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Chapleau Town Council's dropping plans for new garbage bins.
While Mayor Ryan Bignucolo had previously noted the bins would make garbage collection easier, he says Council was turned off by the cost.
Mayor Bignucolo says Council's also backed down on plans for a bomag tire rebuild.
Mayor Bignucolo notes that the engine and some other parts of the current bomag are fairly new, which will come in handy for the new piece of equipment.
A major Wawa organization's reopened its doors.
After moving to the opposite end of Broadway Avenue - to municipally-owned property at 96 Broadway Avenue - Iris Place reopened on Monday, with the local drop-in centre resuming service from 9 am to 3:30 pm weekdays.
While it held a special meeting on the draft 2025 operating budget last week, Wawa Municipal Council's holding its first proper meetings of 2025 tonight.
First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which will include a presentation from Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell and the showing of a new Wawa marketing video, as well as discussion about a draft municipal alcohol policy, community consultation on the planned Broadway Avenue murals, ice extension requests, the purchase of a "long stick" excavator, monthly reports from department heads, and an update on the Wawa Strategic Plan.
That'll be followed by a regular meeting of Council, including resolutions to approve the new Superior East OPP Detachment Board annual budget, Council travel for the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, and the emergency purchase of Water Treatment Plant compressors, plus a report on the 2023-24 limited predator control hunt, and by-laws appointing an Integrity Commissioner, authorizing a purchase and sale of land agreement for 53 Government Road, and adopting the 2025 schedule of fees.
The meetings are set to be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.
Wawa's Regional Employment Help Centre is set to open its doors for the public.
The centre - which serves Wawa, Dubreuilville, and White River - is holding an open house tomorrow, offering a chance to meet staff and learn about its services, along with soup, snacks, and light refreshments, as well as a giveaway basket.
The open house runs from 11 am to 2 pm Wednesday.
Chapleau Town Council's set to hold its first meeting of the year.
Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting is a report on the refuse bins tender, which Mayor Ryan Bignucolo notes is for garbage bins that would be provided to residents for easier garbage collection.
Also on the agenda is a report on the bomag tires rebuild, a new Cemetery by-law, and 2 "in-camera" (closed meeting) items, both "human resources" items.
The meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight in Civic Centre Council Chambers.
Wawa Municipal Council's had its first look at this year's operating budget.
Just over a month after seeing the initial draft for the capital budget, Council looked at the proposed multi-year operating budget, which focuses on 2025 but also lays out some plans for 2026-28.
Council was told that staff sought to minimize the levy impact and property tax increase while maintaining service and addressing priorities laid out by Council - particularly through the Strategic and other plans - but increasing costs for everything - including payroll and meeting capital needs - has staff recommending a 4.03 percent tax levy increase, along with the introduction of an estimated 1.8 percent capital levy.
As presented to Council, those - along with a slight water and sewer services increase - will amount to $15.27 more per month - or about $183 a year - for an average single detached house of $100,000 assessed value - the median for Wawa - and 70 cubic meters of water use and 61 of sewer.
Treasurer Manuela Batovanja noted the capital budget has been modified from the version presented in November - including adding the purchase of a trailer, 2 compressors for the Water Treatment Plant, funds for new Industrial Park design, and for Upper Mission Park, a project that will be subject to funding - bringing the capital budget's total to $7.3-million, with $855,930 in long-term capital planned.
While it was noted Council has options to lower the levy increase, they were warned most options either require cutting services, using reserves, or increasing user fees.
The full presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel, and will be available on the municipal website, with public input to be accepted until January 31st - there was a suggestion an open house could be held - with plans for the combined budget to be discussed again February 4th, then voted on February 18th.
Wawa's set to honour some locals who've made a positive difference in the community.
The Municipality's set to host a ceremony to present the returning Civic Achievement Award to two recipients announced last month by Mayor Melanie Pilon.
Pilon reminds the purpose of the award.
The award presentation will be held tomorrow at 2 pm in the Municipal Office Downstairs Boardroom, followed by cake & coffee.
Ontario Provincial Police in northeastern Ontario were kept busy over the holiday season.
North East Region OPP say their annual Festive RIDE campaign (which ran from November 21st to January 1st) saw 139 impaired driving charges laid, plus 26 warn-range suspensions - that is down from the previous year, when 162 impaired driving charges were laid, though it also saw 26 warn-range suspensions.
It was quieter for the local Superior East detachment, which laid only 5 impaired driving charges, down slightly from the 7 laid the previous year.
Wawa Municipal Council's getting a look at capital plans for next year and beyond.
A special meeting's being held tonight, with the sole item on the agenda being presentation of the draft 2025 operating budget, which follows on presentation of the draft capital budget in late November - in that presentation, Council was told the budget was prepared assuming a 4% levy increase plus the introduction of a new 2% capital levy - expected to raise about $100,000 a year - the funds from which would only be able to be used for capital, not operations, though it is up to Council to decide whether that is acceptable or to push for changes, and public input will be accepted after this presentation.
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.
Local communities are getting a little provincial support for firefighter health and safety.
The provincial government's announced $30-million over three years for municipal fire departments, to support cancer-prevention initiatives such as the purchase of equipment or infrastructure upgrades.
