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The Wawa Public Library is launching a new semi-regular program this weekend: tabletop mahjong.
Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell touts the support of a local volunteer to launch this program.
Open to anyone interested - new or experienced players - at no cost, the library’s tabletop mahjong starts Saturday, March 7th, at 11 am.
Norovirus seems to be spreading in the region.
Public Health Sudbury and Districts warns it has received increased reports of gastrointestinal illness in child care centres, long-term care homes, and other community settings in its region - which includes the Chapleau area - which it says is "likely due to norovirus, a highly contagious virus that spreads easily can have serious impacts on people who are more vulnerable, including young children, older adults, and those with underlying health conditions".
It reminds norovirus most often spreads through unwashed hands or through shared items and hard surfaces, recommending washing hands thoroughly and staying home if you are ill - and for at least two days after symptoms stop.
Symptoms of norovirus include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, headache, body aches, and sometimes fever.
Hawk Junction's readying for the return of a longtime tradition.
Hawk Junction Local Services Board Secretary-Treasurer Heather Rainville touts the event.
Rainville notes there will be trophies while the kitchen will be open, though cash only.
The Hawk Junction Annual Family Ice Fishing Derby will be held on Hawk Lake next weekend - on Saturday, March 14th - with registration on the Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Wawa Municipal Council's had its first look at this year's operating budget.
A month after seeing the initial draft for the capital budget, Council looked at the proposed operating budget for 2026, told staff sought to keep increases down - limiting a rise in payroll by cutting the Asset Management Coordinator position while transit operation's been brought in-house - but it does include an increased contribution to infrastructure and higher insurance costs, while OPP costs are up 11% and Algoma Public Health's levy is up 8%, and capital purchases and construction costs continue to rise, but the province still has not reassessed properties since 2016, which means taxation's based on values a decade old.
In the end, the proposed budget is set to rise 0.07% - $10,692 - to $15,911,272, though it proposes a levy of $5,879,623 - up $220,276 from 2025, an increase of 3.89% - along with a 1.8% increase of the capital levy introduced last year - combined, those increases are expected to amount to $13.74 more per month or $164.91 for the year for a house of $100,000 assessed value.
It also proposes an 8% rise in the water rate - from $1.07 per cubic meter to $1.16 - and a 4% rise in the sewer fee - from 57 to 59 cents per cubic meter - moves expected to amount to a $5.45 rise in the average monthly bill - or $65.45 for the year - for the average single detached house using 70 cubic meters of water and 61 of sewer - Council was told that while water and wastewater usage had been dropping from 2020 to 2024, it actually rose in 2025, nearly back to 2024's level.
Treasurer Heather Rainville - who was delivering her first budget in that role - also noted the capital budget has been modified from the version presented in February, cut down from about $5.77-million to about $5.4-million with some change in the source of funding for a few projects, while about $310,000 more will be put away for long-term capital planning this year, and $430,000 more in 2027.
While it was noted Council has options to lower the levy increase - including reducing capital projects, cutting services, using reserves, increasing user fees, or eliminating the capital levy increase - those were not recommended, and Council seemed in favour of approving the budget as presented.
The full presentation can be viewed on the Municipality's YouTube channel, with public input to be accepted until Friday, March 13th, so the budget - operating and capital - can be brought for a vote in Council's next meeting, on Tuesday, March 17th.
Council's also expected to vote on the schedule of fees in that meeting, though it would not include changes for certain seasonal items like curling and ice fees, which would be reviewed with any changes to be proposed ahead of next season.
Five people are facing charges as police have seized fentanyl as part of a drug investigation in Brunswick House First Nation.
Nishnawbe Aski Police say their Intelligence Unit, Emergency Response Team, and the OPP's Street Crime Unit executed a search warrant in the community on Monday, seizing an unspecified quantity of fentanyl, cash, and "paraphernalia consistent with drug trafficking" while arresting five people - a 26-year-old, a 33-year-old, a 36-year-old, a 41-year-old, and a 58-year-old, all from Brunswick House First Nation - on charges including possession of fentanyl for the purpose of trafficking.
The accused in their 30s were remanded into custody while the others were released on conditions, all with future court dates, while NAPS says their investigation's continuing.
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.
Emphasizing they don't want anyone to miss out, derby board member Melanie Farrington encourages anglers to get tickets now.
Registration for the derby runs from 8 am to 8 pm Friday, March 6th, with fishing on Saturday and Sunday.
The Wawa Public Library's inviting people to enjoy some music tonight.
CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell touts tonight's event.
Everyone's welcome to attend the event, which starts at 6 pm tonight.
With just days left before the annual Wawa Ice Fishing Derby, organizers are reminding participants will soon need to stay off the lakes.
According to derby rules, there is no fishing on the Wawa, Hawk, and Manitowik Lakes for any derby contestants after midnight tonight until fishing officially opens for the derby Saturday morning.
Derby board member Melanie Farrington reminds some prizes could be reeled in this weekend without even hitting the ice.
Farrington encourages anglers to get their tickets now at wawaicefishingderby.com - registration runs from 8 am to 8 pm Friday, March 6th, with fishing on Saturday and Sunday.
A month after Council saw the draft Capital Budget, Wawa Municipal Council's set to get its first look at this year's operating budget.
Presentation of the 2026-2027 Operating Budget is one of only a few items on the agenda for tonight's Committee of the Whole meeting, along with a report recommending a "zero tolerance policy" for bullying at municipal property.
