Greater Sudbury announces two new directors
The city of Greater Sudbury has two new directors. Taking the lead on the Growth and Infrastructure department, Brittany Hallam is heading up Linear Infrastructure Services and Renee Brownlee will lead Environmental Services. Both have served their respective roles in an acting director capacity for the past year.
North Bay Police issue reminder about COVID-19 vaccines
North Bay police are being told that both they and employees, if they now need to be fully vaccinated or are required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test within the past 24 hours before beginning their work assignment. The North Bay Police Service implemented a COVID-19 vaccination policy on Nov. 19, which applies to all sworn and non-sworn members.
More than 18,000 acres on Manitoulin Island are now protected
More than 18,000 acres on Manitoulin Island, is now protected land. It’s the Vid-al Bay forest and shoreline property, west of Meldrum Bay. Under the watchful eye of Nature Conservancy of Canada, it involves 18.5 kilometres of shoreline on the north channel of Lake Huron and is the conservancy’s largest-ever single-property acquisition in Ontario.
This property protects habitat for a wide range of mammals and local populations of species such as American black bear and grey wolf. Conservation of this size is really important because it allows the animals to move virtually uninterrupted across western Canada to an island.
Sault Ste Marie City Council approves 2022 budgets
The city of Sault Ste. Marie City Council has approved their 2022 operating and capital budgets. They include a maximum levy increase of 4.37 percent. Some further decreases are expected. The police budget, which originally included an increase of 10.16 percent, will be sent back to the local police services board for reconsideration. Council is not expected to sign off on the police budget until its Jan. 10 meeting.
Two campers found safe and sound
Greater Sudbury Police and OPP are being thanked for helping to find two campers. This is after they went missing during a weekend camping trip north of Capreol. Fortunately, the two missing individuals had informed their family as to exactly where they would be in case they did not return home.
COVID-19 exposure warning at two Sault area schools
Two more schools in the Sault have been alerted to COVID-19 exposures. Algoma Public Health says St. Francis French Immersion Catholic School has at least one case of COVID-19. Elsewhere St. Mary’s College has had an outbreak declared by APH, meaning that the cases of COVID-19 that have been reported have likely been acquired at the school either from each other or from a common source.
Meanwhile, Algoma Public Health (APH) has declared an outbreak of COVID-19 at Tarentorus Public School. All high risk close contacts have already been identified and provided instructions regarding COVID-19 testing and self-isolation requirements.
West Nipissing OPP now looking for the driver of a stolen truck
West Nipissing OPP is now looking for the driver, of a truck reported stolen out of Greater Sudbury. The truck was roughly three-kilometre south of Half Way Lake Provincial Park on Highway 144 when it went into the ditch from the southbound lanes. The driver had left the vehicle and began hitchhiking south on Highway 144, and was shortly picked up by another motorist. The driver is described as a Caucasian male in his forties, wearing all black, carrying two bags.
$530k handed out in Greater Sudbury in annual arts and culture grants
The City of Greater Sudbury is handing out over $530k dollars in annual arts and culture grants. The goal is to support the work of local artists and artistic groups. Funding under the grant program is administered annually by the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC).
Ontario’s opposition is once again attempting to increase status on highways 11,17
Ontario’s opposition is once again attempting to get the Government to move on what they call, improving maintenance standards and make winter driving safer. New Democrat MPP for Mushkegowuk-James Bay, Guy Bourgouin, has reintroduced a private member’s bill at Queen’s Park to see highway 11 and 17 made series 1 highways.
Valley East Sports complex gets a conditional go-ahead
The Valley East sports complex has been given the go-ahead, by the Greater Sudbury city council, but there is a catch. An estimated $29.2-million Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex was approved during the fourth day of budget talks, but there is a catch. It’s all conditional that the city receives $20 million in funding from the Province. The city would pick up the rest.
