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A Chapleau graduate's been honored for excellent academic standing.
The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium graduate Marianne Fournier is the recipient of the Governor General's Academic Medal for the 2022-23 academic year, recognizing that she had the highest average at the completion of her secondary school studies.
Fournier is now pursuing studies in Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ottawa.
Algoma-Manitoulin MPP Michael Mantha's pushing the provincial government to address potential closures of Northern emergency rooms.
Speaking in Question Period Tuesday, the independent MPP noted the Manitoulin Health Centre announced last week it might have to close one of its ERs for days throughout October due to a doctor shortage, with other hospitals - like Thessalon's - also facing closure threats due to staffing issues "for months on end".
Mantha called it "unacceptable", emphasizing "this government cannot continue to allow rural hospitals to go short staffed", calling for the P-C government to act now to avoid closures happening in rural and Northern communities, pointing out the Ontario Medical Association estimated last year that the North needed 364 new physicians to maintain adequate levels of care, with Mantha adding "overburdened doctors in the North are burning out and closing down their practices to move elsewhere".
Wawa Municipal Council's getting an early look at capital plans for next year and beyond.
A special meeting's being held tonight, with the main item on the agenda being presentation of the draft capital budget, though there's also a resolution relating to awarding the Community Improvement Plan proposal, and a by-law confirming a memorandum of understanding with Michipicoten First Nation for the marina divestiture.
Open to the public, the meeting starts at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers, also broadcast on the Municipality of Wawa's YouTube channel.
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting its 192nd in Greater Sudbury, bringing the health unit's COVID-related death toll to 220 - it last reported a death more than two weeks ago, on September 8th.
It's also reporting 25 new cases since Friday - 23 in Greater Sudbury, one in the broader Sudbury District, another in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases dropped to 81, the lowest in nearly two weeks.
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed thirteen in hospital.
Authorities are searching for a federal offender known to frequent Sault Ste. Marie.
The Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement (ROPE) Squad says a Canada-wide warrant's been issued for Andrew Swan, who's breached his statutory release while serving a four-year, four-month, and one-day sentence for sexual interference.
The 58-year-old's described as a Caucasian male, 5'8" (173 cm) tall, weighing 204 pounds (93 kilograms), with grey hair and blue eyes.
He's known to frequent the Sault Ste. Marie, Barrie, Bracebridge, Brampton, and Kitchener areas.
Anyone who knows his whereabouts is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers.
Some local schools are marking an important cultural day today.
The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon notes students at its schools - including in Wawa, Dubreuilville, and Chapleau - will mark the provincial Franco-Ontarian day with "a multitude of dynamic activities in their schools and communities, planned to honour the strength of their francophone community".
Locally, that includes students from Chapleau's École Sacré-Cœur parading through the community at 1:30 pm this afternoon, to join others in the Francophone community at Town Hall at 2 o'clock, when a flag raising ceremony will be held.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's touting a new hire to help with its efforts.
Foundation Chair Susan Switzer says the organization's happy to introduce the new figure.
Alisha Allin explains her involvement.
While the Foundation recently wrapped up its "One for the Dunn" campaign after a successful two-and-a-half years, Allin notes the next six weeks are full of activities and events, starting with last Friday's Trivia Night, followed by another event next weekend.
Allin adds the event will also see the unveiling of an original painting from Darlene Jordan, which Jordan has donated to the Foundation - it will be selling tickets for a draw to be held November 21st, just before the Foundation launches its annual holiday Wish campaign.
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting fifteen since Wednesday - all in Greater Sudbury - though - for the first time in nearly three weeks - known "active" cases dropped to 103, including one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures on Wednesdays, but last showed thirteen in hospital.
Chapleau Town Council won't be meeting again this month.
The regular Council meeting that was scheduled for tonight has been cancelled, with Council now set to next meet next Monday, October 2nd.
No explanation's been given for the cancellation.
Local police are reminding that OPP record checks have moved online.
A reminder from Superior East Ontario Provincial Police notes that it can no longer receive or process requests for police record checks - which can be required for employment, adoption, international travel, volunteer work, and more - and that the process is now "fully online" instead, with people only required to come in if fingerprints are required or if they are under the age of 16 years old, and even then they will be notified during the application process.
Those without access to a computer or the Internet are advised to go to their local library or the local employment office (for Wawa, Dubreuilville, and White River residents, the Regional Employment Help Centre or for Chapleau residents, the Employment Ontario office).
The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's thanking the community for supporting a now completed years-long fundraising campaign.
Foundation Chair Susan Switzer explains the "One for the Dunn" campaign was launched two-and-a-half years ago, to raise funds for the "MediTech Expanse Program", so the Wawa hospital could join other Northern Ontario hospitals in a digital record-keeping initiative under the philosophy of "one person, one record, one system".
Switzer says the Lady Dunn Health Centre itself took care of upgrading its computer equipment while the Foundation purchased "peripheral equipment".
Switzer says they've "run out of adjectives" to describe the "overwhelming" support for the "One for the Dunn" campaign.
Switzer adds that the Foundation looks forward to doing more community events now, with new Foundation Coordinator Alisha Allin noting the return of the popular Trivia Night at the Legion tonight - fourteen teams had registered by yesterday's deadline - while an Alamos Gold-sponsored High Tea will be held October 1st - tickets are available by calling or emailing the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation.
Wawa's Fire Chief is challenging residents to be "Saved by the Beep".
Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin explains a special challenge has been launched, directly calling on people to check their smoke alarms.
