Stay up to date with what’s happening in your community.
A well-received recurring event's returning to the Wawa Public Library tonight.
Johanna Rowe will be holding a new "Coffee and Culture" event, providing an update on the Wawa Runestone discovery.
Everyone's welcome to attend the event, which starts at 6 pm tonight - coffee and tea will also be offered.
Registration for Wawa's curlers is continuing tonight.
Men's Curling Club President Jim Hoffmann reminds of the leagues that play.
Hoffmann notes there is also an opportunity for young curlers, too.
Hoffmann encourages new players, too, noting there is an opportunity to learn.
Anyone looking for more information can contact Hoffmann about the Men's League, Danette Mathias for the Ladies League, or Anya Switzer for the Mixed League.
The registration event runs from 6:30 pm to 8 pm tonight at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
Investigation's continuing after a fatal collision involving a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle north of Sault Ste. Marie.
Sault OPP have told JJAM FM News that preliminary investigation suggests a car crossed the centre line of Highway 17 near Pancake Bay Provincial Park before the early Monday afternoon collision, which killed the car's driver and sole occupant, an 81-year-old woman from Sault Ste. Marie - an autopsy was scheduled to be held in the Sault yesterday.
The transport truck's driver was also taken to hospital with minor injuries while a passenger in the truck was not injured and police emphasize the tractor-trailer was empty at the time of the collision, nor was there any fire.
The OPP's Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) team are assisting with the investigation.
A small wildfire's continuing to burn in the Wawa district.
Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources says "Wawa 36" was confirmed early Monday afternoon - about 6 kilometres north of Nagagami Lake and 10 kilometres west of Frost Lake - though it's already listed as "being held" at a tenth of a hectare in size.
One other fire's still burning in the district: "Wawa 35", which was reported October 11th, remains "under control" at 6.5 hectares in size, west of Highway 17 and northeast of Montreal River Harbour.
The fire hazard's mostly low for the Northeast with pockets of moderate hazard, and mostly moderate for the Northwest.
Good news for Wawa curlers: registration starts tonight.
Organizers are holding two events so teams can sign up for the Men's, Ladies, or Mixed Leagues, the first tonight and the second tomorrow, both running from 6:30 pm to 8 pm at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre.
Wawa Men's Curling Club President Jim Hoffmann explains registration works differently this year, with a single representative asked to come and register the team - with the same price for every team, no matter the number of members.
Hoffmann does encourage those without a team to come down, too.
Anyone looking for more information is encouraged to contact Hoffman for the Men's League, Danette Mathias for the Ladies League, or Anya Switzer for the Mixed League.
The seventeen-game season begins the first week of November
Ontario is celebrating public libraries this week - and Wawa's library is marking the occasion.
Part of Canadian Library Month, this week is Ontario Public Library Week, and Wawa Public Library CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell notes a few events are planned locally.
Jarrell notes October's also Dyslexia Awareness Month, and the library is marking that, too.
Jarrell also encourages people to "get loud for libraries" this month, getting or showing off their card at the library to be entered into a draw to be held at the end of the month.
One person is dead after a tractor-trailer and a passenger vehicle collided north of Sault Ste. Marie.
Sault OPP say the collision - which closed Highway 17 for several hours - happened near Pancake Bay Provincial Park shortly before 12:30 Monday afternoon, with one of the drivers - an 81-year-old from the Sault - pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation is continuing, involving the OPP Traffic Incident Management and Enforcement (TIME) team.
Tickets are now on sale for a major fundraiser supporting Wawa's hospital.
Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation Coordinator Angelika Biedron says the 3rd annual Glam For Good Gala will be held next month, highlighting some of the features of the event.
Biedron notes the gala's a fundraiser supporting the local hospital.
Biedron explains how to get tickets.
The Glam For Good Gala will be held Saturday, November 7th.
Local Scouts will be participating in an annual fundraiser this weekend.
Jason North - group administrator for 1st Wawa Scouts - explains the annual Apple Day.
North emphasizes the importance of the fundraiser.
Scouts will be out for Apple Day tomorrow - Saturday, October 17th - from 10 am to 12 noon.
Voting opens today for Wawa's municipal election - a day after voters had the chance to hear from the candidates.
A Meet the Candidates Night was hosted by The Olive Branch Floral Design and Anya Switzer Consulting last night, featuring all eleven candidates in the election, each given an opportunity to give an opening statement and to answer six questions touching on topics including the future and economic development, affordability vs. municipal spending to invest in the community, housing, access to care including for mental health, traffic safety, by-law enforcement, animal control, property standards, dumping, and general community cleanliness, and strengthening public trust.
