Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
Wawa's annual Legion Golf Tournament is just days away.
Organizer Larry Harvey of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 notes the tournament for teams of two will support building projects for the aging Legion Hall.
Harvey notes there is also a hole in one prize of $2500, with participants also treated to a steak dinner.
Anyone wanting to register is asked to contact Harvey by Wednesday, as the tournament is this Saturday.
With the Ontario election now in the books, focus is shifting to another election in the province.
Nominations are open for potential councillors, mayors, or school board trustees across Ontario, with the same rules applying for elections across the province.
Noting a candidates' guide can be found on the municipal website, Wawa Clerk Cathy Cyr explains there are a few basic requirements to run.
As for filing your nomination, Cyr explains it is simple: obtain the forms from the municipal office or website, fill them out, then bring them in - and pay the required fee.
Prospective candidates have until 2 pm on August 19th to file - the municipal election date is October 22nd.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's added three - one in the Sault Ste. Marie area, one in the Elliot Lake area, and another in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - leaving the health unit with 58 known "active" cases, seven in hospital, two in ICUs.
It's showing only two "active" outbreaks, both in the Sault: in Extendicare Maple View's Ranger Lake unit and in the Ontario Finnish Resthome's Unit B.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts added 28 cases since Wednesday - 26 in Greater Sudbury and two in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 104 "active" - one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 27 in hospital, three in ICUs.
It's showing three "active" outbreaks: two at the Espanola Nursing Home, the other at Health Sciences North in Greater Sudbury.
Wawa's Goose Nest Market is springing to life for the season - and highlighting some younger entrepreneurs.
A "Youth Makers Market" will be held this weekend, and Wawa's Recreation Coordinator, Stacey White, notes there will be several highlighted.
White notes an Indigenous Makers Market will be held in two weeks, on June 18th, followed by the Canada Day event two weeks later, then weekly markets through August.
The Youth Makers Market runs from 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, June 4th, at the Goose Nests.
A colourful event is set to encourage fitness in Wawa.
Noting it's part of local efforts planned as part of the Participaction Community Better Challenge, Wawa Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains the Superior Children's Centre and EarlyON Centre are holding a Family Color Run along the waterfront.
The Color Run runs from 10 am to noon Saturday, June 4th.
Time is running out for nominations for Chapleau's annual "Buddy" Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award.
Mayor Michael Levesque encourages residents to nominate others.
Nomination forms are available at the Civic Centre and on the township's website - they'll be accepted until 4 o'clock this afternoon, with Mayor Levesque noting hopes are to present the award as part of Canada Day celebrations.
Time is running out for gardeners to join in a fundraising campaign supporting the Wawa hospital, as the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's "Seedlings for Support" wraps up tomorrow.
Vice Chair Lorraine Pihelgas calls this the "first step" in a new goal.
Chair Susan Switzer explains tickets are easy to get.
Switzer notes the less "tech-savvy" can call the Foundation for more information, at 705-856-2335, extension 3147.
The "drive-by pickup" of the seedlings will be Sunday, June 5th, at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
The Foundation also reminds registration's opened for its "Nine and Dine Charity Golf Tournament", to be held Saturday, June 25th - register at the Michipicoten Golf Club Pro Shop.
Ontario has returned the PC government for a second term, giving Doug Ford a stronger majority than before.
Unofficial results from Elections Ontario show Ford's Progressive Conservatives claimed a total of 83 seats - up from the 76 they won in 2018 and the 67 they had heading into this election - with Ford's entire cabinet re-elected.
The NDP are again forming the official opposition, though with a reduced seat count of 31, down from 2018's 40 or the 38 they had heading into the election - while Andrea Horwath did keep the Hamilton seat she's represented since 2004, she announced in an emotional speech to supporters that she'll be stepping down as leader as it's time for her to "pass the torch" - she's led the party through four elections, since 2009.
While the Liberals gained a seat - for a total of 8, still below the threshold for official party status - leader Steven Del Duca failed to reclaim the Toronto riding he used to representing - with the PC incumbent handily holding onto that seat - prompting Del Duca to announce he's stepping down as leader, a role he's only held since 2020, chosen just days before the first COVID-19 lockdown in the province.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner was re-elected in Guelph, but was unable to increase the party's seat count beyond that, while the New Blue and Ontario parties failed to win in any ridings, even those they'd held heading into the election.
