Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's launched a new fundraiser.
Foundation Coordinator Alisha Allin explains the campaign launched at Sunday's Charity High Tea.
Allin says tickets for the painting draw will be available until November 20th, with the draw to be held November 21st.
A pair of Wawa soccer teams are coming home winners.
The "Loups" junior and senior soccer teams from Wawa's École Saint-Joseph won the championship and consolation against eight other teams in an elementary schools regional soccer tournament.
A Wawa car dealership is encouraging everyone to help "scare hunger" this month.
Today marks the start of Northern Lights Ford's annual "Let's Scare Hunger Together" campaign to support the Wawa Community Food Bank, and Kelly Moore-McKenzie of Northern Lights Ford explains the annual campaign is gathering items a few ways.
Moore-McKenzie notes the Wawa Family Health Team, Algoma Public Health, and Lady Dunn Health Centre are also collecting personal hygiene products in support of the campaign, but says there are a few items that are especially wanted, gearing more toward healthier foods, as much as possible.
Food Bank volunteer Dyanne Smart says support is needed, as the organization faces changes stemming from food price inflation.
Northern Lights Ford's "Let's Scare Hunger Together" campaign runs through to Halloween, October 31st.
Chapleau Town Council's set to talk about the landfill, open air burning, and more tonight.
Included on the agenda for the first regular meeting of the month is an update on landfill service delivery, as well as by-laws regarding "the disposal of solid wastes and recyclable materials" and open air burning, plus a resolution on a tender for Handi Transit Bus operations.
There are a pair of "in-camera" items, a human resources matter and an update on a legal matter.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight in Civic Centre Council Chambers - details on accessing it electronically can be found on the Township's website.
Some Wawa hockey players will be out in the community this weekend to raise funds for the local sport.
The Wawa Minor Hockey Association and Wawa Mustangs will be going door-to-door from 3 pm to 5 pm Sunday, October 1st, to collect bottles - including milk jugs - though those who won't be around at that time can leave bottles on the curb for pickup.
The Wawa Community Food Bank's reducing hours as it hopes to continue serving the community.
Volunteer Dyanne Smart explains that the organization's returning to a schedule followed before the pandemic.
Smart emphasizes this isn't a decision any of the volunteers running the food bank wanted to make, but circumstances have made it necessary.
Smart does express some optimism with the ongoing food drive at Wawa's Red Apple store - on until October 5th - and the upcoming "Let's Scare Hunger Together" campaign at Northern Lights Ford, an October-long initiative that launches this coming Monday, October 2nd, encouraging people to support those campaigns or just drop off donations in the food bank's donation box.
Some local residents will be celebrating "high tea" this weekend in support of the local hospital.
Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Coordinator Alisha Allin explains the event coming this weekend.
Allin adds the event will also launch another fundraising campaign, which will continue to late November.
Tickets are $50 each - only a few are left, so those interested can e-transfer foundation@ldhc.com or call the Foundation at 705-856-2335, extension 3147 - the deadline is 3 o'clock this afternoon, or when tickets sell out.
Wawa's Iris Place has reopened.
While the drop-in centre for individuals living with mental health and/or addiction issues had temporarily closed, it reopened this week and new Clubhouse/Peer Support Worker Michelle Richardson notes programming is increasing at Iris Place.
Richardson - a nurse at the Lady Dunn Health Centre for nearly 25 years - emphasizes "any support is needed", Iris Place is there - including if you just need someone to talk with - there's no need for a referral and there's no stigma - drop in the 22 Broadway Avenue location between 9 am and 3:30 pm Monday to Friday or call 705-856-1894.
Richardson also reminds Iris Place is a non-profit reliant on local support, encouraging donations including cash, food items, laundry detergent, craft supplies, and gift cards.
As communities across Canada prepare to honour the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Wawa's set to see the return of the "Wawa Walk for Wenjack".
Organizer Jana Strouhal explains the annual event.
