Chapleau's "Buddy" Swanson Volunteer Award Presented

Chapleau's annual "Buddy" Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award will be presented this Canada Day.

While a first attempt failed to garner any nominations, a second try brought in eleven nominees - including eight "longstanding" volunteers - and Mayor Michael Levesque says a few were honoured on Canada Day.

Mayor Levesque notes all of the nominees receive an appreciation award from Chapleau Town Council, though the recipients of the "Buddy" Swanson Award received a special trophy made by a local artist.

Wawa Public Library Offering Summer Reading Fun

Wawa's library is encouraging kids to join in some summer reading fun.

New Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Suzie Jarrell explains the TD Summer Reading Club has already launched.

Jarrell notes activities planned include the Bingo Reading Summer Challenge now underway - open to kids and adults - and a Photo Scavenger Hunt coming later this month, adding that the library's open for in-house programming this summer, welcoming people to come in to learn more.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases Heading Into Canada Day

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

Algoma Public Health added eighteen in its last update - twelve in the Sault Ste. Marie area, four in Central and East Algoma, 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 it with 51 known "active" cases, six in hospital, two in ICUs.

Alamos Gold Eyes Greater Expansion for Local Island Gold Mine

Further expansion's planned for a local mine.

Alamos Gold says its Phase 3+ Expansion Study for the Island Gold Mine "outlines a larger, more profitable, and valuable operation than outlined in the Phase III Expansion Study released in 2020", which would bring the operation to 2400 tonnes per day - which would make it one of the largest producing mines in the country - with average annual gold production of 287,000 ounces starting in 2026, upon completion of the shaft - a 22% increase from the previous study and a 121% increase from the mid-point of 2022 production guidance of 130,000 ounces.

The study notes "consistent cost structure" with the previous study - with "productivity gains and economies of scale offsetting inflation" - while proposing "larger, longer-life operation supported by significantly increased Mineral Reserve and Resource", extending the mine life by four years from that study, which would take it to 2039.

According to Alamos, it is "well positioned" to fund the expansion, expecting "significant free cash flow growth" in 2025 and beyond, as production ramps up at the mine.

Further Vandalism at Wawa's Lion's Beach House

Vandalism continues to plague Wawa's Lion's beach house.

A post of the "Wawa Recreation" Facebook page explains both washrooms at the beach house were closed as of yesterday, after they were "smashed up again - only a few days after reopening on Monday", after they were closed Friday by vandalism that saw dispensers smashed in the men's room with no replacements currently available.

Plans are to clean up both washrooms and reopen them for tomorrow's Canada Day celebrations - but not until then, as they "don't want to have the place get damaged the day before hosting a large event".

While comments have suggested cameras, the post notes there are four around the beach house but not inside the washrooms, though footage from those cameras has been provided to the OPP, which has also agreed to patrol the area more frequently.

The Municipality emphasizes - as they are not able to be there 24/7 - they "simply cannot keep up with the amount of damage being done on a regular basis", urging anyone with information about the incidents call the police.

Vandalism has been a problem for the beach house before, including last summer and in summer 2016.

Local Students Receive Scholarship from French Catholic School Board

Some local students are being honoured with special scholarships.

The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says two students from each of its secondary schools have been awarded "Vision Scholarships" valued at $500, for reflecting the board vision of "thriving French-language Catholic students, proud and ready to take place in their society".

Local recipients are Indiana-Lou Impératori & Mathieu Lafrenière from Ecole secondaire Saint-Joseph in Wawa and Alicia Fournier & Kaleb Boucher from Chapleau's Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium.

PHSD Reports 153rd COVID-19 Death, Holding Chapleau Vaccination Clinic

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about its 153rd death - the 134th in Greater Sudbury and the 110th in which COVID was the underlying cause of death.

It's also reporting 35 cases since Monday - 33 in Greater Sudbury and two in the broader Sudbury District - leaving it with 89 known "active" cases - one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) - with fifteen cases in hospital, one in an ICU.

The health unit's holding an "appointment only" vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office today - 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.

