitting the water this weekend for the chance at some prizes for the upcoming Wawa Salmon Derby.
While the "modified" 39th annual derby isn't for another week - August 20th to 22nd - the five-day "pre-fishing" contest starts tomorrow, August 14th, running through Wednesday, August 18th.
It's open to anyone registered for the derby, with the chance to reel in a prize for the largest fish each day.
Time is running out for those wishing to join in a Wawa tradition to honour those who've passed.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre Palliative Care Program's third annual "Memorial Butterfly Release" is coming in less than two weeks, but the deadline to purchase a painted butterfly kit is this Monday, August 16th
Wawa Family Health Team Nurse Practitioner Tricia Provost explains orders can be made online.
While there will be an event at the hospital, that will be limited to long-term care residents and their families, though it will be livestreamed so people can watch and join in the release.
The event will be held Wednesday, August 25th.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has confirmed a new case in Greater Sudbury - the health unit's 2206th - leaving the health unit with 19 "active": five in Greater Sudbury, the rest in the Manitoulin District.
In addition, it's warning of potential public exposure for anyone who attended the KUPP Centre in Sudbury last Friday, August 6th, between 2 and 4 pm.
The health unit's also reporting three more cases confirmed or presumed to be variants of concern, bringing it to 1013.
Algoma Public Health is also reporting another case screened positive for a variant of concern, bringing that total to 113 - the health unit currently has two "active" cases.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's confirmed two cases in the Thunder Bay area - one stemming from travel outside northwestern Ontario, the other unknown at this time - bringing the health unit to 3350 total, with five "active".
While Public Health Sudbury and Districts didn't confirm any new cases, it is reporting one more confirmed or presumed to be a variant of concern, bringing it to 1010 - it has nineteen "active" cases.
It's also warning of potential public exposure on an Ontario Northland bus from Yorkdale Station in Toronto to Sudbury this past Monday, August 9th, while the Porcupine Health Unit's warning of potential public exposure on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Timmins yesterday.
The Porcupine Health Unit has four "active" cases.
Only minor injuries have been reported after a plane crashed into a lake near Sault Ste. Marie.
Sault OPP, Batchewana First Nation Police, the Anishinabek Police Service Marine Unit, and District of Sault Ste. Marie Paramedic Services responded yesterday, after a Challenger 2 Ultralight aircraft crashed into Lake George, in the Squirrel Island area.
Officials say the aircraft capsized and sank, though the pilot - its sole occupant - escaped and was picked up by a nearby boat, which transported him to shore so he could be taken to hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
The Transportation Safety Board's been notified, with an investigation underway.
Wawa's being thanked for supporting Ghana - though more help is being requested.
Father Michael Asorgoe of St. Monica's Parish says his initial call received great support.
However, Father Asorgoe says he didn't receive as many hand tools as he'd like, and is trying once again to see if some can be donated.
Donations can be dropped off at the Rectory porch - on Caverhill, across from the Royal Bank - by August 23rd.
Wawa Municipal Council's set to hold a pair of meetings tonight.
First will be the Corporate Planning Committee, which will hear a presentation on a Community Safety and Well-Being Plan, then discuss the MMCC reopening plan, installation of composting toilets and a steel roof for the Scenic High Falls pavillion, airport runway lights, and Council vacancy options - Municipal officials explain this is simply a report on the options available with no resolutions to be adopted, and there is no vacancy at the moment.
Those items will come back up in tonight's regular meeting of Council, which also includes two "in-camera" items: a personnel issue about employee negotiations; and a personal issue about a noise complaint.
The meetings will be held back-to-back, broadcast (except for the "in-camera portion) on the Municipality's YouTube channel starting at 6:30 pm.
