École Saint-Joseph Golf Tournament Nears

There's still some time left to sign up for a golf tournament supporting a Wawa school.

While École Saint-Joseph Parent Council President Genevieve Verreault says this Saturday's Little and Big Golf Tournament was originally just for students of the school, that has opened up to the community.

Verreault notes there will be a number of prizes - including for all age categories - but emphasizes the event's also meant to help fundraise for the school's playground.

Some spaces are left for those interested: contact Verreault via Facebook or email genny012@hotmail.com by tomorrow.

Wawa Seniors Centre to Hold Lunch and Learn

Wawa seniors are being offered a chance to have a bite to eat and learn about an important topic next week.

The Wawa Goose Seniors Centre is hosting its monthly Lunch and Learn on June 5th, starting at 11:30 am, this time featuring Magan Gagnon of Wawa and Area Victim Services as a guest speaker - it also offers pizza, coffee or tea, and dessert, sponsored by the Wawa Pharmacy.

Tickets must be purchased in advance, at the Wawa Goose Seniors Centre.

Chapleau Council Holding Meeting

Chapleau Town Council's set to discuss transit, mobile cancer screening, and more this evening.

Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting are items about: a proposed extension of the Handi Transit Hours, to 4 pm; Screen for Life mobile cancer screening; studying biomass-generated heating; and an update on tax arrears, with next steps.

There are also two "in-camera" items, both relating to human resources.

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.

Wawa's Take Back The Night Main Campaign Wraps Up With Main Event

Wawa residents will head to the beach to "Take Back The Night" this evening.

Morgandy Leadbetter - Public Awareness and Marketing Intern for CHADWIC Home - explains the charitable organization that gives the current campaign its name.

Leadbetter encourages people to mark the campaign by heading out on the boardwalk.

Leadbetter notes the campaign closes with the "main event" tonight.

The event will be held at the Lion's Beach pavilion from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm.

Take Back the Night Continues to Light Up Wawa's Boardwalk

Wawa residents are being encouraged to get out into the community to "Take Back The Night" tonight and tomorrow.

Morgandy Leadbetter - Public Awareness and Marketing Intern for CHADWIC Home - explains today marks the second day of a multi-day campaign urging people to head out on the boardwalk.

Leadbetter reminds the "main event" of Take Back the Night will be held Thursday night, from 8:30 pm to 10:30 pm at Lion's Beach, with everyone invited to spend the evening under the stars to "take back the night".

Those who are - or know someone who is - experiencing abuse can contact CHADWIC Home 24 hours a day, seven days a week for support, shelter, or referrals by calling 1-800-461-2242.

Wawa Deputy Mayor Discusses Recent FONOM Conference

Wawa's deputy mayor is highlighting a recent conference.

Deputy Mayor Jim Hoffmann was one of Wawa's delegates to the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities Conference, and says it was "a very good conference" "on the whole".

While he doesn't highlight any meetings with cabinet ministers, Hoffmann does note a meeting with Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles.

FONOM represents about 110 cities, towns, and municipalities across the Northeast.

8th Annual Franco-Nord-Ouest Chess Tournament Set to Arrive in Wawa

Preparations are ramping up as young chess masters will be gathering in Wawa tomorrow.

Wawa's École Saint-Joseph will be hosting its eighth annual Franco-Nord-Ouest Chess Tournament, and teacher/organizer René-Guy Nobert says the competition's divided into a few age categories.

While it will include students from Wawa, Dubreuilville, and Chapleau schools, the tournament's also expecting participants from as far southeast as the Greater Sudbury area and as far northwest as Thunder Bay.

Nobert also highlights support from the community, particularly the Rotary Club of Wawa, which has supported the school's chess club since far before the tournament.

Wawa Public Library Celebrating 70th Anniversary of Local Library Services

The Wawa Public Library's celebrating a major milestone - 70 years of library services in the community.

CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell explains the anniversary celebrations include a literary contest.

Jarrell notes there's another contest to encourage library use.

Festivities also include a 70th Anniversary Library Social from 11 am until 3 pm today, and a Music Night featuring "The Other Guys" and Graham Murray Sears from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm this evening.

Chapleau Council Passes 2024 Budget, Including 2.5% Increase

Chapleau Town Council's approved this year's budget.

Mayor Ryan Bignucolo says Council considered the 2024 budget in their meeting Monday.

Mayor Bignucolo notes a number of challenges to keeping that rise low.

Bignucolo also lauds investments made by the Township's treasurer.

While Mayor Bignucolo doesn't tout any major projects - except Dufferin Street - he notes the Township's still in the process of selling the Chapleau PUC to Hydro One, a move he's previously said will help the Township invest in critical core community services including the water plant, fire services, and airport.

OPP Join Canada Road Safety Week Initiative Ahead of Victoria Day Long Weekend

Ontario Provincial Police are warning they're watching roads, trails, and waterways ahead of and during the upcoming long weekend.

The annual Canada Road Safety Week initiative's now underway, and Superior East OPP Constable Ashley Nickle says officers will be watching for poor driving behaviour.

Constable Nickle notes local police "will be out in full force" - using a "high visibility public education and enforcement approach" - looking to make roads safer and reduce the number of injuries and deaths, noting there have already been too many deaths this year.

