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Some Wawa students are selling baked goods alongside derby registration.
St. Augustine French Immersion Catholic School Principal Nadine Cartledge outlines today's event.
Cartledge also encourages everyone celebrating the derby this weekend to hold onto their bottles, as the students will be going door-to-door in a bottle drive fundraiser for the trip Wednesday (March 5th) night, from 5 pm to 8 pm.
Anglers will be getting out on the ice this weekend, for the annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby.
Derby committee member Melanie Farrington outlines the new prize structure for the derby.
Farrington highlights some of the top prizes.
Registration runs from 10 am to 10 pm today at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre - and 7:30 am to 12 noon tomorrow - with fishing running from 8 am to 4 pm Saturday and 8 am to 1 pm Sunday.
A dance - featuring Sault Ste. Marie band Separate Ways - will also be held Saturday night.
JJAM FM will be broadcasting live updates from 11 am to 3 pm Saturday and 10 am to 2 pm Sunday.
Time and tickets are running out for the Michipicoten Volunteer Firefighters' Association's annual cash draw.
With three more $1000 draws - and the $10,000 grand prize draw - coming Sunday, Association treasurer Anders Dereski reminds the draw's a fundraiser for a couple things.
Firefighters will be selling tickets at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre during the derby, until they sell out or the final draws are made at 5 pm Sunday, during the derby's prize presentation.
Wawa's reminding anglers to stay away from the municipal water intake.
A notice from the Municipality reminds ice fishing is not permitted within 1000 feet of the shoreline of Wawa Lake between Gold and Ontario Streets, creating a buffer around the intake site.
Chapleau's Club Maria Chapdelaine is hosting a "Cultural Day" this weekend.
Sylvie L. Rousseau explains the purpose of the event.
Rousseau says a "wide big range of people" are interested.
The Cultural Day will be held from 11 am to 4 pm Saturday, at the Community Hall.
Local police are issuing a few safety reminders ahead of the Wawa derby.
Emphasizing that "no ice is safe ice", Superior East OPP Constable Rob Sanchioni acknowledges the weather conditions may mean thicker ice coverage on local bodies of water, but to still be careful.
Sanchioni has more advice for snowmobilers.
Constable Sanchioni notes Superior East OPP will be patrolling, backed up by the OPP's Snowmobile, ATV, and Vessel Enforcement (SAVE) Team.
Ontario's handed Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives a third straight majority - something unseen in the province since 1959.
Unofficial results from Elections Ontario show Ford's PCs with a similar seat count to what they had heading into the election - or after the 2022 election - while the NDP remain the official opposition despite losing a few seats, with the Liberals picking up enough to reclaim official party status - leader Bonnie Crombie failed to win a seat, but is planning to stay in the role - and the Greens kept both their seats.
Locally, Algoma-Manitoulin's going blue the first time in nearly 40 years.
Unofficial results show Thessalon Mayor Bill Rosenberg's claimed the riding for the PCs - who haven't represented the area since 1987 - pulling in over 41% of votes cast in the riding - with NDP candidate David Timeriski trailing with over 27%, then Liberal Reg Niganobe with more than 14%, independent incumbent Michael Mantha with shy of 12%, then New Blue candidate Sheldon Pressey and Green candidate Maria Legault, both with less than 3%.
The local race was not without controversy, with Mantha's campaign reporting on election day that it had been informed of an automated call circulating to Algoma-Manitoulin voters, falsely claiming he wasn't running and that votes for him would be invalid, something they have reported to Elections Ontario.
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 next Thursday, March 6th, starting at 11:30 am, this time featuring Vangie Fournier of the local Canadian Red Cross office as guest speaker - it also offers pizza, coffee or tea, and dessert, sponsored by the Wawa Pharmacy.
Must register at the centre by Monday, March 3rd.
It's Election Day in Ontario.
Voters are heading to the polls in the 44th Ontario General Election, with Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford seeking a third term with a P-C majority, while NDP Leader Marit Stiles is hoping to transition from Opposition Leader to the first NDP government since 1995, and Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie's hoping for a substantial rebound from the party's devastating performance in the last two elections - the parties have sparred over issues including affordability and the economy, as well as looming US tariffs and health care.
Locally, Michael Mantha is seeking a fifth term representing Algoma-Manitoulin, though now as an independent after he was removed from the NDP caucus nearly two years ago, with Elliot Lake paramedic David Timeriski instead carrying the NDP banner while Thessalon Mayor Bill Rosenberg's running for the PCs, former Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe's representing the Liberals, Chapleau resident Sheldon Pressey is the New Blue Party candidate, and Maria Legault's again running for the Green Party.
