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Wawa's Red Apple store is thanking the community for supporting an annual effort to help children in need this holiday season.
The store's confirmed that it raised a total of $18,308.85 over its recent toy drive (including a $10,000 anonymous donation) with $2922 alone raised during Saturday's "Fill a Sleigh Day" with local emergency services - that far surpasses the $7000 goal for the local campaign, which supported the Wawa Christmas Hamper Fund.
The hampers went out earlier this week.
Time's running out to big on a few items to support Wawa's library.
Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell explains the library's holding a silent auction fundraiser.
Jarrell notes bids will be accepted until 3 o'clock this afternoon, and could even be submitted by email or Facebook messenger, emphasizing funds raised will help the library with "whatever they might need", such as craft items.
The Wawa Library's also launched a "Holiday Bingo Search and Find", encouraging kids to search the library for special holiday symbols to complete a bingo card - that wraps up next Friday, December 22nd, with a draw to be held at 3:30 pm that day.
Holiday festivities are continuing in Wawa with a couple seasonal events tomorrow.
St. Monica's Parish is hosting a Bake Sale and Silent Auction - with a White Elephant - from 11 am to 1 pm Saturday - baking for the event can be dropped off by 10 am.
Meanwhile, St. Paul's Anglican Church will host a bake sale and mini bazaar from 1 pm to 3 pm Saturday, asking "no early birds please".
Participants in Chapleau's Christmas Light Contest need to take some pictures soon.
While registration for the contest ended weeks ago, today is the deadline to submit a digital copy of your Christmas light display for voting in the People's Choice award.
Chapleau's Assistant Leisure and Cultural Services Director Carole Ouellette reminds there are a few prizes in the contest.
Digital copies of the light display must be emailed to couellette@chapleau.ca by 4 pm this afternoon - voting for the People's Choice award will be done through "likes" on the Facebook page starting Monday, December 18th, with winners to be announced by the end of the week - judging for the top prizes will also be taking place next week.
A harassment charge has been laid over a Chapleau incident.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the reported harassment on Elgin Street shortly before 5 pm last Thursday, December 7th, with investigation revealing the accused had violated their release conditions by attending the victim's residence and was observed standing nearby, "watching the dwelling for an extended period of time".
Police arrested a 37-year-old from Toronto on charges of criminal harassment - beset and watch, fail to comply with undertaking, and breach of recognizance, though he was released with a January court date in Sault Ste. Marie.
Impaired driving charges have been laid in Wawa amid the ongoing Festive RIDE campaign.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were conducting a Festive RIDE check on Spruce Street around 6 o'clock Monday evening, stopping multiple vehicles and conducting Mandatory Alcohol Screening tests on the drivers, though one driver failed the test, indicating the presence of alcohol in their system, leading to the arrest of a 31-year-old Wawa man on charges of operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - Blood Alcohol Concentration (80 plus) - he was released from custody with a January court date, though a 90-day Administrative Driver's License Suspension was issued and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Police remind drivers "are responsible for keeping yourself, your passengers, and other road users safe", urging drivers to "have a plan before you go out and make the decision not to drive impaired", including arranging a designated driver, calling a taxi, or staying overnight.
A couple days later than planned, Wawa Municipal Council's holding a pair of meetings tonight.
First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes monthly reports from department heads and reports on the Wawa Community Improvement Plan, Vallee Park Bridge, short-term rentals, an amendment to the 2024-27 draft capital budget, the 2024 schedule of fees, and results from the 2022-23 predator control hunt.
Tonight's regular meeting is set to include a resolution authorizing the predator control hunt for another year, and another appointing five new firefighters.
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.
A local health unit's filled its top job.
The Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury and Districts - whose coverage area includes Chapleau - has announced the appointment of Dr. Mustafa Hirji as its next Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer, set to succeed Dr. Penny Sutcliffe on March 18th, when she'll begin a year-long sabbatical before she retire after nearly 25 years with the health unit.
Hirji's noted to have obtained his Public Health and Preventive Medicine Fellowship from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2015 - with education in epidemiology, political science, and engineering physics - and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact at McMaster University, though he'd also spent eight years at Niagara Region Public Health, five-and-a-half acting as Medical officer of Health and Commissioner of Public Health and Emergency Services.
This comes as Public Health Sudbury and Districts and Algoma Public Health are exploring the feasibility of a voluntary merger, though they've yet to make any commitment toward one.
Chapleau staff of Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry are giving back to the community today with a food drive.
Conservation Officer Melissa Fairbairn explains conservation officers will be accepting the donations to support families in need during the holiday season.
The food drive runs from 10 am this morning until 2 o'clock this afternoon, at the Chapleau Valu-Mart.
Impaired driving and other charges have been laid after a collision on Highway 17, near the Dubreuilville turnoff.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say officers responded to the single vehicle collision near the junction of Highway 17 and 519 shortly after midnight last Thursday, December 7th, with the officers determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages, leading to the arrest of a 52-year-old Thunder Bay man on charges of: operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs; operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus); unauthorized possession of a firearm; and transport firearm in a careless manner.
He was released from custody with a January court date, though a 90-day Administrative Driver's License Suspension was issued and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Superior East OPP remind drivers "no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive", and "if you believe a driver is impaired, please call 9-1-1 or contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122".
Chapleau Town Council's approved a couple new expenses.
Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Council was asked in Monday's meeting to approve the purchase of a new pickup truck.
