Wawa Council to Talk Financial Statements, Draft Policies

Wawa Municipal Council's holding a trio of meetings tonight.

That includes a Committee of Adjustment meeting to address an application for a minor variance, as well as a Committee of the Whole meeting, which will first go "in camera" for discussion about KPMG audit findings before a public presentation from KPMG on the 2022 Consolidated and Trust Funds Financial Statements - those will also come back up in the regular meeting.

The Committee of the Whole meeting also includes discussion about draft policies on citizen complaints and succession planning, monthly reports from department heads, Annual Volunteer Award and Recognition, an RFP for software, and an application to the NOHFC for the Michipicoten Golf Club.

Tonight's regular Council meeting will include a resolution to support flying the Pride Flag in June, staff recommendations on Michipicoten Golf Club infrastructure work and an application to the NOHFC to support it, and four "in camera" items, all legal issues, relating to: an application under the section of the Municipal Act relating to cancellation, reduction, or refunding of taxes; a citizen complaint; a "land issue"; and "performance appraisal".

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

Chapleau Sewer Work Underway

Sewer work is underway in Chapleau.

A notice from J. Provost Contracting - posted by the Township of Chapleau - says the work includes sanitary sewer replacement on Elgin Street from Ash to Elm - which will shut down Elgin or restrict traffic, controlled by flag people - with storm sewer replacement happening between Richard and Demers Street - local traffic will be controlled by flag people, where needed.

Approved by Chapleau Town Council last week, the work's expected to continue to July 28th.

Multiple Charges After Manitouwadge Disturbance

Multiple criminal charges have been laid after a disturbance in Manitouwadge.

OPP say officers were called to the incident near Deer and Otter Avenue late Friday afternoon, but while interacting with an individual who was subject of the complaint, that individual damaged an OPP patrol vehicle, resisted arrest, and threatened bodily harm against an officer.

The 44-year-old from Manitouwadge was charged with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm, resist peace officer, causing a disturbance, and mischief over $5000 - he was held for a bail hearing but has since been released.

Temporary CAO Starting in Chapleau

A temporary top administrator's starting work in Chapleau.

The Township's announced Lynne Duguay has been recruited as interim CAO, noting "she brings with her 25 years of municipal experience".

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Council approved plans for the fill-in Chief Administrative Officer last week, with a contract signed soon after.

Among Duguay's duties will be helping Mayor Bignucolo and Chapleau Town Council recruit a new CAO.

The Township launched the search 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.

Over Halfway Through ParticipACTION Community Challenge, Family Color Run Nears

Wawa residents are being challenged to get active over the last half of the month, as ParticipAction's annual "Community Challenge" nears an end.

Wawa Family Health Team dietician Justine Glover explains the challenge, which runs all month.

Glover encourages community members to log "move minutes" through the ParticipAction app or website, noting there are a variety of events being held to help encourage physical activity.

That includes the upcoming Family Colour Run, which organizer Pauline Dawson explains.

The Family Colour Run runs from 11 am to 2 pm Sunday, June 25th, at the Wawa Beachfront.

The ParticipAction Community Challenge ends the following Friday, June 30th - as of Sunday afternoon, Wawa was the 8th most active community in Ontario, but isn't in the Top 20 for Canada.

HSCDSB Approves 2023-24 Budget

The local English Catholic school board's approved its budget for the new year.

Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board trustees okayed the $88,814,304 budget, including: funding for three Northern teaching vice principals, which could include schools in Wawa, White River, and Hornepayne; as well as $20,000 for the board's Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics program; plus continued incremental spending of $70,000 to $100,000 on cybersecurity, after the attack just before Christmas last year.

It also drops virtual learning it was offering through Holy Trinity Virtual Academy after enrolment dropped to only 20 students, down from about 500.

The board expects overall enrolment for the coming year to be relatively flat, only forecasting six more students next October compared to the last.

HSCDSB Adds Superintendent of Education for Math Achievement

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board's announced a new Superintendent of Education, to focus on mathematics achievement.

Franca Spadafora - currently principal for Our Lady of Lourdes in Sault Ste Marie - will step into the new role at the end of July, as the board's received one-year funding from the Ministry of Education for such a position, focusing on informing, monitoring, and providing timely reporting of progress toward student math achievement and improvement targets.

