Wawa Council Seeking to Evict OPP From Downtown Detachment

Wawa's looking to kick the OPP out of their downtown detachment.

In their meeting Tuesday night, Wawa Municipal Council approved a resolution to cancel the Ontario Provincial Police satellite office within the Town Hall building at 40 Broadway Avenue by the end of 2022 - once vacated, the Municipality would hire an engineer to review the building's condition and consider redesign options to ensure the municipal offices, council chambers, and library meet accessibility requirements and operational needs, with Council told that could potentially include returning GIS staff and the municipal servers to the site, which would allow for the possible sale of the municipal building at 3 Maple Street, a move that was noted to have benefits including more tax revenue and lower maintenance costs for the Municipality.

The resolution also commits the Municipality to press OPP headquarters and other provincial authorities to make a new local detachment a "high priority" - Council was told they'd previously indicated land between the Tourist Information Centre and the Ontario government building on Highway 101 could be used for that purpose, with options including "contributing" that land, leasing the land, or building a facility there that could be leased.

The OPP's had the downtown detachment since the municipal Wawa Police Service was dissolved in 2011 - it had been their headquarters prior to that.

Chapleau Council Rescheduling Meeting After Failing to Meet Quorum

Chapleau Town Council will try to meet next month after failing to meet quorum for last night's meeting.

The agenda had included some time-sensitive items for this weekend, as well as a scope change for Elgin Street sanitary sewer replacement, implementing can recycling as part of the Township's refuse collection program; and an update on recruitment for a new Director of Leisure and Cultural Services.

The meeting's being rescheduled.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Chapleau Vaccination Clinics Planned

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts has added reported 35 since Friday - 28 in Greater Sudbury, three in the Sudbury District, and four in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 79 known "active" cases - two in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with 21 cases in hospital, three in an ICU.

The health unit's holding "appointment only" clinics at its Chapleau office tomorrow and Thursday - book through the provincial system or call the health unit.

North Algoma's moved to appointments rather than 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 Council Trying Again to Hold Meetings Including Look at Finances

A week later than expected, Wawa Municipal Council will hear about the Municipality's finances tonight.

The 2021 consolidated and trust fund financial statements will be presented by auditor KPMG in tonight's rescheduled Corporate Planning Committee meeting - it was originally set to be held last Tuesday, but was postponed due to internet service problems - with the meeting also including discussion about a water and waste water master plan and OPP satellite office cancellation.

The latter two items will come back as resolutions in tonight's regular Council meeting, which also includes resolutions to accept the resignation of a member of the Marina Committee and to reschedule the August Council meeting.

The meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 tonight, in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.

Chapleau Council Holding Final July Meeting

Chapleau Town Council will consider by-laws for off-road vehicles and sick leave for its employees in a meeting tonight.

Aside from the two by-laws, the agenda includes resolutions for: use of vacant land at 8, 20, and 32 Pine Street for Canada Day festivities; a scope change for Elgin Street sanitary sewer replacement; implementing can recycling as part of the Township's refuse collection program; and authorizing overnight RV parking at the Recreation Centre for the Chapleau High School Reunion this weekend.

Council will also receive an update on recruitment for a new Director of Leisure and Cultural Services.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight, in Civic Centre Council Chambers.

Wawa in Ontario Top 5 as Participaction Community Better Challenge Nears End

Wawa residents are being challenged to get active over the next few days, as Participaction's annual "Community Better Challenge" nears an end.

Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains the initiative - which has been running all month - is meant to encourage physical activity.

White notes Wawa came in fourth in Ontario and 24th in Canada last year - as of Sunday, Wawa was fifth for Ontario - behind North Grenville, Toronto, Sarnia, and Ottawa - though that puts it below Canada's top 20.

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.

More information about Challenge-related activities is available on the Wawa Recreation Facebook and Instagram pages.

Superior East OPP Launch Life-Saving Equipment Initiative Ahead of Canada Day

Local police are urging those heading out on the water to stay safe.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle says a "life-saving equipment" campaign is now underway - running through the Canada Day weekend - encouraging residents to take personal responsibility for the water safety of themselves and their children, to help reduce the number of drowning deaths in the province.

Nickle notes there are some trends.

Constable Nickle reminds boaters to ensure they have enough lifejackets or personal floatation devices for each person on board, worn properly at all times as most drowning incidents happen unexpectedly and such equipment is the best chance at saving lives, especially given the cold waters locally, which can be difficult for even experienced swimmers.

Wawa Beach Season Sees Unfortunate Start: Vandalism

Wawa's beach season has come to an unfortunate start.

While beaches opened June 14th - with docks out, the volleyball net up, beach house washrooms open 24 hours, and a new floating raft at Rose's Beach - the Municipality announced Friday, June 24th, that there had been vandalism at Lion's Beach, closing the washrooms.

While the Ladies' room only needed some cleanup and has reopened, the post notes the men's roo dispensers were smashed and the Municipality currently has no replacements - with "about a dozen" on back order - so that room will remain closed until further notice, though hopes are the place will be "up and running" before the upcoming Canada Day long weekend.