Much of the North stuck with incumbents - with a few key changes.
In Sault Ste. Marie, Ross Romano of the PCs was re-elected for his second term - greatly widening his margin over NDP candidate Michele McCleave-Kennedy - with Kenora-Rainy River incumbent - and fellow cabinet minister - Greg Rickford also re-elected, along with Nipissing's Vic Fedeli, while Parry Sound-Muskoka remained blue - electing Graydon Smith - though the PC Northern caucus is growing, with two ridings going from orange to blue: Kevin Holland won in Kenora-Rainy River while Timmins Mayor George Pirie claimed Timmins, defeating New Democrat Gilles Bisson, who's represented the area since 1990.
For the NDP, Nickel Belt's France Gelinas won her fifth term while Michael Mantha (Algoma-Manitoulin) and John Vanthof (Timiskaming-Cochrane) won their fourth, Sol Mamakwa (Kiiwetinoong) and Guy Bourgoin (Mushkegowuk-James Bay) were re-elected in their ridings - which were created in 2018 - Sudbury's Jamie West held onto his seat, and Liberal stronghold Thunder Bay-Superior North went orange, electing New Democrat Lise Vaugeois in a tight race - the riding's been represented by Liberal Michael Gravelle since it was created in 1999 (he represented the Port Arthur riding from 1995-99, when it became part of Thunder Bay-Superior North), but the former cabinet minister did not run for re-election, amid a recurrence of cancer.
Algoma Public Health's reporting more COVID-19 cases.
The health unit's added four in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, and another in the Elliot Lake area - but reduced North Algoma's case count by one - leaving the health unit with 65 known "active" cases, seven in hospital, one in an ICU.
It's showing only two "active" outbreaks, both in the Sault: in Extendicare Maple View's Ranger Lake unit and in the Ontario Finnish Resthome's Unit B.
New Democrat Michael Mantha will represent the Algoma-Manitoulin riding for a fourth consecutive term.
Unofficial results from Elections Ontario show Mantha with approximately 46% of votes cast in the riding - below the roughly 58% he saw in 2018 - and he says he's "humbled, excited, over the top" with the result.
Mantha concedes the NDP will need to look at what did and did not work in the campaign.
As for the new term, Mantha says his priorities will be what he heard on doorsteps.
Progressive Conservative Cheryl Fort was the closest to Mantha - receiving about 35% of ballots cast, an increase from the PCs' roughly 25% in 2018 - a turnout she's touting.
Fort was followed by Liberal Tim Vine, who finished with just shy of 9% - slightly above the party's 2018 result - and Vine does express disappointment.
After Vine was New Blue candidate Ron Koski with more than 5%, Green Party candidate Maria Legault with just over 3%, and Ontario Party candidate Frederick Weening, who received less than 1.5%.
It's Election Day in Ontario.
Voters are heading to the polls in the 43rd Ontario General Election, with Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford seeking a second term as premier with a PC majority, while NDP Leader Andrea Horwath's hoping to transition from Opposition Leader to the first NDP government since 1995, and Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca - a former cabinet minister chosen to head the party in 2020 - is hoping for a substantial rebound from the party's devastating performance in 2018, eyeing a return to government.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has loomed over the election - with health and long-term care both major issues for all parties - affordability has been a major focus, with Ford accusing other parties of wanting to raise taxes and make things more expensive, while the other parties dispute the claim and suggest Ford will make substantial cuts to services.
Locally, New Democrat Michael Mantha is seeking a fourth term representing Algoma-Manitoulin, opposed by PC candidate - and current Hornepayne Mayor - Cheryl Fort, Liberal candidate - and Manitoulin hospital executive - Tim Vine, New Blue Party candidate Ron Koski, Green Party candidate Maria Legault, and Ontario Party candidate Frederick Weening.
Jo Langham - Elections Ontario manager of media and public engagement - reminds voters who are not on the voter's list can still be added today.
Langham also reminds voters to bring ID.
Polls are open from 9 am to 9 pm today, locally located at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex - check your voter's card or the Elections Ontario website to confirm where to go.
