PHSD Reports 150th COVID-19 Death, APH Reports New Cases

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

In its latest update, Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported its 132nd COVID-related death in Greater Sudbury, the health unit's 150th, just two days after it reported its 149th, on Wednesday.

The health unit also reported 31 new cases - 22 in Greater Sudbury, four in the Sudbury District, and five in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 131 known "active" cases - one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 35 cases in hospital, four in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health added eleven new cases - eight in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma, and one in the Elliot Lake area - though the number "active" cases is down to 77, with twelve in hospital, two in ICUs.

TBDHU & PHU Report COVID-19 Deaths, APH Sees New Cases

More COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in neighbouring regions.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's giving no details about its 92nd death linked to the illness, which comes two weeks after its 91st.

The health unit's also reporting 112 cases since Wednesday - 91 in the Thunder Bay area, fifteen in unspecified First Nation communities, and six in unspecified district communities - leaving it with 217 known "active" cases, 32 in hospital, three in I-C-Us.

Meanwhile, the Porcupine Health Unit's reporting its 64th COVID-19 death - the 33rd this year - just over two weeks after its 63rd death.

It's also reported 31 cases since Wednesday, but no longer breaks that down by region or reports "active" case counts, but it does show eight in hospital.

Algoma Public Health's added ten cases - eight in the Sault Ste. Marie area and two in the Elliot Lake area - leaving 76 "active" - plus one "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma" - with sixteen in hospital, one in an ICU.

Sault Ste. Marie Roman Catholic Diocese Bishop Visiting Region

The Wawa area's receiving a special visit, from the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie.

Bishop Thomas Dowd explains part of his trip to this region is because he's new to the area - originally from Montreal, he was only appointed bishop of the diocese covering North Bay through White River a year and a half ago.

The bishop notes he's visited many places in the last few days - including some local schools, a local mine, and generally viewing the environment - and celebrated confirmations, sensing happiness about the ability to gather after pandemic restrictions.

He also commends the friendliness.

Bishop Dowd - who arrived in the area last Saturday - will wrap up his visit by attending a First Communion in White River on Sunday.

Algoma-Manitoulin Candidates Make Their Pitch in 2022 Ontario Election

Listen to four of the six candidates for Algoma-Manitoulin in discussion with JJAM FM’s Daniel Walker.

Efforts were made to reach out to the other two candidates, Maria Legault (Green Party) and Frederick Weening (Ontario Party), but they did not respond and so arrangements could not be made for interviews.

Advance Polling Set to End for 2022 Ontario Election

With the Ontario election date less than a week away, options to vote early are running out.

Advance polls are set to end today or tomorrow (depending on location), with a few locations in the area, including Wawa's satellite office at 3 Maple Street, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex.

Noting you can search for the nearest location through the Elections Ontario website, Jo Langham - manager of media and public engagement - reminds there's a helpful change for advance polls this election.

Langham also reminds that today is the deadline to apply to vote by mail - you can do so through Elections Ontario's website, but the ballot must be received by the elections agency by 6 pm on Election Day, Thursday, June 2nd.

You'll also be able to cast ballots at the Wawa satellite office until Wednesday, June 1st.

Registration Underway for Wawa's Canada Day Goose Nest Market

Organizers for Wawa's Goose Nest Markets are calling for vendors for their Canada Day event.

Noting they like to have registrations about a month ahead of time, Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains there's a little time left for the Canada Day market.

White says there are already at least 20 vendors registered, with more treats planned.

The Goose Nest Markets opened for the season just ahead of Mother's Day, with a Youth Goose Nest Market to be held next Saturday, June 4th.

Walk for Alzheimers Coming This Weekend

Wawa residents are being encouraged to strap on their shoes and get walking to support the local Alzheimer Society.

This Sunday will see the annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimers, with local funds to support the Alzheimer Society of Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District, which supports North Algoma - including Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Chapleau and neighbouring First Nation communities - with its FIRST Link direct referral program, family support and counselling, the Minds in Motion physical activity program, a Resource Lending Library, the Project Lifesaver program to help with lost individuals, and other education, training, and awareness support.

You can register at walkforalzheimers.ca, with the event to be held in Wawa Sunday - at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre outdoor track - with registration at noon and the walk and celebration at 1 pm.

Chapleau's Clean-Up Week Ending

Chapleau's "Clean-Up Week" is wraps up this weekend.

As part of the week, the Township's Public Works Department is only picking up yard waste that is properly bagged or bundled and set out on the curbside, though residents can also use the landfill free of charge this week, during regular hours.

