The Wawa Adult Learning Centre's thanking the community for its support helping another local organization.
Brenda Melbourne explains a "pop up fundraiser" held Saturday received a lot of support.
The centre thanks those who came out for the event.
MVFA Cash Draw's Early Bird Draw Nears
A lucky supporter of Wawa's firefighters will soon be $1000 richer.
The Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters' Association's annual cash draw is set to have its "Early Bird" draw next weekend, and Past President Kyle Ouellet reminds ticket sales support the firefighters.
The "Early Bird" draw will be made Saturday night, and Ouellet notes the winning ticket will be re-entered for the next draw on Valentine's Day, and the final draws at the Wawa Ice Fishing Derby.
Fill a Sleigh Event Wraps Toy Drive Supporting Wawa Christmas Hampers
An annual effort to support children in the Wawa area this holiday season came to a close over the weekend.
Josee McCoy - manager of Wawa's Red Apple store - explains Saturday's "Fill a Sleigh Day" with local emergency services was the culmination of a multi-week toy drive.
Emphasizing the local police are happy to join in - as it's a "worthwhile cause", helping out families in need - Superior East OPP Constable Ashley Nickle says response to the event was "amazing".
Wawa Fire Department Deputy Chief Pierre Gauthier is appreciative of the support seen Saturday.
The firefighters were also out Sunday - with staff from St. Augustine French Immersion school - collecting food for the Christmas Hampers, which will be going out December 15th.
PHSD Reports New COVID-19 Cases
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 34 since Wednesday - 27 in Greater Sudbury, four in the broader Sudbury District, and three in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down slightly, to 134 - 22 in hospital, one in an ICU - with six in the northern Sudbury District (Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations), down from Wednesday's nine.
$300k Fine Over July 2021 Death at Marathon Mine
A Toronto mining company's been fined over the death of a worker at Marathon's Hemlo Mine last year.
Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development says Williams Operating Corporation (which conducts some portion of the mine operations and contracts out for others) entered a guilty plea to ensuring controls were installed for an automatic door and that the installation was maintained as designed, resulting in a $300,000 fine, plus a 25% victim fine surcharge, which goes to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.
According to the Ministry, the incident occurred July 14th, 2021, after power to the underground portion of the mine had been restored following a full-day shutdown for maintenance to underground electrical substations, with an employee of a contractor involved in clearing and readying the automation zone of the mine for use by the night shift advised that an automatic gate needed to be reset - while there were no witnesses, investigators say it appears the worker attempted to go through nearby access doors after resetting the gate, but was fatally injured in the process, with investigation determining the doors were designed to default to a closed position following a power outage - the opposite of other doors in the mine - leading to the charges against Williams.
Marathon Palladium Project Receives Federal & Provincial Approvals
Another mine project near Marathon has received the green light.
Generation PGM's received provincial and federal approvals of its environment assessment proposals for the Marathon Palladium Project about ten kilometres from the town - a provincial government release notes it's expected to produce an average of 245,000 ounces of palladium equivalent production annually over an estimated 13-year mine life.
Palladium's a key material in catalytic converters.
Site construction's expected to take 18 to 24 months, requiring over 900 workers, with an operating workforce estimated at 375 people.
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 reporting sixteen since Tuesday - ten 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) - pushing known "high risk active" cases up slightly, to 82, 13 in hospital, three in ICUs.
The neighbouring Thunder Bay District Health Unit's reporting three more COVID-related deaths, bringing its total to 127.
TBDHU’s also reporting 127 new COVID-19 cases - it no longer reports "active" case counts, but does show 23 in hospital, three in ICUs - it's also reporting 42 new lab-confirmed cases of influenza, just over half of those reported last Thursday.
Festive Events Planned for This Weekend in Wawa
Wawa's getting into the festive season this weekend.
Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White notes tonight marks the beginning of the annual Festival of Lights decoration contest.
White reminds votes can be cast online or by dropping them off at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre Pro Shop - maps of participating homes are likewise available online, through Wawa Recreation on social media, or at the "Bundle Up! Market" being held this weekend.
White is also excited for the market, noting a "really good lineup" for four separate markets this weekend, offering a chance for some Christmas shopping.
White also notes there'll be a special guest at each market: Santa Claus.