Strouhal emphasizes the event's meant to bring awareness amid the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
While the "Wawa Walk for Wenjack" will start from the post office at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Strouhal notes those with mobility issues could join up along the route, adding that there will be limited seating at the Goose, with speakers and an opportunity for elders and survivors to speak, if they wish.
Attendees are encouraged to wear orange and bring signs or flags.
Wawa's Fire Chief is challenging residents to be "Saved by the Beep".
Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin explains today is "Test Your Smoke Alarm Day".
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.
Local MP Carol Hughes is eyeing a key role in the House of Commons: Speaker.
The Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat's announced her bid for the job after the resignation of Nipissing-Timiskaming Liberal Anthony Rota stepped down from the role after he invited and honoured a 98-year-old North Bay resident who fought for the First Ukrainian Division - also known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division or the SS 14th Waffen Division - a voluntary unit that was under the command of the Nazis during World War Two.
Hughes says she decided to run "after some deliberation", acknowledging "it's a challenging job, but I have the experience, judgment, and temperament necessary for this role that is vital to the functioning of our democracy", calling herself the "most experienced chair occupant currently in the House of Commons" - as she's served as Assistant Deputy Speaker in two previous Parliaments, as well as the current Parliament - saying that during her time in that role she's "worked to be even-handed, and have received feedback from members of all parties affirming this", adding "I believe now, more than ever, we need a Speaker who can both allow important debate to flourish, and firmly keep order in the House to ensure Canadians feel represented by the MPs".
This isn't her first bid to be Speaker, having run in 2019, when Rota was first elected to the role, though she won't be unopposed, as current Deputy Speaker - Nova Scotia Conservative Chris d'Entremont - has also declared interest, as have Quebec Liberals Greg Fergus and Alexandra Mendès, the latter of whom has been an Assistant Deputy Speaker the last four years.
Dean of the House Louis Plamondon - a Bloc Quebecois MP - is chairing House proceedings today and tomorrow, with the secret ballot vote for Rota's replacement to be the first order of business when the House resumes Tuesday, October 3rd, after a long weekend due to the National Day For Truth and Reconciliation on Saturday.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is warning of the presence of a new potent substance in its region.
The health unit says the Community Drug Strategy's received confirmation of flubromazolam, a potent designer "benzo" also known as "liquid Xanax", warning it "can result in strong sedation and partial amnesia lasting more than 24 hours" or even death, "if taken in large quantities".
It further warns that taking benzos and opioids together increases the risk of poisoning - overdose - and death, recommending avoiding mixing drugs or alcohol, to carry a naloxone kit, not using drugs when you're alone - but also not at the same time as an accompanying friend - and - in the case of a suspected overdose - call 9-1-1.
A drug trafficking charge has been laid in Hornepayne.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were notified of "a drug-related occurrence" in Hornepayne late the morning of September 9th, with subsequent investigation leading to the arrest of a Hornepayne 33-year-old on a charge of "traffick in Schedule I substance - cocaine".
The accused was released from custody with an October court date.
It's official: Northern Ontario is losing a federal riding, with major changes for this area.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada's confirmed that a redrawing of Canada's federal electoral map came into effect by proclamation last Friday.
That means a new seat for Ontario - for a total of 122 - but substantial changes to many current boundaries, the most significant being the reduction of Northern Ontario's ridings from the current ten to only nine, with the current Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing riding to be divided up among its surrounding ridings: the Highway 17 corridor - including Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the north shore of Lake Huron to Elliot Lake - will merge with the Sault Ste. Marie riding to create "Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma"; the Chapleau area will be annexed into the new "Kapuskasing-Timmins-Mushkegowuk"; and Manitoulin Island and the Massey, Webbwood, and Espanola area will join "Sudbury East-Manitoulin-Nickel Belt".
Northern Ontario New Democrats have decried the changes, with Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing M-P Carol Hughes emphasizing the negative impact for the region, as it means "less representation for Northern Ontarians, more challenges for MPs to represent their riding, and a reduced voice in Parliament".
