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Time is running out for the chance to get an extra smile with your coffee - and help support a local cause.
The annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign wraps up this weekend, after a week of selling "Smile Cookies" - in Wawa, they support Wawa and Area Victim Services, and Executive Director Beverly Boyd reminds the funds raised will help WAVS pay off a loan for a vehicle.
Boyd thanks everyone who has supported the fundraising campaign so far.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 185th in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 212 - it last reported a death April 11th.
It's also reporting twelve new cases since Monday - eleven in Greater Sudbury, the other in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up slightly, to 52, with ten in hospital, one in an ICU.
The health unit is holding an "appointment only" COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office next Wednesday, May 10th.
The Municipality of Wawa's moving forward with two fire service-related reports.
In their meeting last night, Wawa Municipal Council accepted a staff recommendation to award the Loomex Group with the contract for both a Fire Services Review and a Community Risk Assessment.
Noting they're required by legislation, Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin explains the two projects.
Sabourin notes the request for proposals expected the reports to be delivered by the end of October, though that could be adjusted, if needed, as it would still put the municipality ahead of the legislated deadline.
While the budget had one review happening this year and the other next year, Council agreed to combine them - Treasurer Manuela Batovanja noted a number of other communities have done so - with the total project now budgeted $49,000 this year, a slight savings compared to what was expected when it was two separate items.
Council also agreed to plans for a "refresh" on the Municipal Strategic Plan, which stemmed from the Municipal Transformation Report prepared by Municipal Government Wayfinders in 2021, during the previous Council term - this "refresh" was noted to be a chance for the current Council to review the plan and give their own "stamp of approval".
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting sixteen over the last week, up slightly from the previous week - seven were in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in central and east Algoma, and four in the Elliot Lake area - pushing known "high risk active" cases up slighly, to twenty, with six in hospital, three in ICUs.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting thirteen since Friday - twelve in Greater Sudbury, the other in the broader Sudbury District - though known "active" cases dropped to 49, with twelve in hospital, two in ICUs.
There have not been any "active" cases listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) in five weeks.
The health unit is holding an "appointment only" COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office next week on Wednesday, May 10th.
Chapleau Town Council will look at the 2020 financial statements this afternoon.
That's the sole item on the agenda for tonight's special meeting, which includes a delegation from KPMG while Deputy Mayor Lisi Bernier and CAO Denis Duguay are excused absences.
The meeting will be held at 4:30 pm, in Civic Centre Council Chambers.
Wawa Municipal Council's holding back-to-back meetings tonight.
First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, though the agenda's slim, just including discussion on a 2023 "refresh" of the Municipal Strategic Plan.
That'll be followed by tonight's regular Council meeting, which includes a Cemetery Committee update and a resolution on updating the Oath of Office in reference to King Charles III.
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.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting eight since Wednesday - all in Greater Sudbury - though known "active" cases dropped slightly, to 60, with twelve in hospital, two in ICUs.
There have not been any "active" cases listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) in five weeks.
The health unit is holding an "appointment only" COVID-19 vaccination clinic at its Chapleau office next week on Wednesday, May 10th.
As you pick up your morning coffee or a meal this week, you could get an extra smile to help support a local cause.
The annual Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign kicks off today, with proceeds from "Smile Cookie" sales at Tim Hortons Wawa supporting Wawa and Area Victim Services, and WAVS Executive Director Beverly Boyd notes funds raised help with the purchase of a van.
Boyd explains the van will assist the organization.
Boyd thanks everyone who's supported the campaign, including through the purchase of Smile Cookies last fall.
Kicking off today, the new Smile Cookie campaign continues to the end of the week.
Wawa residents are getting a chance to see the works of many local artisans - and get pick up some Mother's Day gifts - at the By Hand Festival this weekend.
Coordinator Maria Reid emphasizes the event is first and foremost a craft show.
Reid says there will be several vendors - a mix of returning and new, all local, with a variety of different works for sale - encouraging everyone to come out to the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre between 10 am and 3 pm Saturday.
Admission is by silver collection, to help cover the event's costs.
Another well-loved local event's also happening in Wawa this weekend: the UCW of First United Church's Thrift Shop returned last night, but continues from 1 pm to 4 pm and 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm today, 9 am to 4 pm tomorrow, and 9 am to 8 pm Monday, which will be "Bag Day" all day and evening.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a fatal single vehicle collision on Highway 144 south of Gogama.
South Porcupine OPP say a 50-year-old from Whitefish died as a result of the Tuesday morning collision north of Highway 560 in Chester Township.
While the highway reopened after thirteen hours, the investigation's continuing, with assistance from the OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) unit.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting thirteen since Monday - nine in Greater Sudbury, one in the broader Sudbury District, three in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases are down to 68, with thirteen in hospital, two in ICUs.
