Chapleau Finds Temporary CAO

Chapleau's found a temporary top administrator.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Council's approved plans for a fill-in Chief Administrative Officer.

Mayor Bignucolo says he can't announce the name quite yet, but plans to do so soon.

The Township launched a search for a new CAO last month, to replace the outgoing Denis Duguay, who was hired in late September after a nearly eight month search for someone to fill the role - the Township had spent much of the preceding two years searching, with Duguay's predecessor serving roughly three months, from October 2021 until the end of January 2022, after a search that was started in October 2020.

Highway 101 Still Closed From 651 to 129 After Culvert Collapse

Highway 101 remains closed between Wawa and Chapleau after a culvert collapse.

While 101 closed between Highway 651 - the Missinabie turnoff - and Highway 129 - at Chapleau - shortly before 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, Ontario's Ministry of Transportation says work to repair the culvert damaged by the washout at Highbrush Lake began Wednesday, though it has not given a completion timeline for the emergency roadwork.

Superior East OPP suggested Tuesday night that the closure could last "a few days".

ADSB Approves Balanced Budget for 2023-24

The Algoma District School Board's approved a balanced budget for 2023-24.

In their final meeting of the current school year, trustees approved the $192,376,978 - an increase of more than $9.6-million from the previous year - with the board saying it reflects the needs of the system, including supports for the well-being of students and staff, per the Board's strategic priorities.

It includes continued commitments to supports for Instructional Leadership and the Board Improvement plan objectives of Well-Being, Achievement, and Engagement, plus supports for Special Education and Mental Health Programming, capital improvements in schools and upgrade of shop equipment, access to technology, and English Language Learner supports, plus enhancements to Early Years resources, equity and well-being supports, Indigenous Graduation Coaches, enhancements to and promotion of trades, program expansion for speciality and learning recovery programs, targeted supports for students, special education classes, counsellor resources, and re-engagement coaches, mental health resources, classroom resources for literacy and reading, and upgrades to servers, devices, and cybersecurity software.

The board also says staff are awaiting additional special project funding announcements and September 2023 enrolment figures, both of which could result in enhancements for the budget.

Highway 101 Still Closed Due to Washout

Highway 101 remains closed between Wawa and Chapleau due to a washout.

511 announced the closure shortly before 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, initially saying 101's closed in both directions from the Highway 651 - the Missinabie turnoff - to Highway 129 - at Chapleau - due to "maintenance operations", then "emergency roadwork".

Superior East OPP blamed a washout at Highbrush Lake - adding it's "expected to be an extended closure, lasting a few days, as crews work to repair the damage" - with the Ministry of Transportation confirming a culvert collapse is behind the closure, though repair work's only starting today as MTO staff and maintenance contractors were still assessing the site, and a completion timeline isn't expected until later today.

Pictures of the problem show the road heavily damaged on one side of the road, with cracks extending across.

Hydro One Takes Over Day-to-Day Operations for Chapleau Hydro

Hydro One's taken over day-to-day operations for Chapleau Hydro, amid staffing shortages.

A joint release explains the move happened yesterday, with the Ontario Energy Board issuing Hydro One an interim licence to operate Chapleau Hydro's distribution business for the next six months, during which time Chapleau Hydro and the Township of Chapleau will "evaluate longer term options to continue to provide excellent electricity distribution services in Chapleau", expecting a "permanent solution ready to put in place at the end of this interim period" - Chapleau Hydro is noted to be "one of the smallest utilities in the province and, due to its size, it is challenged with balancing the ongoing regulatory requirements, attracting and retaining staff, and the need to make investments in the distribution system", so the Township is looking at the option of selling the distribution business "to ensure customers continue to receive excellent electricity distribution services"..

They emphasize no changes are expected for customers for now - noting Hydro One already services communities and businesses on the outskirts of Chapleau - with Chapleau Hydro still producing the electricity bill under current rates, while any service requests, billing inquiries, or outage reports are still directed to Chapleau Hydro at 705-864-0111.