Polls are open from 9 am to 9 pm today, locally located at Wawa's Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, Chapleau's Municipal Office, the Chapleau Cree First Nation Band Office, Dubreuilville's Municipal Complex and Social Centre, and White River's Mountain View Complex - check your voter information card or the Elections Ontario website, elections.on.ca, to confirm where to go - if you did not receive a voter card, you can still vote, but are reminded to bring a piece of ID showing your name and home address, like a driver's licence, though a piece of ID showing your name is also required along with the voter card, anyway.
With just days left before the annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby, organizers are reminding participants to stay off the lakes.
According to derby rules, there is no fishing on the Wawa, Hawk, and Manitowik Lakes for any derby contestants for the rest of the week, until fishing officially opens for the derby Saturday morning.
Derby committee member Melanie Farrington reminds of the derby's new prize structure.
Farrington encourages everyone to get their tickets ahead of the 33rd annual derby, which arrives Friday, running through Sunday, March 2nd.
Ontario Provincial Police are continuing to investigate a major collision east of Chapleau.
The Superior East OPP are reporting that two commercial motor vehicles collided on Highway 101 near Foleyet - in Ivanhoe Township - Monday night, with the highway staying closed through Tuesday as police investigated, assisted by OPP Technical Collision Investigators.
All six candidates running in the Algoma-Manitoulin riding in the 2025 Ontario election were given the opportunity to answer the same questions in a conversation of about five minutes. Four candidates agreed to do so. Below are those four, in alphabetical order (by surname).
JJAM FM News was unable to make arrangements for an interview with Green Party candidate Maria Legault or PC candidate Bill Rosenberg.
This Thursday, February 27th, is Election Day - polls will be open from 9 am to 9 pm.
Information on casting ballots can be found on voter information cards sent in the mail, or on elections.on.ca
A Wawa firefighter's been promoted.
In their meeting this week, Wawa Municipal Council formally approved the appointment of Dustin Knee as a captain of the Wawa Volunteer Fire Department, filling a vacancy.
Council also approved the appointment of former municipal employee Rebecca Smit to the Wawa Cemetery Committee, also filling a vacancy.
Advance voting starts today, as Ontario's Election Day is just one week away.
Elections Ontario shows a number of advanced poll locations in the region, all depending on where you're eligible to vote: for Wawa, it's the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre; for Chapleau, the Municipal Office; for Dubreuilville, the Municipal Complex; and for White River, the Mountain View Complex - it's best to check where your advance poll is at elections.on.ca.
Polls are open from 10 am to 8 pm today, tomorrow, and Saturday.
There's still time to apply to vote by mail, as well, though the application deadline is 6 pm Friday, February 21st, and your completed voting kit must be received by Elections Ontario by 6 pm on the February 27th Election Day in order to be counted.
There are six candidates running in the Algoma-Manitoulin riding: project manager and community advocate Maria Legault for the Greens; four-term MPP Michael Mantha's running as an Independent; former Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe's running for the Liberals; Chapleau resident Sheldon Pressey for the New Blue Party; Thessalon Mayor Bill Rosenberg for the PCs; and Elliot Lake volunteer firefighter and paramedic David Timeriski for the NDP.
Wawa Municipal Council's given tentative approval for accessible playground equipment at the Upper Mission Park.
Following on discussions in previous meetings - particularly the February 4th Corporate Planning Committee meeting - Council was told there were over 300 signatures to a letter and subsequent petition in favour of "reinstating" the park - Mayor Melanie Pilon also read three letters on the issue, which emphasized the Municipality's obligation to maintain levels of service, pointed out some safety concerns regarding the Marina Park, and highlighted the benefits for tourism and resident attraction and retention - the letter writers were also given an opportunity to speak, reiterating their key points and saying they're open to work with Council and different options, but want a commitment to the park's future, also noting it is included within MPAC's property assessments.
Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson then delivered a Council-requested report on the park, noting there's no single standard regarding number of parks per population - though Wawa is in the "high average" for parkland and number of parks per capita compared to nearby communities - but it also highlighted a lack of an "accessible" park and that residents may be willing to travel to one, if available, breaking down a wheelchair accessible option or a "sensory" focused option that would fit the $50,000 budget previously proposed, particularly as some local businesses have offered to donate aggregate to help, and emphasized a willingness to work with residents on "value-added" items outside of the playground equipment.
In the end, Council was asked to consider a resolution which agreed to include the project as "subject to funding" - whether by grant or a donation - in the 2025 budget and - if that is not successful this year - to "consider" it in deliberations for the 2026 budget.