The "Bundle Up! Market" will be held from 6 pm to 8 pm tonight, 1 pm to 3 pm and 6 pm to 8 pm Saturday, and 1 pm to 3 pm Sunday, at the Goose Nest Market in downtown Wawa.
White also reminds the deadline to register for the December 16th Santa Claus Parade is December 10th, just over a week away.
Festive Wawa Fundraisers Happening This Weekend
A few local fundraisers are happening this weekend, supporting some Wawa organizations.
The Wawa Goose Seniors Centre is hosting its annual Christmas Bazaar in support of the club, including a penny sale, silent auction, white elephant sale, bake sale, and a couple contests for cake decoration and Christmas gift basket - it runs from 11 am to 3 pm Saturday, though those wishing to drop off items for the bake sale can do so before 10 am.
Wawa's St. Paul's Anglican Church is also holding a bake sale Saturday - from 1 pm to 3 pm - while the Wawa Adult Learning Centre's hosting a "pop up fundraiser" supporting the Wawa Food Bank, from 10 am to 3 pm Saturday.
Emergency Services & Local School Staff Joining in Efforts to Support Wawa Christmas Hampers
Wawa's emergency services and others will be out in the community this weekend, to raise support for an annual tradition helping the needy in the community.
Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters Association Past President Kyle Ouellet explains the firefighters are joining in the annual "Fill the Sleigh" event tomorrow.
Ouellet notes the firefighters are also partnering with staff from St. Augustine French Immersion School on Sunday.
Emphasizing the hampers support those in need - families, seniors, and others - Christmas Hamper Fund President Richard Watson explains they offer a few items to brighten the season.
Watson notes the hampers will be distributed Thursday, December 15th.
The "Fill the Sleigh" event runs from 11 am to 2 am Saturday at the Red Apple store in Wawa, with the food drive in Wawa - including the Mission - from 10 am to 1 pm Sunday.
LDHC Foundation Thanks Community for Giving Tuesday Support
Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation is thanking the community for its support amid a one-day fundraising initiative.
Chair Susan Switzer says "Giving Tuesday" was quite a success, including a $1750 matching donation from Northern Lights Ford and its staff.
Vice Chair Lorraine Pihelgas notes the 24-hour donation drive was just part of the Foundation's ongoing holiday mailout campaign.
Switzer adds there's another fundraising initiative underway.
Funds raised go toward the Foundation's "One for the Dunn" initiative supporting the hospital's MediTech expansion.
Weather Played Important Role in April Plane Crash South of Wawa
Weather played a key role in a plane crash south of Wawa last spring.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada's released its report on the April 14th crash of Piper Comanche aircraft that killed two people - it states that investigators were unable to determine what weather information the pilot obtained before departing around 3:43 pm from the southern Ontario community of Delhi, heading for Marathon, as a stopover on the way to Alberta, though the flight did start in appropriate weather conditions, even if dense clouds could be seen west of the flight plan.
According to the TSB, the privately registered plane changed its heading slightly toward the west and was on track toward Marathon just before flying over Manitoulin Island, with automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast data collected after the incident showing it was heading toward Marathon just before 6 that night but also a higher frequency of heading changes and ADS-B information was lost five minutes later, when the plane was about 14 nautical miles - about 26 kilometres - south of the Wawa Municipal Airport, as weather conditions worsened.
The plane was later reported overdue, prompting a search hampered by poor weather conditions and reduced visibility, and the mission was called off April 24th, handed over to the OPP as a missing persons case - plane parts were discovered by a helicopter operator conducting a private search May 21st, in an open swampy area within a mountainous and densely wooded area about eleven kilometres northwest of the plane's last known position, with a subsequent search confirming the aircraft was destroyed and both pilot Brian Slingerland and his friend, John Fehr, were killed in the crash.
PHSD Reports COVID-19 Death in Greater Sudbury, More Cases Across Region
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting a death in Greater Sudbury in which COVID contributed to but was not the underlying cause of death - this brings the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 196 - 170 in the city alone - it last reported two weeks ago.
It's also reporting 28 new cases since Monday - 23 in Greater Sudbury, four in the broader Sudbury District, and another in the Manitoulin District - but known "active" cases are down to slightly, to 143, with 23 in hospital, one in an ICU.
There are nine "active" cases in the northern Sudbury District, down from Monday's ten - the communities aren't specified, but the region includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations.