A repeated theme among the candidates was a need to improve communication - mayoral candidate Ray Vaillant specifically calling "true transparency" a key plank of his platform - with housing and aging municipal infrastructure repeatedly highlighted as major issues that need to be addressed, while all candidates emphasized a need for greater enforcement of by-laws - and reporting of violations - to address property standards and dumping - councillor candidate Ron Ouellette also advocated for the return of free dumping week to help residents who can't afford the cost, while Colton Liddle suggested a more accessible central drop-off area for waste instead with James Stewart saying a local accessible depot in town is something he'd look into and work on - while councillor candidate Brandon Smit acknowledged the town doesn't have capacity for animal control but could work with outside agencies, while Liddle, Smit, Jason North, and Eric Paquette emphasized the need for tickets and fines, though incumbent mayor Melanie Pilon - who is seeking re-election - warned that increasing service level standards have a cost and there are legalities from the province regarding property standards.
Councillor candidate Shah Mohamed repeatedly touched upon the idea of getting a splash pad in town - asking "Chapleau has one, why not us?" - and spoke of opportunities for public-private partnership, while Pilon and incumbent councillors Cathy Cannon and Mitch Hatfield touted the accomplishments of the current council, with Hatfield vowing she's "here for the people" and has "a lot of experience and love for the people of Wawa - pointing to the Municipality's strategic and asset management plans as guides - while Cannon touted her experience and involvement in the community - saying she doesn't feel she's done as a councillor - and Pilon highlighted her experience, connections, and accomplishments as mayor, though Vaillant emphasized a "change in leadership" was needed, promising he'll speak honestly and listen, even vowing to have an open forum discussion after Council meetings.
Voting opens at 9 this morning - like in the past two elections, ballots are cast electronically, via phone or internet.
Municipal CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill reminds residents should have received a Voter Information Letter to vote.
A list of Voter Help Desk events can be found on the municipal website, at wawa.cc
Voting will be open until 8 pm October 26th, when it will close for municipal elections across the province, including in Chapleau, where electronic voting began yesterday.
The Wawa Public Library's marking Library Worker's Day with a special event.
CEO and Head Librarian Sue Jarrell explains today's plans.
Jarrell reminds October is Canadian Library Month, with everyone encouraged to "get loud for libraries" by showing their library card - or getting a new one - this month to be entered into a draw to be made at the end of the month - and kids are encouraged to take pictures with their carved pumpkin and send those in for a draw for a "Halloween surprise".
The social runs from 1 pm to 3 pm this afternoon.
Runners will be lacing up their shoes and hitting the trails this weekend, for the Wawa Trifecta.
Organizer Brian Lachine explains the running event happening this weekend.
Lachine notes the event is split up in categories, based on which races participants are running.
Lachine encourages those who don't plan to run to come out to cheer on participants, noting they'll be serving up a staple of the event.
People can still sign up for one or more of the races through the Wawa Trifecta website or Facebook page, with the races to be held tomorrow and Sunday.
Chapleau artisans are showing off their work today and tomorrow.
Chapleau Arts and Crafts Fall Fair Committee President Melanie Mallek says the 52nd annual event has a "spooky" theme.
Mallek notes there will be many vendors.
Mallek has a final message to the community.
Held at the Chapleau Recreation Centre, the Arts and Crafts Fall Fair runs from 4 pm to 9 pm tonight, and 11 am to 3 pm tomorrow - it's $5 per person, or free for children age four or under.
Voting opens today for Chapleau's municipal election - though the process for casting a ballot may be new to a number of residents.
Though the Township opted to switch to electronic voting in 2022, ballots were not needed that year as all positions were filled by acclamation, so this will be the community's first municipal election with ballots cast electronically.
Residents should have already received their Voter Information Letters, which contain a PIN used to access the system via phone or internet - those who have not received one may not be on the Voter's List and are urged to contact the Township office, where voting assistance is also offered most weekday afternoons up to election day, October 26th.
For those without access to a computer or needing help with electronic voting, special voting assistance events will also be held next Wednesday, October 21st, at Cedar Grove from 9 am to 12 noon and at the Bignucolo Residence from 1 pm to 3 pm, and at the Municipal Office on October 26th from 10 am to 8 pm.
Voting will be open until 8 pm October 26th, when it will close for municipal elections across the province.
