Wawa Council Holding Back-to-Back Meetings for July

Wawa Municipal Council is holding its sole meetings of July tonight.

The first is a Corporate Planning Committee meeting, which includes memos on cemetery expansion and a municipal landfill waste receiving area, the latter of which will come back up in tonight's regular Council meeting, which includes a by-law to enter into an agreement with J. Provost Contracting to develop that area.

That meeting also includes by-laws relating to the development of a Five-Year Tourism Plan - for funding from FedNor and to award the contract to Bannikin Travel and Tourism - as well as FedNor funding for the rehabilitation of the raw water intake well, and policies regarding promotion items like the goose print and proceedings of Council and committees.

There's also an "in-camera" item, which relates to a request under Section 357 of the Municipal Act - which allows the Municipality to cancel, reduce, or refund all or part of taxes levied for some land - with the discussion expected to lead to a resolution tonight, as well.

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

Chapleau Council Delays July Regular Meeting

Chapleau Town Council's moved its July meeting a little later into the month.

While Council's original meeting schedule would have had its sole July meeting tonight, it's been pushed ten days - to Thursday, July 21st, still at 6:30 pm.

Council did hold a meeting last Monday, after they failed to meet quorum on June 27th.

Early Bird Deadline for Wawa Salmon Derby

Time's almost up for early bird anglers hoping to win a special prize with the Wawa Salmon Derby.

As today is the "Early Bird" deadline for registration, Derby Chair Brad Buck reminds the annual event is making some changes, bringing back some things suspended for the pandemic era derbies.

Buck reminds entries for the derby will still be accepted after today's Early Bird deadline - they just won't qualify for that prize - with the 40th annual event to be held August 19th to 21st.

New Owners for Tim Hortons Wawa

Wawa's Tim Hortons has changed hands.

Ashleigh McLeod - who now owns the local store along with her brother, Ryan DiTomasso - explains the siblings have a few other Tim Hortons.

While Tim Hortons Wawa has reduced hours with drive thru service only - or pickup at the door, if ordered via the Tim's app or website - McLeod says plans are for that to change.

McLeod notes they are seeking people for various positions.

The change in ownership comes just ahead of the annual Tim Hortons Camp Day - which raises funds for Tim Hortons Foundation Camps, to send kids from underserved communities to camp - which will be held Wednesday - McLeod notes they'd often have quite a celebration, but current conditions, including timing of the changeover, prevent that.

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Doubles Number Active in Northern Sudbury District

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region - including the northern Sudbruy District.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported 41 cases in its latest update - 35 in Greater Sudbury, five in the broader Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 112 known "active" cases - it did not update its hospitalization figures due to "outside circumstances", but last reported 21 in hospital.

The "active" cases include eight in the northern Sudbury District - which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - double the number reported in the Wednesday update.

The Township of Chapleau announced on earlier this week that its Recreation Centre was closed for at least a week, as staff tested positive for COVID after the Canada Day and Chapleau High School reunion weekend.

2 Wawa Students Receive Special Scholarships

A pair of Wawa students are being honoured with special scholarships.

The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says sixteen students across the board were awarded a "Bishop Alexander Carter Foundation Scholarship" valued at $1000 each - the scholarship recognizes Catholic secondary school graduates in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie who "distinguished themselves as [an]: enlightened believer, effective communicator, thoughtful thinker, independent learner, collaborator, considerate person, and responsible citizen".

The recipients include two graduates of Wawa's Ecole secondaire Saint-Joseph, Indiana-Lou Impératori and Mathieu Lafrenière, both of whom were announced late last month as recipients of "Vision Scholarships" of $500 for reflecting the board's vision of "thriving French-language Catholic students, proud and ready to take place in their society".

APH & PHU Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's added sixteen since Tuesday - seven in Central and East Algoma, six in the Sault Ste. Marie area, and three in the Elliot Lake area - leaving it with 57 known "active" cases, four in hospital, one in an ICU.

The Porcupine Health Unit's added 26 cases - it no longer breaks that down by region or reports "active" case counts, but shows nine in hospital, one in an ICU.

Wawa Music Festival Returns After 2 Years Away

Wawa will be full of music this weekend, as the annual Wawa Music Festival returns after two years away.

Artistic Director Rusty McCarthy notes many artists and bands will be performing today and tomorrow, including Juno-winning blues musician Ray Bonneville, with musical styles varying by venue.

McCarthy also touts the street fair that will be held tomorrow - Festival Chair Dawn Charbonneau notes they've partnered with the Goose Nest Market for the event, dubbed "Art in the Street".

Tickets will be available at the door of each venue, with a full schedule available on the festival's Facebook page.

Researchers Taking "Fishing, Digging & Mining for Stories in Ontario" to Wawa

A group of researchers are coming to Wawa "Fishing, Digging, and Mining for Stories" in coming days.

Professor Sali Tagliamonte - who's heading the project - says her research team is recording oral histories.

While Dr. Tagliamonte is chair of linguistics at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in language variation and change, she says - in the field - she's an anthropologist, assuring it's a simple process

Professor Tagliamonte encourages locals who were born and raised in Wawa to contact her team if interested - email socialimpacttoronto@gmail.com

The research team's set to arrive in Wawa Sunday and stay into Monday, though Dr. Tagliamonte suggests they could return if there's enough interest from locals.

Wawa's Algoma News Review Publishes Final Edition

Wawa's weekly newspaper has printed its final edition, after nearly six decades.