Reminding smoke alarms normally last only ten years - and batteries do need to be replaced from time-to-time to ensure they're working - Sabourin emphasizes the alarms are required by law.
While he notes smoke alarms are important to ensure you have early warning to get out of your home in case of a fire, Chief Sabourin also reminds everyone to prepare a home fire or family escape plan, to ensure everyone knows what to do in case of a fire.
Test Your Smoke Alarm Day is next Thursday, September 28th.
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 24 since Monday - 21 in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District, another in the Manitoulin District - pushing known "active" cases up to 107, including one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).
The health unit's also reporting a rise in cases in hospital - up to thirteen - though there are no longer any in ICUs.
Enrolment's higher than expected at the local English Catholic school board.
The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board says it has seen a "substantial increase in enrolment", with about 180 more students than projected in June - 115 more elementary students, for a total of 3738, and 65 more secondary students, for a total of 770 - prompting the board to create 13.2 new full-time equivalent teaching positions - on top of 13 added last school year - while developing new infrastructure to build seven new classrooms.
A Chapleau student's started a new term as one of the Algoma District School Board's student trustees.
Chapleau High School Grade 11 student Casey Bouvier's one of three new student trustees for the new school year, noted to be a "hard-working student who has demonstrated collaboration and commitment to completing tasks" and touted as "dependable, organized, and reliable", pointing out her involvement in the Student Senate since Grade 9, as well as the Bon Soo Olympics, and volunteering at the Chapleau Ski Club and Chapleau Arena.
The board says she's identified several priorities for her term: making sure the voices of all students are heard and recognized, including those of different racial backgrounds, identities, religions, and beliefs; helping her peers build confidence to find their voices without fear of being criticized for their views and opinions; and prioritizing student involvement in school and board-wide events, wanting to ensure students feel safe and welcomed by and in school communities.
Bouvier's joined by two other new student trustees from Superior Heights Collegiate and Vocational School in Sault Ste. Marie: Grade 12 student Andrew Vair and Grade 12 student Desirae Schell-Migwans, who is Indigenous Student Trustee.
Enrolment's once again higher than expected at the local English public school board.
Noting they've seen "a steady increase" in enrolment over the past several years, the Algoma District School Board says the number of students enrolled in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 this month is up by 272 from the director's March report - which had expected 6743, requiring 296 classes and 296 full-time equivalent teaching staff - which was already up by 119 students from last September.
Likewise, there are 103 more secondary students than the 3536 expected - more than double the amount last fall's enrolment had exceeded forecasts.
A Wawa firefighter was honoured for longtime service at last night's Council meeting.
Wawa Volunteer Fire Department Captain David "Dave" Jennings was presented with a medal and certificate recognizing 25 years with the local fire department, the last fifteen of which he's spent as a captain.
Mayor Melanie Pilon lauded his service as a firefighter and also throughout the community.
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting a sixteen over the last week - up from the previous week's ten - with thirteen in the Sault Ste. Marie area, two in the Elliot Lake area, and another in central and east Algoma - known "high risk active" cases are up slightly, to eighteen.
The Municipality of Wawa will run the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre canteen over the coming ice season.
While a request for proposals (RFP) process was launched, Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson told Wawa Municipal Council last night that no proposals were received, so - per Council's direction back in June - municipal staff will run the canteen, to ensure it operates.
Council was also apprised of a recommendation to amend the Municipality's Ice Cancellation Policy, told there were "a lot of" short-notice cancellations last season - with Patterson noting that has an operational as well as financial impact, as short notice makes it hard to sell the ice time to another user group - with a staff memo recommending requiring at least 24 hours notice for cancellations - at least seven days to avoid a penalty - with more time needed for tournaments, though some exceptions would be built in to a revised policy, such as for major winter storms - while it did not come to a vote, Council was in favour of the change, with Councillor Joe Opato saying it "should've been done years ago" and Councillor Mitch Hatfield noting such requirements shouldn't be a problem, based on her time involved with hockey.
Ice preparation work's already underway for the coming season.
Wawa's downtown drill rig will stay.
Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson had warned Wawa Municipal Council about safety concerns raised over the angle of the large piece of equipment.
A structural engineer was called in to look at the issue, confirming the rig is leaning - not a problem with the ground - with a few options considered in response, including doing nothing - nixed by the engineer due to the public safety concerns - removing the mast of the rig, removing the entire rig, or repair work aimed at addressing the problem.
Patterson had recommended "scrapping" the rig, noting the cost for repairs, the need for continued maintenance, that it could be auctioned for scrap, and that it could potentially be replaced by some other monument which would be more likely to receive other government funding, though he emphasized it was fundamentally a politcal decision, only noting that the engineer report required "something" to be done by winter.
The issue came back up in last night's Committee of the Whole meeting, first with Andy Stevens making a delegation to Council in which he lamented that an engineer had been brought in, playing down the safety concerns, and recommending efforts to preserve the rig - while Council response had previously been mixed on the future of the drill rig, it shifted to all councillors speaking in favour of keeping the rig, except Mayor Melanie Pilon, who reiterated a warning that nostalgia can be both a strength and weakness, emphasizing the health and safety concerns and warning of liability if nothing is done.
In the end, Council agreed to direct staff to take efforts to meet the engineer's report and keep the rig in place, with Patterson set to explore options that can be done for the winter, and put work on the rig into next year's capital budget - which is set to be presented in draft form next week, in a special meeting on Tuesday, September 26th.