Wawa residents are reminded the winter parking by-law is now in force for the season.
Kevin Sabourin - the Municipality's Assistant Director of Protective Services - outlines the rule.
Chapleau residents have a little longer, as that town's winter parking by-law takes effect November 1st.
Wawa voters have a chance to hear from and learn more about Council candidates tonight.
Two local businesses - the Olive Branch Floral Design and Anya Switzer Consulting - are hosting a Meet the Candidates event, with organizer Heidi McLaren explaining the reason for the move.
McLaren outlines the concept of the event.
McLaren says there will be no "questions from the floor" - they'd instead invited people to submit questions via social media up to Thanksgiving.
All eleven candidates are expected to attend: two for mayor - incumbent mayor Melanie Pilon and local businessman Ray Vaillant - and nine for four councillor seats: incumbent councillors Cathy Cannon and Mitch Hatfield, as well as Colton Liddle, Shah Mohamed, Jason North, Ron Ouellette, Eric Paquette, Brandon Smit, and James Stewart.
This comes just before electronic voting opens in Wawa's municipal election: ballots can be cast by phone or online starting at 9 am tomorrow - Friday, October 16th - until 8 pm on Monday, October 26th, the province-wide municipal election date.
The Meet the Candidates event starts at 6:30 pm tonight, at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre - it is also set to be livestreamed for those who can't attend in person.
The Lady Dunn Health Centre Foundation's holding a major meeting tonight.
Foundation Coordinator Angelika Biedron explains the purpose of the meeting.
Biedron notes this comes amid the Foundation's 75 for 75 Campaign, which she says is coming along well.
The Foundation's also set to start selling tickets for its annual Glam for Good Gala next Tuesday, October 20th, with the event to be held November 7th.
The meeting starts at 5 pm tonight, at the Lady Dunn Health Centre.
A local mine's reaching out to the public in Wawa and area today.
Wesdome's Eagle River Mine is holding a Community Town Hall Meeting, inviting employees, families, community members, and stakeholders to hear about key site performance and priorities, safety performance, production and operations, major projects, and important milestones - there'll also be an open question and answer period.
Hosted at the Michipicoten Memorial Community Centre, the event starts with a community barbecue at the rear curling rink entrance from 4 pm to 6 pm this afternoon, with the presentation and Q&A in the lounge from 6 pm to 8 pm this evening.
Wawa seniors are being offered a chance to have a bite to eat and learn about both mayoral candidates today.
A week-and-a-half after hosting an event with most of the nine candidates for Wawa Municipal Council, the Wawa Goose Seniors Centre is hosting its monthly Lunch and Learn, this time featuring both Melanie Pilon and Ray Vaillant.
Past President Carol Chalykoff explains that - like with the councillor candidates - the two have been asked to speak to the seniors.
Like with other lunch and learn events at the centre, it will also offer attendees pizza, coffee or tea, and dessert, sponsored by the Wawa Pharmacy.
The Lunch and Learn begins at 11:30 am.
Voting in Wawa's municipal election opens at 9 am next Friday, October 16th, and closes on Monday, October 26th, though Voter Information letters have already gone out - anyone who has not received theirs by tomorrow (Friday, October 9th) is advised to contact the Municipality of Wawa (at Town Hall or call 705-856-2244) to ensure they're on the voters list.
Wawa Municipal Council is taking aim at policing costs.
In their meeting last night, Council passed a motion focusing on OPP cost increases - read by CAO/Clerk Maury O'Neill, it highlighted the "significant expenditure" within the municipal budget.
While the motion acknowledged the government's cap, it also highlighted difficulties for municipalities addressing such increases.
The motion went on to warn the increases are "a significant burden for small, rural, and Northern municipalities and is not, by itself, a sustainable long-term solution", calling for the provincial government to take measures including setting a "permanent, transparent, and sustainable multi-year framework" for OPP costs including a "reasonable, predictable maximum annual increase...taking into consideration municipal revenue growth, inflation, assessment growth, population growth, fiscal capacity, and affordability", recognizing "the limited fiscal capacity of small, rural, Northern" municipalities, ensuring increases don't "disproportionately affect property tax payers or compromise municipalities' abilities to deliver other essential services and infrastructure", and recognizing municipalities have "limited ability" to control rising costs stemming from provincial legislation, regulation, staffing, compensation, collective bargaining, and operational policy decisions, urging provincial funding or cost-sharing where "significant policing cost pressures" stem from those.
