Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
Some good news for local drivers, as Highway 101's reopened east of Chapleau.
The highway - which reopened last night - had been closed from the junction of Highway 129 to Highway 7072 in Foleyet for the last few days, for work to repair a damaged culvert after recent weather saw water over the roadway over the weekend.
Time's almost up for those interested in learning more about government programs or grants to assist their organization or business.
A "Funder's Forum" is set to be held at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre next Wednesday afternoon, though the deadline to RSVP is 5 o'clock this afternoon - call Linda Bouchard-Berzel at 705-255-8316 or email linda.bouchard-berzel@ontario.ca
Attendees can also join the event via Zoom.
More COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting two, bringing its COVID-related death toll to 79 - 58 this year alone - but is giving few details except that COVID was the underlying cause of death in one and contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death in another - it last reported a death last Thursday.
The health unit's also reporting 56 new cases since Thursday - 45 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, seven 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) - though known "high risk active" cases are down to 113, with hospitalizations down to 23, including three in ICUs.
Wawa has a new municipal council - though it includes a few familiar faces.
That's the sound of Wawa's new Council taking their oaths of office - they'll now serve a four year term, ending in November 2026.
While the councillors were the first to swear allegiance to new King Charles III, new mayor Melanie Pilon did not do so.
Pilon - who has been a councillor since the start of February - noted her historic position.
Mayor Pilon also commended her colleagues as well as the other five people who ran for Council before pledging to follow through on the municipality's "strong vision" and work to build not just a "sustainable community but an innovative and thriving community" that can attract diverse, young families, adding she looks forward to working with her colleagues and municipal staff and continuing the relationship with Michipicoten First Nation.
Chief Pat Tangie had expressed a similar sentiment before smudging Council Chambers.
Councillor Mitch Hatfield - who is starting her second term - expressed excitement for this new term.
Councillor Cathy Cannon - who was appointed in October 2021 before winning election for a full term last month - echoed the sentiment.
Like the others, new Councillor Jim Hoffmann thanked those in attendance and who supported him in the election.
Councillor Joseph Opato - who previously served on Council in the 1990s - brought some levity to the meeting, as he echoed the others.
While Council is set to hold one or two meetings for training over the next week, their first proper meeting will be held December 13th.
The new Chapleau Town Council was also sworn-in last night - with new mayor Ryan Bignucolo and new councillors Catherine Ansara, Paul Bernier, and Alex Lambruschini joining returning councillor Lisi Bernier - while Dubreuilville also welcomed its new council, with returning mayor Beverly Nantel's starting her second term, joined by returning councillors Luc Levesque and Helene Perth and new councillors Julila Hemphill and Krystel Levesque.
A worker has died after a fatal accident at a mine project in the region.
Argonaut Gold says an "isolated incident...involving a contractor working on the construction of the mill facility" at its Magino Project resulted in a fatality shortly before 11 o'clock Monday morning.
The deceased has not been publicly identified.
Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development has confirmed a worker "sustained fatal injuries when they were struck by materials", and that a ministry inspector and an engineer attended the scene, issuing two orders to the employer, Scott Steel Erectors, with the ministry's investigation ongoing.
Argonaut President and CEO Larry Radford says the company's "profoundly saddened by this accident", emphasizing "the safety of our employees and contractors is our highest priority and the loss of this individual is a shock to us all", adding "we extend our deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones".
It also says it's "working with authorities in investigating the accident to determine the cause".
Wawa is wrapped in purple today - and will be for the next few weeks - as part of a campaign in solidarity with abused women.
CHADWIC Home Program Supervisor Bonnie Ross explains the purple shows support for the "Shine the Light on Woman Abuse" campaign, which has a few goals.
Ross notes the colour purple is a symbol of "courage, survival, and honour", and has also come to symbolize the fight to end woman abuse.
Aside from wearing purple today, the community's encouraged to keep purple lights and decorations up for the rest of the campaign, which continues through the 16 Days of Action on Violence Against Women, ending on Human Rights Day, which is December 10th.
As Chapleau's new Council is set to start their term, the town's outgoing mayor has some advice.
Emphasizing that helping the community requires "teamwork" and "a concerted effort between Council and staff", Mayor Michael Levesque says the new councillors have much to learn.
Levesque encourages the incoming Council to "freely ask" staff for assistance, as "they know the ins and outs of the legislation".
The outgoing mayor says he's proud of what was accomplished during his two terms, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a period missing certain key managers - including a CAO - including improvements to Lansdowne Street and the Buddy Swanson Volunteer Recognition Award, saying it was done "within a reasonable budget without exorbitant tax increases" - but he sees a shortage of housing, health care professionals, and volunteers in the community as key issues for the new Council to tackle.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is giving few details about its 192nd death linked to the illness, except that it's the eighteenth in the broader Sudbury District, and that COVID contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death.
As it didn't update figures on Friday - due to Remembrance Day - the health unit's also reporting 81 cases since Wednesday - 70 in Greater Sudbury, five in the broader Sudbury District, and six in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down to 176, with the number in the northern Sudbury District down to only one - the community isn't specified, but the region includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.
Hospitalization figures weren't updated "as a result of changes to the data source".
It's the start of the new term for some local councils.
