PHSD Board of Health Re-Elects Chair & Vice Chair

A local health unit's sticking with its leadership.

The Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury and Districts has re-elected Greater Sudbury councillor Mark Signoretti as its chair, a role he took up last year as longtime chair René Lapierre retired from the board - Signoretti had been serving as vice chair the prior two years.

Fellow Greater Sudbury councillor Mike Parent was also elected as vice chair for a second year - Parent is also the president and CEO of Workplace Safety North, a not-for-profit health and safety association funded by the provincial government to provide approved health and safety training and services to the mining and forest products industries.

PHSD's coverage area includes Chapleau and surrounding area.

Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Wrapping Up Wish Campaign

The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's wrapping up its annual holiday fundraising campaign.

As their "Wish" campaign ends, Foundation Chair Susan Switzer reminds funds raised support the "We're Not Taking This Lying Down" campaign for new hospital beds.

Foundation Coordinator Isabeau Allard outlines a few options to support the campaign.

Though the annual mailout campaign's ending, the Foundation reminds donations are accepted any time of year.

Chapleau French Catholic School to Hold Open House

Some local schools are continuing to open their doors, to give prospective students and their families a preview of what's to come.

After Wawa's Ecole secondaire Saint-Joseph held a high school open house for Grade 8 students and their parents at last night, Chapleau's Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium is holding a similar event tonight, at 6 pm.

Wawa's Sir James Dunn Public School's also set to hold an open house, though for kindergarten students, from 6 to 7 pm next Monday, January 19th.

Early Bird Deadline for Wawa Ice Fishing Derby

Time's almost up for early birds to register for Wawa's annual ice fishing derby.

Noting today is the early bird deadline, Derby board member Melanie Farrington reminds there are a couple early bird draws.

Farrington notes another popular prize is back.

Tickets are available at wawaicefishingderby.com or in person at Canadian Tire Wawa, Home Building Centre Wawa, and Superior Coast Outfitters.

The annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby will be held March 6th through 8th.

APH Renews Call for Public Health Champion Nominations

Algoma Public Health's renewing a call for "Public Health Champions" - with a special focus.

The local health unit opened nominations for its annual Public Health Champion Award in November, saying it wants to celebrate people and organizations "who make a meaningful difference in the lives of young children and families across the Algoma District", specifically looking for those who are "support healthy child development in the earliest years of life (ages 0-6)", as "these early years lay the foundation for lifelong health.

There are four categories this year: Parent/Caregiver Champion, which includes parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, and those "bonus caregivers" who go above and beyond for young children; Professional Champion, for educators, healthcare workers, and service providers who make a lasting impact on young children; Youth/Student Champion, for those 24 and younger who support early years programs, volunteer with community initiatives, or mentor younger children through play, creativity, and learning; and Organization Champion, for programs, agencies, and community groups that help young children and their families thrive.

Nominations close next Wednesday, January 21st - details on nominating can be found on the APH website.

Wawa Library Hosting Coffee & Culture on AY Jackson

Those interested in the history of Wawa and area are invited to a well-received event at the Wawa Public Library's tonight.

Johanna Rowe will be holding a new "Coffee and Culture" event, this time talking about artist AY Jackson and his impact on the art world, as "Wawa is proud to be connected to one of Canada's most beloved painters and founding members of the Group of Seven".

Everyone's welcome to attend the event, which starts at 6 pm tonight - coffee and tea will also be offered.

Wawa & Chapleau French Catholic Schools Prepare for Open Houses

Some local schools are opening their doors , to give prospective students and their families a preview of what's to come.

The Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Wawa's Ecole secondaire Saint-Joseph is holding a high school open house for Grade 8 students and their parents at 6:30 tonight, while Chapleau's Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium will hold a similar open house tomorrow night, at 6 pm.

Wawa's Sir James Dunn Public School's also set to hold an open house, though for kindergarten students, from 6 to 7 pm next Monday, January 19th.

Fellow Wawa school, St. Augustine French Immersion, held a similar event last week.

Wawa Council Cancels Meeting on Strategic Plan Public Comments

Wawa Municipal Council won't be hearing public comments on their strategic plan this week.

The Municipality of Wawa's issued a notice that a special meeting that was planned for tomorrow - with a review of public comments on the Wawa Strategic Plan the sole item - has been cancelled.

That means Council's next set to meet next week, on Wednesday, January 21st, a day later than usual.

Superior East OPP Release Festive RIDE Stats

Ontario Provincial Police in northeastern Ontario were kept busy over the holiday season - including locally.

North East Region OPP say the annual Festive RIDE campaign - which ran from November 20th to January 1st - saw 128 impaired driving charges laid, plus 14 "warn-range" and "zero tolerance" suspensions - both down from last year - with a total of 76 drivers charged.

It was quieter for the local Superior East detachment - covering Wawa, Chapleau, Dubreuilville, and Hornepayne - which conducted 110 RIDE events - totalling about 256 hours - with 43 roadside tests conducted, leading to one alert and one fail, while 2 charges were laid for impaired operation or refusal to give breath sample.

Provincially, 150 roadside suspensions were issued, with a total of 766 impaired drivers removed from Ontario roads through the Festive RIDE campaign.