Councillor Cathy Cannon - who'd previously emphasized she was "never against the park", just wanted to follow due diligence and was concerned about the cost for the Municipality - raised issues with the latter stipulation, seeking to have it removed, something backed by Councillor Mitch Hatfield, but that was voted down by Councillors Jim Hoffmann and Joe Opato and Mayor Melanie Pilon - a subsequent recorded vote saw the resolution passed along the same lines, with Cannon and Hatfield opposed and Hoffmann, Opato, and Pilon in favour.
Treasurer Manuela Batovanja had recommended earlier in their meetings that Council approve the 2025 operating and capital budgets in their next meeting - on March 4th - but not the rest of the 4-year plan outlined, instead discussing those further in meetings over the year.
The executive director of the National Council of Indigenous Midwives will carry the NDP banner for a local riding in the next federal election.
Canada's NDP has announced Laura Mayer as their candidate for Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma, the revised riding that will include the namesake city as well as the Highway 17 corridor, including Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, and the north shore of Lake Huron to Elliot Lake.
Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing NDP MP Carol Hughes - who represents part of the future riding - has already said she isn't running for re-election after about seventeen years as MP.
Aside from serving with the National Council of Indigenous Midwives, Mayer is described as "a dedicated leader and proud Anishinaabekwe from Mississauga First Nation, committed to strengthening Indigenous governance, advancing community-led solutions, and fighting for policies that uplift working people", who graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and is in her second term as a councillor for Mississauga First Nation - she's quoted as saying a key priority is health care accessibility, vowing to "fight to expand health care services in the North and ensure no-one is left behind".
Straight off the Family Day weekend, Wawa Municipal Council's holding a pair of meetings tonight.
First up is a Committee of the Whole meeting, which will include further discussion about calls to "reinstate" Upper Mission Park, as well as the 2025 operating and capital budgets, the Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee's request for an extended season at the Tourist Information Centre, the rezoning of commercial properties, and monthly reports from department heads.
That'll be followed by a regular meeting of Council, including resolutions to designate an area for victims and survivors of crime, appoint a member of the Wawa Cemetery Committee, approve a staff recommendation to purchase a 2010 Ford F-750, appoint a new Wawa Volunteer Fire Department captain, and approve the staff recommendation for accessible playground equipment at Upper Mission Park.
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.
A local health unit's warning of "increasing cases and outbreaks of respiratory and gastrointestinal illness".
Public Health Sudbury and Districts - whose coverage area includes Chapleau - notes higher levels of sickness reported for influenza and "enteric illness" in child care settings, long-term care, retirement homes, and the broader community, saying it's "likely due to norovirus", though the health unit also warns respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 and RSV also continue to circulate.
It's urging precautions such as staying home and self-isolating if sick, waiting for fever & symptoms to improve for 24 hours - 48 hours with gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting or diarrhea - wearing well-fitted mask if you must go out for testing/medical care, and to cover coughs or sneezes, thoroughly wash hands often, use alcohol-based hand rub if handwashing not pushing, and consider masking up in crowded indoor public settings even when not sick.
P-H-S-D further recommends keeping vaccinations up to date for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.
Chapleau Town Council's holding a special open meeting tonight - as they undergo a training session on conflicts of interest and more.
The Township says Mayor Ryan Bignucolo gave "consent to this open meeting based on the provision of a legal opinion on Conflict of Interest and Training", with tonight's agenda noting Council will hear from John Hart of Ritchie Ketcheson Hart & Biggart LLP about the role of Council, mayor, and staff, as well as what is conflict of interest, who declares a conflict, how to avoid a conflict in bidding processes, and "what about subcontractors" while Integrity Commissioner Antoinette Blunt will discuss how Council provides direction to staff.
Open to the public, the meeting will be held at 6:30 pm tonight in the Civic Centre Boardroom.
Festivities are ramping up for Chapleau's "Taste of the North" Winter Carnival.
While carnival skating and the school broomball tournament were held earlier this week, more events are happening today, including more carnival skating, senior's cards and dinner at the Legion, a businesses and organization bonspiel hosted by the Chapleau Curling Club, and the Chapleau Arctic Watershed Snowmobile Club Annual Torch Light Parade at 6 tonight, followed by the lighting of the carnival bonfire at the Recreation Centre, then a mini 4-on-4 hockey tournament.
Events will continue through Sunday, including the carnival curling bonspiel and hockey tournament, and magic show Friday night.
A full schedule of events is available through the carnival's Facebook page.