Bignucolo says Council also approved a "scope change" for generator projects for the Civic Centre and Recreation Arena.
Mayor Bignucolo also presented firefighter Michael Fortin with a pin recognizing 25 years service.
Wawa's firefighters are congratulating the winner of the first draw in an annual fundraising campaign.
Jory Kettles won Saturday night's $1000 "Early Bird" draw in the Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters Association annual cash draw, with the ticket put back in for the remaining draws.
Executive Committee President William Moore warns tickets are going fast, possibly even before the next draw.
Tickets are available throughout the community, including through firefighters.
The next $1000 draw will be held on Valentine's Day, with the final three $1000 draws - and the $10,000 grand prize draw - to be made March 3rd, at the Wawa Ice Fishing Derby.
An impaired driving charge has been laid after a traffic complaint in Wawa.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a concerned citizen called in the report of a possible impaired driver on Broadway Avenue shortly after 4 o'clock last Monday, December 4th - officers located the suspect vehicle, with investigation revealing the driver was impaired by an unspecified drug, leading to the Wawa 47-year-old's arrest on a charge of operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs.
They were released from custody with a January court date, though a 90-day Administrative Driver's License Suspension was issued and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.
Local police remind drivers "no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive", and "if you believe a driver is impaired, please call 9-1-1 or contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122".
Another COVID-19 death's been confirmed in the region.
Algoma Public Health's reporting its 114th since the pandemic began - it doesn't say where - it last reported a death four weeks ago.
The health unit's also reporting 75 new cases over the last week - 38 in the Sault Ste. Marie area, 22 in Central and East Algoma, ten in the Elliot Lake area, and five in North Algoma (which includes Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the Michipicoten and Missinabie Cree First Nations) - though known "high risk active" cases are down to 100, with 24 in hospital, three in ICUs.
An outbreak has been declared for the Lady Dunn Health Centre's long-term care area: in response, general visitors are not allowed for the area though essential caregivers can still visit between 10 am and noon or 1 pm and 3 pm, and there are no changes to Acute Care visitation, though masking is now in effect throughout the facility for all visitors.
Local MP Carol Hughes is calling for action on food insecurity.
Speaking in the House of Commons recently, the Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat warned that food "availability, adequacy, and accessibility" are "compromised" in her riding and across Canada, "jeopardizing our citizens' fundamental right to nutrition", a problem she noted has been growing in Ontario for years.
Hughes further noted that the most affected include "41.7% of First Nations on-reserve households, followed by single mothers at a distressing 41%" while "one-third of food bank users are children".
She urged her fellow MPs to "affirm our commitment to a society where every citizen lives in dignity, free from the spectre of food insecurity" by implementing a National School Lunch Program and a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income, and cracking down on "corporate greed".
Time's running out for those interested in attending a special seasonal event.
Chapleau Pentecostal Church is set to hold its Christmas Banquet tomorrow night, which is open to the public for free or by donation, though it does ask people reserve seats by calling 705-951-2828 no later than today.
The banquet starts at 6 o'clock Wednesday night.
UPDATE: Wawa Municipal Council won't be meeting tonight after all.
While a Committee of the Whole meeting and a regular Council meeting were set to be held this evening, the Municipality's announced they've been postponed to Thursday, December 14th, still to be held at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers.
Items on the committee of the whole agenda had included monthly reports from department heads and reports on the Wawa Community Improvement Plan, Vallee Park Bridge, short-term rentals, amendment to the 2024-27 draft capital budget, the 2024 schedule of fees, and results from the 2022-23 predator control hunt, while the regular meeting agenda had a resolution authorizing the predator control hunt for another season.
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Wawa Municipal Council's holding a pair of meetings tonight.
First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which includes monthly reports from department heads and reports on the Wawa Community Improvement Plan, results from the 2022-23 predator control hunt, Vallee Park Bridge, short-term rentals, amendment to the 2024-27 draft capital budget, and the 2024 schedule of fees.
Tonight's regular meeting is set to include a resolution authorizing the predator control hunt for another season.
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.
Chapleau Town Council will consider setting some key fees and other rates tonight.
Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting are by-laws covering the 2024 Refuse Collection, Water, and Sewage Service rates, as well as remuneration rates for members of Council, and fees and charges for municipal services.
The agenda also includes resolutions for: a scope change to the generator projects for the Civic Centre and Recreation Arena; the 2024 Council meeting and municipal office closing schedules; a request for purchase of a new truck; and a long service award recognizing 25 years service by firefighter Michael Fortin.
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.
A COVID-19 outbreak's been declared for the Lady Dunn Health Centre's Long-Term Care home.
While the Wawa hospital only says the outbreak's in the long-term care area, Algoma Public Health shows it as "facility wide".
CEO Kadean Ogilvie explains that has prompted visitor restrictions for the long-term care area.
Ogilvie emphasizes there are no changes to Acute Care visitation, though masking is now in effect throughout the facility for all visitors.
An annual effort to support children in the Wawa area this holiday season came to a close over the weekend.
Josee McCoy - manager of Wawa's Red Apple store - explains Saturday's "Fill a Sleigh Day" with local emergency services was quite successful.
Wawa firefighters, police, and paramedics participated in the event, and Superior East Ontario Provincial Police Constable Ashley Nickle says they're "very happy" with the donations received.
The Christmas Hampers are going out this week.