The national enforcement campaign runs through Victoria Day Monday, though Nickle also reminds Canada Safe Boating Week kicks off Friday, encouraging everyone to stay safe on the water, including over the upcoming long weekend.

Local Mine Rescue Team Heading to Provincial Competition

A local mine rescue team's heading to Thunder Bay next month to show off their skills.

The Alamos Gold Island Gold Mine team of Captain Kaiden Harrietha, Vice Captain Jessy DeChamplain, Dominic Jean, Evan Barley, Jacob Paskus, Daniel Webb, Ben Eppert, and Briefing Officer Joel Labbe won the Algoma District Mine Rescue Competition held at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre last week, earning them a spot in the provincial competition in Thunder Bay June 4th to 8th.

Fellow Alamos Island Gold worker Kyle Ouellette was the winning technician, the second year in a row.

Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Welcomes Pair of Major Donations

Some cookies have added an extra smile for a local organization.

Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Chair Susan Switzer says the organization received a cheque from Tim Hortons' recent Smile Cookie campaign on Monday.

Switzer emphasizes the funds support capital equipment purchases for the local hospital.

Switzer notes RBC also provided major support through a program supporting health care worker education across Canada.

In addition to these campaigns, the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's also a part of the ongoing provincewide Split the Pot Lottery, and Switzer reminds the 2nd annual Nine and Dine Golf Tournament is coming June 22nd.

Chapleau Conducting Spring Street Cleaning

Chapleau's asking residents not to part cars along certain streets overnight, as it's conducting Spring Street Cleaning.

The Township says the program - which kicked off for the season on Monday - runs from midnight to 8 am each day until complete, with signs to be posted at various locations so vehicle owners can avoid parking along the streets at that time.

It warns those who don't comply face a fine of $190 for "obstructing civic services".

Wawa Speeding Up Tax Collection Process With Revised Policy

The Municipality of Wawa's speeding up its tax collection process.

Wawa Municipal Council's approved a new Property Tax Billing and Collections policy, which alters the timeline for sending arrears to collections and putting liens on the property, leading to potential tax sale: the previous policy sent accounts to collections after 2 years and moved toward a lien after 3, but the new policy cuts that down to 1 and 2 years respectively, aligning with Ontario's Municipal Act.

Discussing the policy in this week's Council meeting, Treasurer Manuela Batovanja expressed hope this'll improve tax collections, noting a large number of accounts in arrears tend to pay once contacted by collections or warned of potential tax sale.

Impaired Driving Charge After Collision on Highway 519 Near Highway 17

Impaired driving charges have been laid after a single vehicle collision near Dubreuilville.

Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to the collision on Highway 519 - near the junction with Highway 17 - shortly after 10 o'clock Monday night, with investigation determining the driver had consumed alcoholic beverages.

The Sault Ste. Marie 26-year-old was charged with operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs and operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), then released with a June court date, though he was also issued a 90-day Administrative Driver's Licence Suspension and the vehicle's impounded for seven days.

Local MP Carol Hughes Responds to 2024 Federal Budget

Local MP Carol Hughes is optimistic about the Liberal government's new budget - but giving most of the credit for positive moves to her party.

The Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing New Democrat is taking credit for many measures in the budget tabled Tuesday.

Hughes particularly highlights the inclusion of a national pharmacare framework covering contraceptives and diabetes medication.

Hughes also points to recently announced plans for a national school food program, the doubling of the firefighter and search and rescue volunteer tax credit, support for a "Red Dress Alert" system similar to the Amber Alert system but for missing Indigenous women, efforts to address the legacy of residential schools, and efforts to address the housing crisis - which she says started under the previous Conservative government and is such a large problem it can't be solved tomorrow - including the ability for non-profits to buy social housing.

Despite that, Hughes says it's "by no means an NDP budget", as it lacks certain things the party would like - pointing especially to corporate tax rates.

Hughes says the budget also falls short on funding for First Nations housing and infrastructure or to address the funding gap under "Jordan's Principle", but she is fairly positive about the document in early assessment.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's focused his criticism on the general idea of deficit spending, blaming government deficits for problems such as high mortgage rates, rents, and homelessness, while Liberal Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland issued a grim warning about Conservative "austerity".

Wawa Council to Hold 3 Meetings Tonight

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

First up is a public meeting under the Planning Act, where a temporary Zoning By-Law amendment will be considered to permit Red Pine Exploration's temporary work camps.

That'll be followed by a Committee of the Whole meeting featuring a delegation from Gordon Draper on Community Living Awareness Month, as well as monthly reports from department heads, and discussion on the Goose Nest and Broadway Avenue murals, vehicular traffic control in the Michipicoten River Village, a draft fire prevention policy, the tax billing collection policy, and RFP results for the new marina washroom.

The latter item will come back up in tonight's regular Council meeting, which also includes a resolution to appoint two members of the Wawa Age-Friendly Committee and by-laws to continue an agreement with the Lady Dunn Health Centre for financial support for medical professional recruitment and retention, to set this year's schedule of fees, and to implement a licensing system for Short-Term Rental Accommodations.

CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill explains the licensing system will include conditions to ensure short-term accommodations operate according to the Building Code, Fire Code, and other health and safety regulations.

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.

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