That includes $8230 each for Wawa, Chapleau, Dubreuilville, and White River.
Time is running out for those hoping to participate in Wawa's sixth annual Ice Candle Celebration Day - though when the event will be held is now up in the air.
While the annual fundraiser was scheduled to be held December 29th, the Wawa Cemetery Committee's announced that is being delayed to January 18th due to expected mild weather ahead of that date, which is detrimental to the making and storing of the ice candles, though today remains the deadline to order ice candles for the event.
Committee vice chair Claude Samson notes it's easy to participate.
Samson reminds the Ice Candle Celebration serves a couple purposes.
Samson explains that - while the Municipality's responsible for cemetery maintenance - the committee will put funds raised toward beautification, with a couple items in mind.
The 6th annual Ice Candle Celebration Day will be held January 18th.
Some longtime Chapleau employees and firefighters were honoured in this week's Council meeting.
Mayor Ryan Bignucolo highlights one retirement in Public Works.
Mayor Bignucolo also highlights a retiring worker in the front office.
Bignucolo notes some firefighters were also honoured.
Former Fire Chief Ken Groves was presented the Ontario Fire Fighter Long Service Award, while James Apsey, Marc Turcotte, Bryce Bertrand, Chad Byce, and Kevin Gherbaz received federal Fire Services Exemplary Service Medals.
The Chapleau Snowmobile Club's getting support from the community's tourism fund.
Funded by the town's Municipal Accommodation Tax - to boost tourism and economic growth - the Chapleau Tourism Fund has announced a $25,000 grant for the club, whose president, Richard Bignucolo, says they're really grateful the funding was approved.
Bignucolo notes some other work done.
Bignucolo adds the upcoming season looks great, with the club "pretty optimistic" that the trails will be "up and running" by the usual date of January 15th, though he recommends watching the OFSC website for trail status.
The owners of Wawa's sawmill are touting support for its local communities - including Wawa.
Louisiana-Pacific says it - and its LP Foundation - increased annual giving over 2024, with more than $1.3-million awarded to more than 100 initiatives "in the communities...team members call home", including $10,000 donated in Wawa, split between the Children's Aid Society of Algoma, the Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation, the Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters, and the Regional Employment Help Centre, all of whom were supported by the Foundation's Community Grants program, one of five giving programs it offers.
The non-profit arm of LP, the foundation focuses its giving on affordable housing, environmental stewardship, and future workforce development.
McDougall Energy's touting support for various charities - including locally.
The Sault Ste. Marie-based fuel and lubricant distribution business has announced $86,000 in donations to over 30 "local charities dedicated to fighting food insecurity and providing gifts for children, families, individuals, and newcomers this holiday season" in communities it serves across Ontario, including Chapleau, where it has donated to Meals of Hope - Food and Clothing.
Grade 8 students and their parents will get a preview of what's in store for next school year, as the local French Catholic schools hold open houses next month.
Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Wawa's Ecole secondaire Saint-Joseph and Chapleau's Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium will be holding separate open houses Thursday, January 16th, at 6:30 pm.
Hydro One's been picked for a key power transmission line between Wawa and Timmins.
The Ontario government's given the utility the "go-ahead" to seek necessary approvals and build the 260-kilometre, 230-kilovolt transmission line between the Wawa and Porcupine transformer stations, scheduled to come into service in 2030.
That bid was backed by the Wabun Tribal Council Chiefs, who'd announced a developmental coalition including the Wabun First Nations of Mattagami, Brunswick House, Matachewan, Flying Post, and Chapleau Ojibwe would partner with Hydro One on a Transmission Infrastructure Partnership, which would also see them have a 50 percent equity stake in the line.
A rival bid had been put forward by the Michipicoten, Chapleau Cree, and Missanabie Cree First Nations, Taykwa Tagamou Nation, and American electric power provider Ameren, as well as private investment, but that was unsuccessful.
Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator identified this line as a key priority in its electricity plan for Northeast Ontario, as demand in the region is expected to rise 28% by 2035.
A Wawa school's thanking the community for supporting a recent fundraiser.
Sir James Dunn Public School Special Education Resource Teacher Heather Watson says their spaghetti supper was "a tremendous success".
Watson thanks everyone who made the event successful, including the staff, parents, students, family, and everyone who volunteered, as well as the community for coming out and supporting the event.
Only hours are left to provide input on the Municipality of Wawa's proposed capital budget.
Presented to Wawa Municipal Council November 27th, the draft document outlines plans for 2025 - and some ideas through 2028 - with approximately $3,118,500 in new capital projects - for a total of $7,029,704, with prior commitments - including plans for a Town Hall redesign study - and similar study for the Fire Hall - the relocation of Council Chambers, improvements to the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre - including its roof - as well as annual projects like sidewalk rehabilitation and pavement preservation.
That presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel - with the slide show on the Municipality's website - with input accepted until the end of today.
The draft operating budget will be presented in a special meeting on January 8th.
Chapleau staff of Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources are thanking the community for helping those in need.
Conservation Officer Melissa Fairbairn says Tuesday's food drive went very well.