Below are interviews with four of the six candidates for the local Algoma-Manitoulin riding:
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.
A mischief charge has been laid over damage to a Chapleau business.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the reported damage to a Pine Street business Monday morning, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 22-year-old from Chapleau on a charge of mischief.
They've been released from custody, set to appear in Chapleau's Ontario Court of Justice in July.
A Wawa man's been charged in connection to a break-and-enter back in March.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified about a break-and-enter to a business on Tremblay Road on March 24th - with several items reported stolen - with their investigation leading to the arrest of a 26-year-old from Wawa on May 19th.
Charged with two counts of possession of property obtained by crime, the man's been released from custody with a July date in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's giving no details about its 57th death linked to the illness - the 36th this year - it last reported a death on Monday.
The health unit's also added eleven cases - nine in the Sault Ste. Marie area, one in Central and East Algoma, and another in the Elliot Lake area - leaving it with 64 known "active" cases, with five in hospital, one in an ICU.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added 26 cases since Monday - nineteen in Greater Sudbury, six in the Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 99 "active" - one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 22 in hospital, five in ICUs.
A local health unit's warning to beware ticks as it's confirmed a human case of Lyme disease.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts says laboratory results confirmed an adult from the Manitoulin District contracted the disease - which can cause serious complications to the heart, joints, and nervous system - noting blacklegged ticks infected with the bacteria have been found in the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts in past years, and are commonly found in rural areas along the north shores of Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Superior, as well as the St. Lawrence River, and the Rainy River area of northwestern Ontario.
It recommends measures to protect yourself from ticks, including: avoiding walking in tall grass; clearing debris and overgrown vegetation, grass, bushes, and trees from yards; keeping wood piles or bird feeders away from homes; and wearing long-sleeved, light-coloured clothes with closed-toe shoes, as well as Health Canada-approved insect repellants.
Signs of Lyme disease include a red bull's eye-shaped rash around the bite area, as well as symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, stiff neck, and swollen glands.
Chapleau residents will cast ballots differently this year.
While Chapleau Town Council had decided more than a month ago to switch to electronic voting for this year's municipal election, the decision was confirmed this week, with Council provided additional information on how the process will work.
Mayor Michael Levesque explains local voters will receive information ahead of the voting period.
Chapleau's following the lead of Wawa, which switched to electronic voting starting in 2018.
Nominations are now open for municipal elections across Ontario - closing August 19th - with Election Day October 24th.
A few more COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting three in the Sault Ste. Marie area and two in Central and East Algoma, leaving the health unit with 59 known "active" cases, seven in hospital, one in an ICU.
It's showing only two "active" outbreaks, both in Sault Ste. Marie: in Extendicare Maple View's Ranger Lake unit and in the Ontario Finnish Resthome's Unit B.
Chapleau Town Council's considering changes for a couple by-laws.
Mayor Michael Levesque explains there was discussion about an update to the pool by-law in Monday's meeting.
As Council only received the information shortly before the meeting, the item was tabled for a future meeting.
While Councillor Jason Rioux raised a potential update to the ATV by-law, Mayor Levesque says that's still being looked at.
Levesque expects the by-law revisions to come back up in the next Council meeting, scheduled for June 13th.
Wawa residents are being challenged to join in Participaction's "Community Better Challenge" this month.
Noting Wawa came in fourth in Ontario and 24th in Canada in last year's challenge, Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains it's meant to encourage fitness and physical activity, starting today and running all month.
White notes that includes a Family Color Run along the waterfront from 10 am to noon Saturday, put on by the Superior Children's Centre and EarlyON Centre - coinciding with the Youth Makers Market at the Goose Nests on Saturday - with a calendar of the challenge-related events heading to residents' mailboxes, though more information will be available on the Wawa Recreation Facebook and Instagram pages.
To participate in the challenge, sign up and track physical activity with the Participaction app or website - for help, simply contact the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
Time is running out to cast a ballot in the Ontario election ahead of Election Day.
While advance polls have closed, special ballots can still be cast locally through Elections Ontario's satellite office at 3 Maple Street in Wawa, though only until 6 pm today.
Election Day is tomorrow, with polls to be open from 9 am to 9 pm, locally located at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, Chapleau's Municipal Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex.