Touting this is an opportunity to "work together to...make this a more clean and prettier town", Mayor Michael Levesque notes there's also a special cleanup event tomorrow.

To coincide with Clean-Up Week, the Township's also kicked off its Spring Street Cleaning Program, with sweeping happening between midnight and 8 am, weather permitting - signs will be posted to further detail plans.

PHSD Reports 149th COVID-19 Death, APH Sees New Cases

Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in Greater Sudbury.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting the 131st in the city, the health unit's 149th - it last reported a death on Friday.

The health unit's also reporting twenty new cases - seventeen in Greater Sudbury, one in the Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 155 "active" - two in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 38 hospital, two in ICUs.

It's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinics at its Chapleau office today.

North Algoma - on the other hand - has shifted to booking appointments for vaccination rather than holding clinics: in Wawa, call the local Algoma Public Health office; in Dubreuilville, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre; in White River, the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Algoma Public Health's added ten cases - six in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 75 - plus one "non-resident case temporarily in Algoma" - with fifteen cases in hospital, one in an ICU, both down from the day before.

It has eight "active" outbreaks, one at Elliot Lake's St. Joseph's General Hospital, the rest in the Sault, including Algoma Manor, Extendicare Maple View, FJ Davey Home, Great Northern Retirement Home, Ontario Finnish Resthome, and Sault Area Hospital.

Chapleau Clean-Up Week Underway

It's "Clean-Up Week" in Chapleau.

This week, the Township's Public Works Department will only be picking up yard waste - like grass clippings, leaves, shrubs, hedges, branches, and small trees - so long as they're properly bagged and set out on the curbside - "woody" material must also be cut into four-foot lengths and bundled with twine.

The Township recommends raking debris from the shoulder of the roadway, trimming grass, hedges, and trees that are overgrowing the sidewalk, sweeping off the pavement and sidewalk, and cleaning up all unwanted rubbish, debris, or trash that's accumulated on your property.

Residents can also use the landfill free of charge this week - during regular hours - though there are some restrictions on what's accepted, with the Township noting it'll be holding a collection event for certain hazardous waste on June 18th.

Mayor Michael Levesque touts this week.

Mayor Levesque also notes an event to cleanup the Peace Park will be held Saturday, starting at 9 am.

To coincide with Clean-Up Week, the Township's also kicking off its Spring Street Cleaning Program, with sweeping to happen between midnight and 8 am, weather permitting - signs will be posted to further detail plans.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases Over Long Weekend, Fewer "Active"

More new COVID-19 cases were reported in the region over the long weekend - but "active" case counts are down.

Algoma Public Health's added twenty cases since Friday - fourteen in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, and three in the Elliot Lake area - though the number of known "active" cases is down to 80, with seventeen in hospital, two in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 57 since Friday - 43 in Greater Sudbury, eight in the Sudbury District, and six in the Manitoulin District - though the number "active" is down to 152, one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).

It won't update hospital figures until later today - it last reported 35 hospital, one in an ICU.

The health unit's holding "appointment only" clinics at its Chapleau office today and tomorrow.

North Algoma - on the other hand - has shifted to booking appointments for vaccination rather than holding clinics: in Wawa, call the local Algoma Public Health office; in Dubreuilville, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre; in White River, the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

More Ontario Election Advance Polls Launching in Region

Early voting options are expanding today, as Ontario Election Day is just over a week away.

Though advance polls have already opened in some communities - including at Wawa's satellite office at 3 Maple Street, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Manitouwadge's Recreation Centre, and Hornepayne's Legion Hall - more are opening today, including at Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre and White River's Mountain View Complex.

As there are more than a dozen places in the riding to vote in advance, Jo Langham - manager of media and public engagement for Elections Ontario - notes there's a helpful change for advance polls this election.

Langham also reminds there's still a little time to apply on the website to vote by mail - the deadline's this Friday, though she recommends applying as early as possible, so you can receive and send off your ballot in time to reach Elections Ontario by 6 pm on the June 2nd Election Day.

COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics Planned for Chapleau

A couple COVID-19 vaccination clinics will be held in Chapleau this week.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts says it's holding "appointment only" clinics at its Chapleau office tomorrow and Thursday.

North Algoma - on the other hand - has shifted to booking appointments for vaccination rather than holding clinics: in Wawa, call the local Algoma Public Health office; in Dubreuilville, the Dubreuilville Medical Centre; in White River, the Northern Neighbours Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic.