While the new boundaries have been confirmed, the districts won't take effect until April 22nd, 2024, so any general or by-election called before that time would use the current boundaries, including Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing.
Tickets are running out for an upcoming fundraiser for the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation.
Coordinator Alisha Allin explains the event coming this weekend.
Allin adds the event will also launch another fundraising campaign.
A post on Facebook warns few tickets are left for this weekend's event, urging those interested to reach out soon.
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting 37 since Monday - 34 in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District - pushing known "active" cases back up to 98, 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, to fifteen, including two in ICUs.
Local police have charged a Hornepayne resident with driving while suspended.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers conducting general patrol in Hornepayne the afternoon of September 17th observed an off-road vehicle being driven by a known suspended driver, leading to a traffic stop and the arrest of the 33-year-old on two counts of driving while under suspension.
The accused was released from custody with a November court date, while the off-road vehicle was impounded for seven days.
A criminal charge has been laid after a possible impaired driver was reported near Wawa.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a concerned citizen called in the tip about a possible impaired driver on Highway 101 about 30 kilometres east of Wawa shortly before 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, with police locating and stopping the vehicle, determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages, though the driver refused to provide police with a breath sample, leading to the 34-year-old Blind River man's arrest on a charge of Failure or Refusal to Comply With Demand.
He was released from custody with a November court date, though his vehicle's been impounded for seven days and a 90-day Administrative Driver's License Suspension was issued.
A surge in COVID-19 cases is being reported in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting 49 new cases over the last week - nearly five times the previous week's ten - with 42 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, five in Central and East Algoma, and two in the Elliot Lake area - with "high risk active" cases more than tripling to 55, including three in hospital.
The Municipality of Wawa's seeking public input, as Council considers capital plans for the next four years.
In a special meeting last night, staff presented Council with a draft 2024 Capital Budget, touted as the Municipality's first "true" multi-year budget, outlining plans not just for 2024 but through 2027, intended to align with the municipality's strategic, asset management, and other plans, as well as infrastructure needs but under principles of "sustainable", "affordable", and "necessary".
In total, it proposes a total of about $3.3-million in projects for 2024 - $427,000 coming from taxation, $1,031,000 from reserves, and more than $1,840,000 from grants or other sources - with a further $3,090,000 planned for 2025, $3,462,000 for 2026, and $3,174,000 for 2027.
Continuing projects mentioned include the Liquefied Natural Gas project, the 5-Year Tourism Plan, Cemetery expansion, and Landfill expansion, though key projects outlined for 2024 include: a Town Hall redesign study; a municipal Organizational Review; computer hardware upgrades; two phases of renovations at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, including lobby redesign, some flooring, gym and dance renovations, an outdoor sign, and HVAC replacement; structural repairs for the Drill Rig, followed by beautification; new tourism billboards; Fire Hall renovation design and drawing, followed in 2025 or 2026 by the actual renovation or expansion; a new asphalt hot box for the Infrastructure Services Department, along with sidewalk replacement and ongoing pavement preservation; Airport equipment; and a Water Distribution upgrade; though items mentioned for future years include: renovations of the Tourist Information Centre interior; work on the M-M-C-C roof; a new Fire Department pumper truck; a Sand and Salt Dome for Infrastructure Services; and a Water Tower upgrade.
Other items considered "subject to funding" include potential replacement of the Cenotaph; the Marina washroom; "Phase 2" of the Waterfront; work at the Goose Nest and at Vallee Park, including a new bridge; and work at the Airport Terminal Building, including a sand and salt dome.
The presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel - with the slide show to be posted on the Municipality's website - plans are to accept public input until October 25th, then bring the capital budget up for Council approval November 7th, and - once that's confirmed - present the draft operating budget November 14th, so it can come up for Council approval December 12th.