Wawa & Chapleau Schools Set to Hold Open Houses

Some local schools are opening their doors in the coming weeks, to give prospective students and their families a preview of what's to come.

Wawa's St. Augustine French Immersion is holding a Kindergarten Open House tonight, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, offering parents a chance to learn about its program.

Meanwhile, the Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says Wawa's Ecole secondaire Saint-Joseph will be holding a high school open house for Grade 8 students and their parents next Wednesday, January 14th, at 6:30 pm, while Chapleau's Ecole secondaire catholique Trillium will a similar open house next Thursday, January 15th, at 6 pm.

Award Ceremony Near for Wawa's Civic Achievement Award

Wawa's set to honour a local who's made a positive difference in the community.

The Municipality's set to host a ceremony to present the annual Civic Achievement Award to Dorothy Egan, as announced last month by Mayor Melanie Pilon.

The award presentation will be held tomorrow at 2 pm in the Municipal Office Downstairs Boardroom, followed by cake & coffee.

Alamos Gold & Batchewana FN Advance Mine Connector Transmission Project

A local miner and a neighbouring First Nation are touting progress for a major energy project in the region.

Alamos Gold and Batchewana First Nation say they're advancing with the next phase of their "Mine Connector Transmission Project" to deliver "clean, reliable energy to the Algoma District and support the continued growth of Alamos' Island Gold District".

It builds on the partnership they announced last summer for the construction of a $70-million, 115-kilovolt transmission line from just east of Wawa to a new transformer station at the Island Gold District, which is expected to be in service by this year, with Batchewana First Nation operating and retaining long-term ownership of the line once it's constructed.

2 Charged Over B&Es Off Highway 129

Two people are facing numerous charges over a series of B&Es off Highway 129.

East Algoma OPP say the Sault detachment was conducting proactive patrols on December 27th when they located an encampment with "a large amount of stolen property" in a bush area near the intersection of Highways 129 and 556, with two people - a 40-year-old and a 22-year-old, both from Reilly Township, north of the Sault - arrested with the help of the North East Region Emergency Response Team and Sault Police Canine Unit.

Over 130 charges have been laid, including theft, and possession of property obtained by crime over and under $5000, break and enter a place to commit indictable offence and to steal a firearm, mischief, and several weapon-related charges.

The charges relate to multiple break-ins in the Peshu Lake, Aubrey Falls, and Ranger Lake areas in September, October, and December, which saw many items stolen, including vehicles, ATVs, trailers, snowmobiles, power tools, power equipment, and electronics.

Investigators believe there may be more victims than reported, urging them to call the East Algoma OPP.

Crime Stoppers Seeking Info on Shooting of Hydro Poles in Goulais River

Crime Stoppers is asking for public help solving a mischief case in Goulais River.

Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma District Crime Stoppers says that unknown individuals damaged multiple hydro poles and insulators at the end of Old Goulais Bay Road on three separate occasions between the middle of October and the end of November - the equipment was shot at with a firearm, leading investigators to believe they were used for target practice.

The total cost to repair or replace the damaged equipment is over $220,000.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Chapleau MNR Thanks Community for Supporting Food Drive

Staff from Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources office in Chapleau are thanking the community for helping those in need.

The Chapleau MNR held its annual food drive yesterday, and organizers say they met their goal of filling up the box of a truck with donations, and raised $825 worth of Valu-Mart gift cards.

Conservation Officer Melissa Fairbairn reminds the drive is their way of giving back.

The donations go toward the Chapleau Pentecostal Church Food Bank.

2026 Wawa Civic Achievement Award Recipient Named

The recipient has been announced for Wawa's annual Civic Achievement Award.

Mayor Melanie Pilon formally announced during last night's Council meeting that Dorothy Egan will receive the honour, touting her efforts as a volunteer.

Mayor Pilon thanked Councillors Jim Hoffmann and Cathy Cannon for reviewing the nominations and selecting Egan as the recipient - the mayor also invited everyone to an award presentation ceremony, to be held Thursday, January 8th, at 2 pm.

Wawa Council Approves Continued Limited Predator Control Hunt

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, explaining that 2 coyotes were observed last year - one at the golf course, the other at the snow dump, the latter getting away as cold weather hampered efforts - while no wolves were observed at the designated locations, though two were killed in the area surrounding the municipality in other hunting activities.

Todesco noted there has been a "marked increase" in wolf sightings over the summer and fall - including with a pack of four observed in town - and he noted they'd received complaints in the Mission area, leading to discussion about adding a spot in that area where they could conduct the predator control hunt to address the concerns.

Mayor Melanie Pilon did ask whether the Municipality has an animal feeding by-law, with Assistant Director of Protective Services Kevin Sabourin noting there is one in place.

The by-law was passed by Council in March 2023, with Sabourin explaining at the time that it was meant to address a number of complaints and curb the presence of predators.

In place since the start of 2017, the limited predator control hunt is restricted to a select group of hunters approved by Council in their by-law and to select locations within the community, from half an hour before sunrise to no later than 9:30 in the morning within a specified season, essentially mid-November to the end of March.

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