Wawa's Legion Golf Tournament Returning After 2 Years Away

A sign of the coming summer season is approaching: Wawa's annual Legion Golf Tournament.

After two years without one of the local Legion's largest fundraisers, organizer Larry Harvey of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 outlines the basic details of the event.

Harvey notes there is also a hole in one prize of $2500 cash, sponsored by Programmed Insurance Brokers.

Anyone wanting to register is asked to contact Harvey by June 8th, so arrangements can be made for the tournament on June 11th.

Wawa Council Approves Site Plan Control By-Law

Wawa Municipal Council's approved an updated by-law covering development.

C-A-O Maury O'Neill explains the Site Plan Control by-law allows Council to dictate certain conditions for development of some properties.

O'Neill emphasizes that the new by-law isn't a major change from the by-law in place in Wawa since 1991 - still allowing Council to monitor how development proceeds - but includes some changes mandated by provincial legislation.

The by-law was passed in Council's most recent meeting.

PHSD Reports 148th COVID-19 Death, APH Sees New Cases

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

In its latest update, Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported its 130th COVID-related death in Greater Sudbury, the health unit's 148th, just two days after it reported its 147th, which was reported in the previous update.

The health unit also reported 54 new cases - 42 in Greater Sudbury, nine in the Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 210 known "active" cases - three in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 35 cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health added twelve new cases - nine in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in the Elliot Lake area, and another in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - though the number "active" cases is down to 127, with fourteen in hospital, two in ICUs.

PHU Reports 63rd COVID-19 Death, APH & TBDHU Report New Cases

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

The Porcupine Health Unit's giving no further details about its 63rd death linked to the illness - the 32nd this year - which comes just over a week after the health unit reported its 62nd.

The health unit's also reporting 24 new cases since Wednesday, though it no longer reports known "active" case counts - it is showing thirteen in hospital, however.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's added 48 cases since Wednesday - 45 in the Thunder Bay area, three in unspecified district communities - though the number of "active" cases is down to 228, including 40 in hospital, four in ICUs.

Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health's added fifteen cases in the last day - eight in the Sault Ste. Marie area, four in the Elliot Lake area, two in Central and East Algoma, and another in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - leaving it with 147 "active", nineteen in hospital, four in ICUs.

LDHCF Seedlings for Support Campaign Extended

The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation is offering a little more time to join in a fundraising campaign supporting the Wawa hospital.

While the "Seedlings for Support" campaign was originally set to wrap up today, Foundation Intern Thea Desgagne says it's been extended.

Desgagne reminds seedlings can be ordered through Eventbrite - the posting can be found through the Foundation's Facebook page - or by calling her at 705-856-2335, extension 3147.

The "drive-by pickup" of the seedlings will be June 5th at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.

OPP Announce Reward for Information in 1990 Manitouwadge Murder

Ontario Provincial Police are offering a substantial reward in an effort to solve the murder of a Manitouwadge girl three decades ago.

The OPP's Criminal Investigation Branch says it wants to provide the family of Catherine Elizabeth Gowan - and the community - with resolution, after the 15-year-old was found dead in her Manitouwadge residence on July 8th, 1990 - foul play was not initially suspected, but a homicide investigation was launched based on "further information received by police at various times during the intervening years".

A $50,000 reward's being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of her murderer or murderers - anyone with information is urged to call the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Canada Road Safety Week Wrapping Up Over Long Weekend

As the long weekend arrives, Ontario Provincial Police are warning they'll be watching to ensure people are being safe and following the rules.

Superior East OPP Constable Ashley Nickle notes the long weekend coincides with the final days of Canada Road Safety Week, which aims to educate the public about the importance of safe driving behaviours, increase public compliance with safe driving habits, enhance traffic safety, and reduce the number of injuries and deaths on roads.

Nickle notes the campaign focuses on the "Big Four" leading causes of traffic deaths.

Constable Nickle particularly notes "a lot of" distracted or inattentive driving, urging everyone focus on proper driving for the safety of themselves, passengers, and other road users.

Local OPP are also expected to be out on local trails over the weekend, and tomorrow marks the start of Safe Boating Awareness Week, prompting a reminder from the OPP to emphasize "no one is completely safe on the water if they are not wearing a lifejacket or personal floatation device" - they also warn about weather and hazardous waterways, with Ontario Power Generation also urging caution around hydroelectric stations and dams, as water levels can change quickly and sometimes without warning.