Chapleau Council Approves Sewer Work, Holds Off on Multi-Residential Decision

Sewer work is going ahead in Chapleau.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Chapleau Town Council's approved a contract for the Richards and Demers storm sewer and Elgin Street sanitary sewer replacement.

Mayor Bignucolo says Council held off on a decision about a request from Maison Boreal to waive expenses to construct a multi-residential project.

Bignucolo expects that item to come back up in the next Council meeting, to be held June 26th.

Highway 101 Remains Closed From Chapleau to Missinabie

Highway 101's expected to remain closed between Chapleau and Missinabie for a few more days.

101's been closed between Highway 651 - the Missinabie turnoff - and Highway 129 - at Chapleau - since Tuesday afternoon, with Ontario's Ministry of Transportation saying work is underway to repair a culvert damaged by a washout at Highbrush Lake - a temporary culvert's being put in to "expedite the reopening of the highway", though "the estimated timeline for completion of the work is Sunday, June 18th, pending weather and site conditions".

Chapleau Holding Municipal Hazardous Waste Day

The Township of Chapleau's encouraging residents to bring in their hazardous waste for a special collection tomorrow.

Economic Development Officer Charley Goheen explains the Municipal Hazardous Waste collection event is an annual chance for residents to get rid of hazardous material so it won't end up in the landfill, noting a variety of items are accepted.

The event runs from 9 am to 2 pm Saturday, June 17th, in the parking lot of the Chapleau Recreation Centre.

Time Running Out for Wawa Strategic Plan Refresh Input

Time's running out for Wawa residents to have their say on a "refresh" of the Municipality's Strategic Plan.

CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill explains everyone's encouraged to participate in the process.

O'Neill notes there are a few options.

The survey's open until next Friday, June 23rd, with O'Neill expecting the "engagement process" on the Strategic Plan to end with a draft report in August, leading to adoption of the updated plan in September.

PHSD & PHU Reports New COVID-19 Cases

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

Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting just one since Monday - in the eastern Sudbury District - with known "active" cases dropping slightly, to fifteen, including three in hospital.

The neighbouring Porcupine Health Unit appears to show a jump of 27 cases, though it doesn't show any currently in hospital.

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit's only reporting eight over the last week - down from the previous - though the number in hospital is up slightly, to six.

Local Magino Gold Mine Marks 1st Gold Pour

A local mine's marking a major milestone.

Argonaut Gold says its Magino Mine achieved its first gold pour yesterday, adding that "process plant ramp-up remains on schedule with commercial production expected in the third quarter" of the year.

Located near Dubreuilville, Magino is Argonaut's first Canadian operation, intended to lead the company into being a "low-cost, mid-tier North America gold producer", as it's expected to produce 72,000 to 81,000 ounces of gold this year before reaching 148,000 ounces in 2024, its first full year of production.

Argonaut is also "pursuing growth opportunities", with a twelve to fifteen month exploration and reserve development program set to begin at Magino in the third quarter, to convert open pit resources to reserves within the current resource pit cone, as well as test deep underground high-grade targets and open pit targets along strike west of the current deposit, while it reviews "mill optimization and expansion opportunities" to potentially raise throughput rates and increase annual production.

Forest Fire Activity Fairly Quiet

Forest fire activity was fairly quiet across Northern Ontario Wednesday.

Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry's showing no new fires in the Northeast, though there were 24 still "active", including the "Wawa 3" or "Depew Fire" east of White River being held at 6678.1 hectares in size - south of Trent Lake and Round Lake, and five kilometres northwest of Duffy Lake - while the "Chapleau 3" fire east of Chapleau remains 3916 hectares in size, located two kilometres south of October Lake and 2.5 kilometres west of Vichaw Lake - though it's still listed as "not under control", the Ministry notes minimal fire activity over the past couple days, and the blaze has not grown in size for a few days.

Implementation orders restricting travel near those fires still remain in place.

The Northwest saw three fires over the last day, leaving it with 39 "active", eleven "not under control".

The fire hazard is low for most of the Northeast, rising to moderate or even high for some areas between Marathon, Hearst, and Smooth Rock Falls, going north, while the Northwest is predominantly high with some areas of moderate hazard.

Despite the improved weather and progress on some fires, the Restricted Fire Zone implemented by the province remains in force for the entire fire region of Ontario, suspending burning permits and banning all open air burning.

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.

Cart (0)