Wawa will see its new Council sworn-in tonight, including new mayor Melanie Pilon, returning councillors Cathy Cannon and Mitch Hatfield, former councillor Joe Opato, and new councillor Jim Hoffmann - the meeting's only intended for the swearing-in and addresses from the new Council, who are set to hold two meetings over the next eight days for training, with their proper first meeting on December 13th.
Tonight's meeting will begin at 6:30, in Council Chambers.
Chapleau will have an almost entirely new Council, with new mayor Ryan Bignucolo and new councillors Catherine Ansara, Paul Bernier, and Alex Lambruschini joining returning councillor Lisi Bernier - that meeting is also set to be held at 6:30 pm, in Civic Centre Council Chambers.
In Dubreuilville, returning mayor Beverly Nantel's set to start her second term, joined by returning councillors Luc Levesque and Helene Perth and new councillors Julila Hemphill and Krystel Levesque - that meeting starts slightly later, at 7:00 pm.
Three Wawa youths are facing assault charges over an incident last Friday.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to an assault in progress on Mackey Street shortly before 10 o'clock Friday night, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of two sixteen-year-olds and a fifteen-year-old on charges of assault causing bodily harm - one of the sixteen-year-olds was also charged with a count of assault.
They cannot be publicly identified, under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
All three were released from custody, set to appear in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice next month.
Highway 101 remains closed east of Chapleau, for emergency road work.
The highway's fully closed from the junction of Highway 129 to Highway 7072 in Foleyet, as work continues to repair a damaged culvert - recent weather saw water over the roadway over the weekend, prompting the repair work.
There is no estimated time for when 101 will reopen.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's giving few details about its 77th death from the illness - the 56th this year alone - except that COVID was the underlying cause of death - it last reported a death last Tuesday.
The health unit's also reporting 37 new cases since Tuesday - 33 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, three in Central and East Algoma, and another in the Elliot Lake area - though known "high risk active" cases are down slightly, to 133, with 29 in hospital, two in ICUs.
The neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting its 123rd COVID death, along with 137 new cases - it no longer reports "active" case counts, but does show 45 in hospital, two in ICUs - and it's also reporting 125 new lab-confirmed cases of influenza.
A Wawa man's facing an assault charge over an incident earlier this week.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a physical altercation on Third Avenue around 3 o'clock Monday afternoon, leading to the arrest of a 49-year-old on a charge of assault - he's been released from custody, with a court date next month.
Sexual assault charges has been laid in White River.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to a complaint of a sexual assault on Spruce Street in White River early Saturday afternoon, with the subsequent investigation assisted by the Sault Ste. Marie OPP Crime Unit, leading to the arrest of a 53-year-old from White River on two counts of sexual assault.
They've been released from custody, set to appear in Wawa's Ontario Court of Justice next month.
With Remembrance Day almost here, preparations are underway for tomorrow's ceremonies.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 Poppy Campaign Chairman Larry Harvey notes the forecast and other circumstances have forced a change to plans in Wawa, including moving the venue for the longer ceremony from Michipicoten High School.
Harvey further reminds everyone to wear a poppy, noting funds raised support a few things, particularly veterans.
Poppies are available throughout the community.
In Chapleau, plans are to proceed as normal, with the wreath-laying ceremony at the cenotaph starting around 10:30 am.
Some local communities will receive a little less from the provincial government next year - but a few will get a little more.
The Ontario government's unveiled next year's Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund rates, noting that - like this year - a total of $500-million will be spread among 389 municipalities.
That includes a total of $1,537,000 for the Municipality of Wawa - down $56,500 from the 2022 allocation - amounting to about $944 per household, a $34 drop from this year.
The Township of Dubreuilville's also seeing a drop, down $17,400 to only $314,400 - the equivalent of $964 per household, down $54 from this year.
There's better news for the Township of Chapleau, which is set to receive $1,362,100 - an increase of $8900 - raising the per household rate by $12, to $1174.
Even better news for the Township of White River, as it’s getting a $18,700 increase to $494,400, the equivalent of $1059 per household, which is a $78 increase.
Chapleau's last sign of boating season is departing for the season.
The Township of Chapleau says it is removing the dock at the waterfront boat launch today.
Anyone with questions can call Leisure and Cultural Services Director Rejean Raymond at 705-864-0154.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
In its latest report, Public Health Sudbury and Districts reports its 191st death - the 166th in Greater Sudbury - it last reported COVID deaths on Friday.
The health unit's also reporting 51 cases since Monday - 47 in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 236, with 37 in hospital, one in an ICU - the same as Monday.
The number of cases in the northern Sudbury District is up slightly, to three - the communities aren't specified (the region includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations), and there are no longer any outbreaks in the region.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's giving few details about its 76th death from the illness - the 55th this year alone - except that COVID was the underlying cause of death.
APH last reported a death last Thursday, November 3rd.
The health unit's also reporting 76 new cases since Thursday - 61 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, eight in Central and East Algoma, five in the Elliot Lake area, and two in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - though known "high risk active" cases have dropped to only 134, with 29 in hospital, one in an ICU.
Some changes have been announced for Remembrance Day in Wawa.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 429 Poppy Campaign Chairman Larry Harvey explains "some issues have come up".
Harvey notes there are also changes preceding that service.
Harvey thanks municipal officials and staff for accommodating the change and making arrangements so quickly, and he has a reminder for those wanting a wreath for this Friday's ceremony.
Harvey encourages people to get wreath orders in by tomorrow, and reminds that poppies are available throughout the community.