Chapleau Student Honoured by Local French Catholic School Board

A Chapleau student's being honoured for academic excellence and leadership in school activities.

Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium Grade 12 student Alicia Fournier is "a dedicated and reliable student who demonstrates exceptional perseverance in her studies and academic success", praising her as "motivated and enterprising" with "excellent work ethics" and "a great sense of initiative".

Fournier appreciates the recognition.

Fournier says her involvement in school activities was just something she always liked.

Now graduating, Fournier is heading to the University of Ottawa to study electrical engineering and physics, noting she's not sure where she'll go from there but she finds it "really interesting" and it does offer a wide array of options for her future.

Local Canada Day Celebrations Planned

Big celebrations are planned for Canada Day in local communities.

For Wawa, Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains Broadway Avenue will be shut down from Ontario to Laurier from 11 am to 4 pm.

White notes there's also a Children's Bike Decorating Contest and Parade.

While the Wawa Music Festival isn't until next weekend, Chair Dawn Charbonneau notes tomorrow's festivities will include a taste of what's to come.

The day will - of course - end with fireworks at dusk - more details on celebrations can be found through "Wawa Recreation" on Facebook or Instagram.

As for Chapleau, Mayor Michael Levesque says festivities are centered on the waterfront, properly starting with the annual kids parade.

Mayor Levesque notes that will be followed by the official opening at the Waterfront Pavilion.

Other activities at the waterfront include a fitness demonstration from 2 pm to 4 pm and a duck race at 3 pm, though Mayor Levesque notes "a bit of a change" from past years, with some "adult entertainment" in the evening.

As this weekend's also includes the Chapleau High School reunion, Mayor Levesque welcomes families coming for the reunion to join in Canada Day celebrations.

A full schedule of activities, events, and offerings is on the municipal website, at chapleau.ca

Wawa Performing Well As ParticipACTION Community Better Challenge Ending

Wawa residents are being urged to record their physical activity by the end of the day, as ParticipACTION's annual "Community Better Challenge" ends at midnight.

Wawa's Municipal Recreation Coordinator, Stacey White, reminds 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 Wednesday night, Wawa was fourth for Ontario - behind North Grenville, Toronto, and Brockville - and 20th for all of Canada.

After the contest closes at midnight tonight, 50 finalist communities will be invited to submit an application explaining why they deserve to be Canada's Most Active Community - one will win the title and $100,000, with additional prizes for each province and territory.

Wawa Sees 1st Municipal Election Candidate, Running for Council

Wawa has its first candidate in the fall municipal election.

Leah Isosaari has filed for to become a councillor - the first person to file in Wawa, less than two months before the nomination deadline.

Nominations have been slow to file in for surrounding communities, with Chapleau only showing one candidate - Ryan Bignucolo's third bid to be mayor - while Dubreuilville's only reported one, Roger Lemoyne, running to continue representing the local French Separate School Board, which he has done for two decades.

They remain "unofficial" candidates until certification, which will be done after the August 19th nomination deadline, with the official candidate list to be released August 22nd.

APH Reports 59th COVID-19 Death, More Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's giving no further details about its 59th COVID-related death - the 38th this year - which comes just shy of three weeks after its last COVID death.

The health unit's also reporting 25 cases since Thursday - 23 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in the Elliot Lake area - leaving it with 48 known "active" cases, with seven in hospital, three in ICUs.

While Public Health Sudbury and Districts won't be updating figures until late this afternoon, the health unit's holding "appointment only" vaccination clinics at its Chapleau office today and tomorrow - North Algoma's already moved to booking appointments instead of holding clinics.

Recipients Chosen (But Not Announced) for Chapleau's Volunteer Award

Chapleau's annual "Buddy" Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award will be presented this Canada Day.

After a first attempt failed to garner any nominations, Mayor Michael Levesque says a second attempt fared better.

Mayor Levesque notes all of the nominees will receive an appreciation award from Chapleau Town Council, with the recipients of the "Buddy" Swanson Award receive their trophies as part of Friday's Canada Day celebrations at the waterfront.

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.

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