2 People Charged After Drug Bust in Chapleau

Two people are facing charges after a drug bust in Chapleau.

Nishnawbe Aski Police say their Drug Enforcement Unit and the Ontario Provincial Police executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant last Wednesday, seizing a large quantity of drugs suspected to be methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, and buprenorphine, as well as Canadian currency.

A 42-year-old from Chapleau and a 43-year-old from Fox Lake First Nation are each charged with seven counts of possession of a Schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and another count of possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 - they were subsequently remanded into custody, set to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Timmins.

Chapleau Drag Races Cancelled for 2023

Chapleau's Gold Rush Nationals Drag Race is staying off the track this year.

While preparations had been ramping up for the second annual event to be held July 14th to 16th - online ticket sales started last Thursday - the drag race committee and Luskville Speedway have announced it's cancelled just a month before it was to be held, promising all purchased tickets will be refunded and the event is scheduled to return next year, from August 16th to 18th, 2024.

They're citing the "devastatingly strong" wildfire season in Northern Ontario - which is expected to remain that way until the end of summer - which means the event's intended venue, the Chapleau airport, must instead be available and service uninterrupted since it's a central location for fire protection and a source of fire-retardant foam.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo expresses understanding disappointment with the news.

Bignucolo expresses optimism for next year, noting - as the Committee also does - that airstrip repairs and concrete pad preparation are planned for when the airport has more availability, and encouraging people to look forward to the 2024 races as he does.

Chapleau Student Recognized for Commitment to Studies & School Life

A Chapleau student's being honoured for commitment to her studies and school life.

Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium Grade 12 student Evangéline Barsalou "stands out as a determined and dedicated student...highly motivated and consistently invested a great deal of effort into maintaining her high academic performance while remaining humble about her achievements and successes", including showing "excellent leadership and interpersonal skills", taking part in volleyball and e-learning - which she has "mastered to perfection" - and recently took part in the Rotary Club's "Rediscovering Citizenship" initiative in Ottawa.

Barsalou's set to pursue studies in social sciences at the University of Toronto next year.

APH & PHSD Report New COVID-19 Cases

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

Algoma Public Health's reporting sixteen new cases over the last week, a jump from the previous week - nine in the Sault Ste. Marie area, six in the Elliot Lake area, and one in Central and East Algoma - doubling known "high risk active" to ten, with two in hospital, one in an ICU.

Public Health Sudbury and Districts reported no new cases since Friday, with known "active" cases dropping from 44 to sixteen, including seven in hospital, one in an ICU.

Highway 101 Remains Closed Between Wawa & Chapleau Due to Washout

Highway 101 remains closed between Wawa and Chapleau due to a washout.

511 announced the closure shortly before 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon - initially saying 101's closed in both directions from the Highway 651 turnoff to Hawk Junction to Highway 129 at Chapleau due to "maintenance operations", then "emergency roadwork" - though Superior East OPP say it's because of a washout at Highbrush Lake, adding it's "expected to be an extended closure, lasting a few days, as crews work to repair the damage".

Pictures of the problem show the road heavily damaged on one side of the road, with cracks extending across.

Highway 101 Closure Due to Washout

Highway 101's closed between Wawa and Chapleau due to a washout.

While 511 only says 101's closed in both directions from the Highway 651 turnoff to Hawk Junction to Highway 129 at Chapleau due to "emergency roadwork", Superior East OPP explain it's because of a washout at Highbrush Lake, adding it's "expected to be an extended closure, lasting a few days, as crews work to repair the damage".

Pictures of the problem show the road heavily damaged on one side of the road, with cracks extending across.

Charges Laid Over Break-In & Other Incident in Wawa

Charges have been laid over a pair of incidents in Wawa.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified of a break-and-enter to a Third Avenue residence late Friday morning, leading to the arrest of a 67-year-old Wawa resident on a charge of break, enter a dwelling house.