It adds the OPP's been notified and will be keeping an extra eye out, while anyone with tips can direct them to the police.

Chapleau Sees 1st 2022 Municipal Election Candidate, Mayoral Prospect

Chapleau has its first candidate in the fall municipal election - seeking the top job.

Local businessman Ryan Bignucolo has filed for his third bid to become mayor - he came in second in the 2014 and 2018 elections, just behind current Mayor Michael Levesque, who's announced he is not running for re-election.

Bignucolo will remain an "unofficial" candidate for now, as candidate certification is set to happen after the nomination deadline of August 19th, with the official candidate list to be released August 22nd.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases

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

In its latest update, Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported 30 new cases since Wednesday - 27 in Greater Sudbury, one in the Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 80 known "active" cases, two in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations), down from four in that area in the previous update.

The health unit’s also showing twenty cases in hospital, four in an ICU.

Overdue American Anglers Found Safe Near Hornepayne

A pair of American anglers were found safe near Hornepayne a few days after they were expected home.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say the two fishermen from Indiana arrived June 9th and were expected home on the 18th, but were reported overdue Tuesday morning - search efforts that day found their motorhome near Little Chelsea Lake, south of Hornepayne, but not the two men or an ATV they'd brought.

On Wednesday, the OPP Emergency Response Team noticed a white piece of tarp fashioned into a flag in a remote area of bush west of the lake, with the men discovered in a small clearing, where they'd built a small shelter, started a fire, and found a limited water source, eating canned meat they brought with them.

The men explained they were following ATV trails when their GPS malfunctioned and they lost the trail in heavy brush, deciding it was better to set up camp to avoid going deeper into the bush.

Despite unexpectedly spending six nights in the wilderness, the 79 and 88-year-old were in good health when they were found.

TBDHU Reports 97th COVID-19 Death, More Cases for APH & PHU

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

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting its 97th - it last reported a death on Monday - while adding 30 cases since Wednesday - 26 in the Thunder Bay area, three in unspecified district communities, and another in an unspecified First Nation community - leaving it with 82 known "active" cases, 22 in hospital, five in ICUs.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added just one case since Wednesday - it no longer reports "active" case counts, but does show three in hospital, one in an ICU.

Algoma Public Health's added eleven cases since Tuesday - nine in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in Central and East Algoma - leaving it with 60 "active" - plus one non-resident case temporarily in Algoma - with sixteen cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

Extended Deadline Arrives for Chapleau's Buddy Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award

Time's running out in a renewed call for nominations for Chapleau's annual "Buddy" Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award.

Nominations were reopened earlier this month, due to a lack of nominees, and Mayor Michael Levesque says hopes are this extension will solve the problem.

Nomination forms are available at the Civic Centre and on the township's website, accepted until the end of today.

Plans are to present recipients with the award - or at least a certificate - as part of Canada Day celebrations next Friday.

Participaction Community Better Challenge Nears End, Wawa in Ontario Top 5

Wawa residents are being challenged to get active over the next week, as Participaction's annual "Community Better Challenge" nears an end.

Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains the initiative - which has been running all month - is meant to encourage physical activity.

White notes Wawa came in fourth in Ontario and 24th in Canada last year - it's currently in fifth for Ontario, though that puts it below Canada's top 20.

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.

More information about Challenge-related activities is available on the Wawa Recreation Facebook and Instagram pages.

Chapleau Delays Museum Season, Searching for Student Staff

Chapleau's delaying the museum season as it looks for students to work at the site.

While the Township normally opens the facility from May to September, it says recruitment efforts "have been without success", delaying the reopening, and prompting a message from Mayor Michael Levesque.

The Township says hopes are to have the museum and tourist information centre open "on a more more limited basis" with the Chapleau High School reunion approaching.

Dubreuilville Sees 1st Candidate File for Fall Municipal Election - Longtime School Board Trustee

Dubreuilville has its first candidate in the fall municipal election - a longtime school board trustee seeking re-election.

Roger Lemoyne has filed his nomination to represent Dubreuilville and Hornepayne on the local French Language Separate School Board - Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon - a role he's held for more than two decades.

For the moment, he remains an unofficial candidate, as candidate certification is set to happen after the nomination deadline of August 19th, with the official candidate list to be released August 22nd.

Wawa Legion Thanks Supporters of Recent Golf Tournament

Wawa's Legion is thanking supporters for a successful golf tournament.

Saying there was "great support" for the return of the tournament - after it was cancelled the previous two years, due to the pandemic - Larry Harvey of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 also highlights some key sponsors, noting it wouldn't have been possible without them.

Harvey also thanks businesses that donated.

Funds raised from the tournament helped cover costs for the Legion Hall's recent "facelift", which is set to be complete soon.

PHSD Reports 152nd COVID-19 Death

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 152nd COVID-related death - the 133rd in Greater Sudbury - it last reported a death on Friday.

The health unit also reported 23 new cases since Monday - nineteen in Greater Sudbury, two in the Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 71 known "active" cases - four in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with seventeen cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

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