The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit's reporting six cases over the last week - just over half of the previous week's count - it no longer breaks that down by region nor reports "active" case counts, but does show one currently in hospital.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is warning of potential flooding in the region.
A Flood Watch has been issued for the Chapleau Wawa District area, warning residents to "keep a close watch on conditions and exercise caution around rivers and streams", as Ontario's northeast and northwest are expected to see mixed precipitation or snow, with Wawa expected to get 30 to 40 millimetres of rain by "end of week from Thursday to Monday" while Chapleau's expected to get the same amount "by end of week from Saturday to Monday".
Newly-independent Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha is pushing the provincial government to address the Northern physician shortage.
Speaking during Question Period, Mantha pressed Health Minister Sylvia Jones about the issue, saying "rural and Northern communities are especially struggling to ensure residents have access to a physician and primary care", noting his office "is constantly hearing from individuals and families who are waiting 2, 3, 4, or more years to be matched with a family doctor".
Mantha also pointed to research from the Ontario College of Family Physicians - which found 2.2-million Ontarians are currently without a family doctor - and a pre-budget submission from the Ontario Medical Association - which warned the North's short 350 family doctors and specialists, which is up from the shortfall of 325 last year - with Mantha warning "physicians are trying their best to service their communities but without help from this government, they are burning out and are being left no choice but to close their practice".
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting its 102nd since the pandemic began - it last reported a death in its last update, last Tuesday.
It's also reporting twelve new cases over the last week, slightly down from the previous week - eleven in the Sault Ste. Marie area, and another in the Elliot Lake area - though known "high risk active" cases are down to sixteen, with five in hospital.
Newly-independent Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha is pushing the provincial government to increase social assistance.
Mantha rose to read out and table a petition in the Legislature on Monday, calling for an increase to Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program.
The petition - which also cited an open letter signed by over 230 organizations calling for the move, and the former federal CERB rate of $2000 per month - was then signed by Mantha, who gave his wholehearted support before passing it to the page.
It's the first major move by Mantha in the Legislature since he was removed from the NDP caucus by leader Marit Stiles at the start of this month amid a third-party investigation into alleged workplace misconduct.
Mantha first sat as an independent - in his first 2023 appearance in the chamber - on April 6th, and announced on social media this weekend that he'd rehired his three-person team of staff - two of whom have worked for Mantha for most of his twelve year tenure as MPP - he's previously vowed he's committed to "continue to serve the people of Algoma-Manitoulin".
Syphilis is on the rise across Canada - and in the region.
Noting data from the Public Health Agency of Canada shows infectious syphilis cases rising across the country, Public Health Sudbury and Districts notes it's seeing "a concerning increase" in its service area, with 23 already reported this year - there were only 31 confirmed over the entirety of 2023.
In response, the health unit's encouraging awareness, practising safer sex, and following up with your health care provider and getting tested if you are at risk, as syphilis can lead to severe consequences if left untreated.
More COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting seventeen since Friday - all in Greater Sudbury - with known "active" cases down to 74, with nine in hospital.
There have not been any "active" cases listed for the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations) in four weeks.
Impaired driving charges have been laid after a single vehicle collision in Manitouwadge.
Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the collision early Thursday morning, with investigation determining the driver was impaired by alcohol, leading to their arrest and transportation to the local detachment for further testing - the 28-year-old from Manitouwadge has since been charged with: operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs; and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus).
They're set to appear in court in August.
Wawa's mill is changing hands once again - and changing its function.
Nashville-based LP Building Solutions has announced a definitive agreement with Forex Inc. for LP to acquire the assets owned by Wawa OSB Inc., which is a subsidiary of Forex - that includes the manufacturing facility just outside Wawa, which LP plans to convert into an LP SmartSide Trim and Siding Mill, expected to add about 400-million square feet of capacity, which would make it LP's largest single-line siding mill.
According to LP, the conversion "will bring more than 150 sustainable jobs to the region", and it touts the site as "an ideal location for SmartSide production due to its access to an ample and sustainable aspen wood basket and efficient logistics options".
The facility was built as an OSB plant in the mid-1990s but shut down in 2007, then sold in 2013 and converted to a pellet mill which idled in 2017.
Wawa OSB had started ramping up plans to convert the former pellet mill back to an oriented strandboard mill last year, with the provincial government last April announcing a conditional grant of $15-million over four years to leverage over $170-million and creating "hundreds of new jobs" and bring the forest sector "back in a big way" to Wawa, and the company claimed last summer the plant should have 140 direct jobs, producing 530,000 cubic metres of OSB at full capacity, aiming to open this summer or fall, but the unprecedented peak in OSB and lumber prices in 2021 and early 2022 sharply declined in the latter half of 2022, and Forex & Wawa OSB filed for creditor protection more than two months ago.