CP Holiday Train Set to Roll Through Region
A mobile event supporting food banks "rolls" through the region tonight.
After opting for a virtual "Holiday Train at Home" concert the last two years, CP's Holiday Train is back on the tracks for a cross-continent tour, explained by Media Relations and Community Affairs Manager Salem Woodrow.
Woodrow explains the train provides a free concert for communities when it stops.
While the concert's free, attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the local food bank - Woodrow emphasizes what is donated in each community stays in that community, and encourages people to arrive early to get a good spot for the concert.
The train's scheduled to stop in Cartier at 10:30 am this morning, Chapleau at 4 pm this afternoon, and White River at 8:45 pm, before continuing to Mobert, Heron Bay, Marathon, and further west tomorrow.
1 Dead, Another Injured in Pickup/Transport Truck Collision North of Wawa
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal collision on Highway 17, near the intersection with 519.
Superior East OPP say they responded to a collision involving a pickup truck and a commercial motor vehicle (tractor-trailer) about 40 kilometres north of Wawa around 5:47 pm Tuesday night, with officers confirming one person was dead.
Superior East OPP have also confirmed to JJAM FM News that another person was injured, but the extent of their injuries is currently unknown - both the injured and deceased were in the pickup truck, though it is currently unknown which person was driving.
A tweet from the OPP's Northeast Region Communications account initially announced 17 closed between Wawa and White River around 6:15 pm, citing "multiple collisions due to poor weather and driving conditions", though Superior East OPP have since clarified there was only a single collision and that multiple reports had come in, likely leading to the confusion.
The closure extended to Nipigon later in the evening, with another fatal collision reported east of that community.
The highway was closed for several hours, but has since reopened, though the investigation is continuing with assistance from the Northeast Region Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) team.
Superior Children's Centre Participating in Day of Action Ahead of AGM
Wawa child care workers will be protesting this afternoon.
Superior Children's Centre Executive Director Chrystal Morden explains why they’re participating in the Day of Action.
Morden encourages the public to join in - grabbing a poster and wearing polka dots - or simply honk when driving by.
The demonstration runs from 4:30 to 5:30 this afternoon.
A major meeting's also coming up for Wawa's Superior Children's Centre.
Its annual general meeting will be held at 6 tonight, in the centre at 41 Algoma and also via Zoom - anyone wanting information should contact Chrystal Morden by emailing cmorden@sccalgoma.org
Registration Deadline of Wawa's Festival of Lights
Time's running out to sign up for a holiday season decoration contest in Wawa.
Noting the initiative's quite popular - with more participants each year - Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains the annual Festival of Lights.
Organizers say those looking to compete must sign up by noon today, so a map of participants can be prepared for Friday's launch - a link to register can be found through Wawa Recreation on social media.
Registrations are also open for floats in this year's Santa Claus Parade, which will be held December 16th - the deadline for those is December 10th.
Wawa Student Serving as Page for Ontario Legislature
A local student's living an unforgettable experience - serving as a page in the Ontario Legislature.
Wawa's Havana Thibodeau-Bello - a Grade 8 student at Ecole Saint-Joseph - is one of two Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon students selected from hundreds of applications to the Legislative Page Program - they've been working as pages since November 14th, and will continue to do so until December 8th, serving as messengers and performing other duties for MPPs and Officers of the House.
APH Reports 2 COVID-19 Deaths, More New Cases
More COVID-19 deaths have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting one in which COVID was the underlying cause of death and another in which it contributed to but was not the underlying cause, bringing the health unit's death toll since the pandemic began to 82, 61 in 2022 alone.
The health unit's also reporting 37 new cases since Thursday - 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 76, with twelve in hospital, two in ICUs - both down from Thursday's report.
LDHC Foundation Encourages Support During Giving Tuesday
With the holiday season here, residents of the Wawa area are being asked to help grant a wish from the local hospital - particularly amid a special one-day initiative.
Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Vice Chair Lorraine Pihelgas notes today is "Giving Tuesday", which has special support.
Foundation Chair Susan Switzer explains the one-day initiative.
Switzer notes donations can be made through the hospital website - or the Giving Tuesday website - with anyone requiring more information directed to call the Foundation at 705-856-2335, extension 3147.
Funds raised today bolster the holiday season Wish Campaign, part of the Foundation's "One for the Dunn" initiative supporting the hospital's MediTech expansion.