A frontpage letter from owner Ken Warwick in yesterday's edition of the Algoma News Review confirms that it is the final, noting the paper had been published about 58.5 years, since 1964 - he bought the business in 2014, and notes in his letter that he "hoped it would have a ten year run before, ultimately, the economics of the newspaper business would have deteriorated", adding his "estimation proved to be about right" as it is still "modestly profitable" but "the time commitment it requires to produce...each week is not really something that makes sense any longer" - especially amid staffing challenges, particularly for writers but also kids to deliver the paper - and Warwick says he's decided to "invest [his] time on other ventures" with his wife, though they thank subscribers and readers for their patronage, carriers who've been instrumental in delivering the paper, and employees and retail partners who worked hard to get it into people's hands.

The Algoma News is marking the final edition with a special bonus, including old edition as a centrefold.

The paper's other frontpage article is an announcement that ANP Office Supply has purchased Hughes Supply Co., which was started by Sheila and Walter Hughes in Iron Bridge 25 years ago - its inventory's being integrated into ANP's at its secondary warehouse in Bruce Mines, bolstering ANP's position as one of the largest office and industrial suppliers in Northern Ontario - and ANP says this will "greatly expand their presence towards Sudbury".

ANP also touts big plans in Wawa: a new store and warehouse, which it says will put the company in "a position to grow to the western part of Ontario, as well".

PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases, 4 in Northern Sudbury District

More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region - including the northern Sudbury District.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 54 cases since Monday - 45 in Greater Sudbury, seven in the broader Sudbury District, and two in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 92 known "active" cases, 21 in hospital.

The "active" cases include four in the northern Sudbury District - which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations - the health unit reported none in that region in Monday's update.

This comes after the Township of Chapleau announced its Recreation Centre was closed for the week, as staff tested positive for COVID.

APH Reports New COVID-19 Cases, Including 1 in North Algoma

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

Algoma Public Health's added 28 since Thursday - eighteen in the Sault Ste. Marie area, six in Central and East Algoma, three 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 49 known "active" cases, six in hospital, one in an ICU.

APH Warns of Increase in Opioid-Related EMS Calls

Algoma Public Health's warning anyone using "street drugs" to take extra precautions, amid an increase in opioid-related EMS calls.

The health unit emphasizes "substance use and opioid poisoning does not discriminate", urging anyone who uses drugs to carry naloxone and always have someone with them when they use, starting with a low dose and increasing slowly - never mixing substances, even alcohol - and calling 911 immediately if you suspect opioid poisoning.

Vandalism at Chapleau Waterfront

Vandals have struck Chapleau's waterfront.

Mayor Michael Levesque sarcastically thanks those defaced several plaques at the far end of the waterfront's promenade, near the boat launch.

Levesque notes it's unclear what measures will need to be taken to fix the vandalism, as it's unknown whether it was permanent marker used - or something else - and whether the material used for the placards could be properly cleaned.

Chapleau Recreation Centre Closed Due to COVID-19, Chapleau Looking to Ease Leisure & Culture Services Director Workload

Chapleau's arena is temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Mayor Michael Levesque explains the situation.

This comes as the Township's looking for a new management figure in the department, a move Mayor Levesque attributes to increased workload for the current director.

Mayor Levesque explains recruitment efforts are underway.

Mayor Levesque expects an update on that situation after the interview process.

PHSD Reports 154th COVID-19 Death, No Longer Any Active Cases in Northern Sudbury District

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about its 154th death, the 135th in Greater Sudbury, and the 111th in which COVID was the underlying cause of death.

It's also reporting 86 cases since last Wednesday - 78 in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District, and six in the Manitoulin District - leaving it with 92 known "active" cases, eighteen in hospital, one in an ICU.

It's no longer showing any "active" in the northern Sudbury District, which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.

Wawa Public Library Summer Reading Fun Includes Story Walk, Bingo

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

New Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Suzie Jarrell notes a new event's being tried locally: a "Story Walk", now set up.

Jarrell also reminds the Bingo Reading Summer Challenge is now underway.

Items to do include checking out a movie, reading certain types of books, or participating in programming at the library, which is open for in-house programming this summer.

Pukaskwa National Park Walkway Reopens

A popular walkway in the region has reopened.

Thunder Bay-Superior North MP - and Indigenous Services Minister - Patty Hajdu has officially announced the completion of a $540,000 improvement to the Hattie Cove Wetland Walkway in Pukaskwa National Park, replacing the boardwalk with a "new, more sustainable structure": a pre-fabricated floating walkway able to move up and down with the changing water levels

The walkway officially reopened last month, re-connecting the park's popular Suspension Bridge Trail and Coastal Hiking Trail.

Tim Hortons Wawa Cuts Hours

Wawa's Tim Hortons has cut its hours.

In a social media post, the restaurant says its new temporary hours of operation are 4 am to 5 pm as of today - it's continuing to offer drive-thru service only, though customers could also order through the Tim Hortons app or website and pickup at the door.

This comes just ahead of the annual Tim Hortons Camp Day - which raises funds for Tim Hortons Foundation Camps - though fundraising's already begun, with Camp Day bracelets and socks being sold.

40th Wawa Salmon Derby Nears Early Bird Registration Deadline

Time is running out for anglers hoping to win a special prize with the Wawa Salmon Derby.

Noting the "Early Bird" deadline is almost here, Derby Chair Brad Buck reminds the annual event is making some changes, bringing back some things suspended for the pandemic era derbies.

Buck reminds entries for the derby will still be accepted after next Monday's Early Bird deadline - they just won't qualify for that prize - with the 40th annual event to be held August 19th to 21st.