Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
Weather's causing a delay for a Wawa tradition.
The Wawa Cemetery Committee's decided to postpone the 5th annual Ice Candle Celebration Day, which was to be held next Tuesday, Boxing Day - instead pushing the event to Saturday, January 6th.
The mild weather is being blamed - Christmas Day is currently forecast to get up to plus 4 Celsius with a 60 percent chance of showers - as the conditions make it difficult to make and maintain the ice candles for the event.
Local police are looking for the owner of a ring found near the Chapleau golf course.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say a good samaritan turned in the jewellery on Friday - if you believe it is yours, call the Chapleau detachment at 705-864-1715.
Local MPP Michael Mantha's stopped in Wawa as he tours northern hospitals.
Speaking outside of the Lady Dunn Health Centre, the Algoma-Manitoulin MPP said he was recently contacted by north shore hospitals about the "dire" situation they're in - financially and operationally - prompting the tour.
Mantha says the main issues he's been hearing stem from underfunding.
Mantha also points to the costs of agency nursing in hospitals, which was recently highlighted by the Auditor General.
Mantha points to past calls to cap the cost and regulate agency nursing, saying the costs are "out of control".
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region - but there are fewer active.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting fifteen new cases since Friday - nine in Greater Sudbury, two in the broader Sudbury District, four in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases dropped by about a third to 68, still including one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures Wednesday, but last showed 40 in hospital, one in an ICU.
The health unit's COVID-related death toll's also up twelve - ten in Greater Sudbury, two in the Manitoulin District - bringing the total to 244, with PHSD explaining the change stems from "an internal data validation process", and that the deaths occurred at some time between April 2020 and December 2023 - it last reported a death on Wednesday.
The Municipality of Wawa's moving forward with plans to change the names of some Wawa roads.
A notice on the municipal website announces the proposal to rename "High Falls Road", which Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson outlined in a Council meeting last month.
Patterson - who'd brought up the issue before - noted tourists complaining of issues getting to Scenic High Falls.
Patterson says if the idea's approved, some wayfinding signage would be added to further cut down on confusion.
Public input's being accepted until January 10th, with plans for the name change proposal to come to a vote in Council's January 16th meeting.
Judging's underway in Chapleau's Christmas Light Contest.
Assistant Leisure and Cultural Services Director Carole Ouellette explains judges are looking for creativity as they prepare to award the first, second, and third place prizes.
Winners will be announced by the end of the week.
The Wawa Public Library's thanking the community for its support in a recent fundraiser.
CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell says the library's silent auction was a success.
Jarrell reminds a scavenger hunt's on until the holidays.
Jarrell says entries for the draw will be accepted right up until it's made at 3:30 pm this Friday, December 22nd.
More COVID-19 cases are being reported in the region - but there are fewer active.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reporting nineteen new cases since Wednesday - thirteen in Greater Sudbury, three in the broader Sudbury District, three in the Manitoulin District - though known "active" cases dipped to 103, still one in the northern Sudbury District (which includes Chapleau, Cartier, Foleyet, Gogama, and neighbouring First Nations).
The health unit only updates hospitalization figures Wednesday, but last showed 40 in hospital, one in an ICU.
Wawa Municipal Council's approved the ongoing limited predator control hunt in town for another year.
Council approved the continuation in last night's regular meeting, after Charlie Todesco outlined some details of the effort during the Committee of the Whole meeting, with councillors asking about the number of hunters involved (about six), past issues accessing the golf course - Todesco noted difficulty due to fencing, which he said had been echoed by snowshoers, though he also acknowledged concerns about snowmachines otherwise - and how often the hunt went to the snow dump, with Todesco noting it was not as viable last year due to lots of activity, including snow removal or simply other people sometimes with pets - he did express optimism about how things are going in Wawa, noting reports of predators in Hornepayne.
Todesco also spoke on concerns raised about zebra mussels that have been detected in Wawa Lake, playing down concerns about safety and offering some advice regarding related infrastructure maintenance.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating a Marathon fire involving a fatality.
Marathon OPP say emergency services responded to the structure fire around 11 o'clock this morning, and - upon the fire being extinguished - EMS pronounced an individual deceased.
Anyone with information's urged to call Marathon OPP or Crimestoppers.
Wawa's Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation received a couple big contributions today.
Chair Susan Switzer says they received one cheque as part of the recent Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign.
The $2000 cheque from LP Building Solutions will support the Foundation's general fundraising efforts, though Switzer reminds the annual holiday season Wish campaign's underway - just use a flyer mailed out last month to donate, with donors to be put on stars that are added to a tree in the hospital's lobby.
Wawa's adding a few new firefighters.
In their meeting last night, Wawa Municipal Council approved the appointment of five people to the Wawa Volunteer Fire Department: Veronique Dumouchel, Jack Humphries, Stephen Ouellette, Thomas Smith, and Samuel Vachon.
Fire Chief Kevin Sabourin explains this was necessary, due to some vacancies.
Per the resolution, the appointments take effect January 8th.
With Christmas ten days away, Wawa residents are being encouraged to celebrate the holidays, as Santa's back in town.
Municipal Recreation Coordinator Stacey White explains the Santa Claus Parade will travel through the heart of town.
White says the whole community's invited to watch or participate in the parade, and then join everyone at the Community Centre for more festivities.
White also suggests - after watching the parade - checking out participants in Wawa's annual Festival of Lights, since it wraps up this weekend.
The Santa Claus Parade starts at 6 pm tonight, with the Festival of Lights ending this Sunday - maps and voting information can be found at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, the Wawa website, or through Wawa Recreation on social media.
Time is running out for those hoping to participate in Wawa's fifth annual Ice Candle Celebration Day.
Wawa Cemetery Committee vice chair Claude Samson explains the fundraiser to support cemetery beautification.
As today is the deadline to order ice candles, Samson notes there's a couple ways to order ice candles for the event, mainly stemming from a mailout form sent out earlier this month.
The event will be held at Woodland Cemetery on Boxing Day, Tuesday, December 26th.
A food drive at a local library's wrapping up today.
Today is the last day the Chapleau Public Library is collecting non-perishable food items for the Chapleau Food Bank, emphasizing that "every little bit helps".
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.