Council's also set to hold a regular meeting, including a resolution on "strengthening affordability requirements for federal broadband funding and universal access programs" and an "in-camera" item about a legal issue regarding "a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board".
The meetings will be held back-to-back, starting at 6:30 pm tonight in Council Chambers - the main level boardroom of Town Hall - they'll also be livestreamed through the Municipality's YouTube channel.
Chapleau Town Council is considering a request from Ecole Sacre-Coeur for cross walk patrol ahead of the start of school and after the school day ends
Mayor Ryan Bignucolo explains the situation.
Bignucolo acknowledges the French Catholic school's open to solutions, and Council just wants to ensure they pick the best solution for the issue.
Chapleau Town Council has confirmed the temporary appointment of an interim Chief Administrative Officer.
Mayor Ryan Bignucolo outlines the current CAO situation.
Raymond's been employed by the Township since 2019, previously holding various roles with the Township of Dubreuilville, including CAO, mayor, and councillor.
Earlier this month, it was announced that Judith Meyntz was no longer CAO.
Wawa Municipal Council is set to consider a change to property lines next month.
The Municipality of Wawa's issued notice for a public meeting to consider an application for consent to sever land along Scenic High Falls Road to create an area for a long-term lease agreement for a tourism project.
Additional information's available by contacting CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill, while those who want to make a written comment can send it to O'Neill by emailing moneill@wawa.cc by 4 pm Friday, March 13th.
The meeting's set to be held Tuesday, March 17th, at 6:30 pm, the same night as Council will hold a public meeting on a proposed zoning by-law amendment for a Montreal Avenue property.
Students with local French Catholic schools have a couple new representatives to the board - including one from Wawa.
Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon says École secondaire Saint-Joseph Grade 11 student Havana Thibodeau-Bello will be the new student trustee for the Algoma District in the 2026-27 school year.
This comes the week after Thibodeau-Bello was recognized by the board for "her leadership, vision, and commitment to school and community life" and for "embod[ying] the values of responsibility, collaboration, and civic engagement" by serving as Prime Minister for her school's Student Parliament and sitting on the board's Student Senate.
The board's also announced Emilie Philippe - a Grade 11 student from Val Caron - will serve as the representative for the Sudbury/Manitoulin District.
The new student trustees start in those roles August 1st.
Wawa Municipal Council is set to consider a zoning amendment for a Montreal Avenue property next month.
The Municipality of Wawa's issued notice for a public meeting to consider amending the Zoning By-Law to add a residential unit as a permitted use at Montreal Avenue, which is currently zoned as General Industrial.
Additional information's available at the Municipal Office or by contacting CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill or Chief Building Official Kevin Sabourin, while those who want to make a written submission or give an oral statement during the meeting must contact O'Neill by emailing moneill@wawa.cc by 4 pm Monday, March 16th.
The meeting's set to be held Tuesday, March 17th, at 6:30 pm.
A Wawa student's being honoured for her leadership.
Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon is touting École secondaire Saint-Joseph Grade 11 student Havana Thibodeau-Bello, saying "through her leadership, vision, and commitment to school and community life, [she] embodies the values of responsibility, collaboration, and civic engagement that lie at the heart of the education offered" in its schools, as she serves as Prime Minister for her school's Student Parliament and sits on the board's Student Senate.
It congratulates her for her involvement and thanks her for "helping give a strong and inspiring voice to francophone students in Northern Ontario".
A local organization is marking a major milestone in supporting businesses.
The Superior East Community Futures Development Corporation is celebrating over $30-million in loans in its over 36 years in operation, something it says has supported over 3000 jobs - that includes over $2-million in local and regional loans approved last year, impacting 46 jobs and helping "leverage" over $926,000 from other sources.
Covering Wawa, Dubreuilville, White River, Chapleau, and neighbouring First Nations, the Superior East CFDC provides business counselling & investment services to small & medium-sized businesses, among other services.
Chapleau Town Council's set to meet tonight.
Included on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting is a request from Ecole Sacre-Coeur for cross walk patrol ahead of the start of school and after the school day ends, as well as a letter from Maison Boreal Home and a request regarding Wildwood Bible Camp.
There are five "in-camera" items, all human resources items.
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 isn't adding "bear bins" in the community - but the municipality is looking at how to be "bear wise".
Mayor Melanie Pilon explains the idea was brought up in a letter to the Municipality.
Mayor Pilon notes that staff was then asked to look into the idea of "bear resistant refuse storage" - or "bear bins" - like in Chapleau.
Though Council opted against putting in the bins at this time - with Pilon emphasizing "what works for one community doesn't work for another" and Councillor Cathy Cannon suggesting apple trees may be more of an issue than garbage - Mayor Pilon says staff have been asked to monitor and gather data this season.
During discussions in last night's meeting, it was noted that the Municipality's current refuse collection contract with Villeneuve Construction is set to expire next year, so plans are for the staff report to arrive in early summer, before the municipal election.
The Wawa Public Library's preparing for a book sale.
Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell explains plans.
Jarrell notes there are a variety of books.
The sale supports the local library.
Those interested in the history of Wawa and area are invited to a well-received event at the Wawa Public Library's tonight.
CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell touts tonight's event.
Jarrell says Coffee and Culture with Johanna has been a popular event, with "an excellent turnout".
Everyone's welcome to attend the event, which starts at 6 pm tonight - coffee and tea will also be offered.