He was released from custody with a July court date, but - shortly before 6 Saturday night - officers on general patrol on Broadway Avenue observed him breaching release conditions, leading to his arrest on charges of obstruct peace officer and failure to comply with release order.

The accused has been remanded into custody, pending a bail hearing.

Cool, Wet Weather Tempers Forest Fires, White River Area Fire & Chapleau Fires Not Under Control

The cool, wet weather helped temper forest fire activity in the Northeast.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's reporting there were no new fires reported Monday, but there were still 28 "active", including the "Wawa 2" - or "Crocker Lake" - fire under control west of White River at 105 hectares in size, the "Wawa 3" - or "Depew" - fire east of White River now being held at 6678.1 hectares in size, and three fires in the Chapleau district, all considered "not yet under control": "Chapleau 3" southeast of town at 3916.9 hectares in size; "Chapleau 6" northwest of town at 1229 hectares in size; and "Chapleau 4" far to the northeast is 4 hectares in size.

There are still implementation orders restricting travel in the area of "Wawa 3" and "Chapleau 3", the latter including parts of the Dore Road - or Foleyet Timber Road - as well as the Jerome and Mallard roads, north of the Sultan Industrial Road.

The fire hazard is low locally, with some medium, high, even extreme hazard further north, while Northwestern Ontario - which had 40 "active" fires as of late Monday, with six fires reported that day - was predominantly high to extreme hazard, with moderate to the east.

A Restricted Fire Zone remains in place for the entire fire region of Ontario, banning open air burning and suspending burning permits.

Progress on Wawa 3 Forest Fire, Now Being Held

Progress has been made on a major forest fire in the region.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry is showing "Wawa 3" - also known as the "Depew Fire", east of White River - is now "being held" at 6678.1 hectares in size - it hasn't grown in a week - though an implementation order issued over a week ago remains in place, restricting travel around the blaze, which was initially reported May 27th.

The Ministry recently removed the sprinkler system set up near White River, as the threat lessened.

Further east, however, the "Chapleau 3" fire east of Chapleau continues to grow, surpassing 3900 hectares and still considered "not under control".

There are three other fires in the Chapleau district: a three-tenths of a hectare blaze south of Highway 101 and west of 129; a four-hectare fire northeast of town; and a 1229 hectare fire north of Highway 101, west of town.

Given the shift in weather, the fire hazard is mostly low to medium for the region, though there are areas of high hazard along the north shore of Lake Huron and north of Timmins.

Former Superior East OPP Commander Named Nipissing West Commander

The former commander of the local OPP detachment has a new job further south.

The Ontario Provincial Police say Inspector Megan Moriarity has been appointed the Nipissing West Detachment Commander - she's been with the OPP since 1993, starting in various southern communities before being promoted to Staff Sergeant and Detachment Commander for the Superior East Detachment - which includes Wawa, White River, Chapleau, and Hornepayne - in 2015.

She served as acting Detachment Commander for the James Bay and Manitoulin Detachments in 2018 and 2019 until she was promoted to Inspector and moved to officially head the Manitoulin Detachment in April 2019, staying in the role until now.

Chapleau Council to Consider Contract for Sewer Work in Meeting

Chapleau Town Council's set to meet tonight.

Included on tonight's agenda is a by-law authorizing a contract with J. Provost Contracting for the Richards and Demers storm sewer and Elgin Street sanitary sewer replacement, as well as resolutions to waive expenses for Maison Boreal to construct a multi-residential project and approving scope changes for: the sanitary and storm sewer system project; the 2022 landfill closure and post-closure liabilities; and portable generator connection upgrades, plus discussion about the upcoming Drag Races, the Buddy Swanson Volunteer Award, and an Integrity Commissioner report.

There are also two "in-camera" items: one relating to CAO recruitment, the other about the Chapleau PUC.

The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight, in Civic Centre Council Chambers.

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