Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to get you started on this Monday morning.
Car rally at least 100 vehicles strong rolls through Sudbury to support LU
At least 100 vehicles decked out in flags took part in a car rally today to show support for Laurentian University. The Sudbury post-secondary institution is in the midst of a financial crisis and filed for CCAA protection this year as it works to get its house in order. As that process moves along, a group calling itself Save Our Sudbury (SOS) has been raising awareness about Laurentian’s challenges and about post-secondary funding in Ontario, while lobbying the province to re-examine how the school is funded. Today, at least 100 vehicles gathered at 555 Barrydowne Road in New Sudbury to participate in the rally of support. Most of the cars sported Laurentian University Faculty Association flags.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Second ‘Freedom Rally’ draws smaller but equally passionate crowd
It was a smaller crowd that gathered along Paris Street in front of Tom Davies Square this afternoon for a second weekend protest against pandemic lockdown measures. Organized by the group MADSudbury (for Mothers Against Distancing), the peaceful demonstration again featured a celebratory, congenial atmosphere. Protesters carried signs, waved Canadian flags, blew bubbles and sang the national anthem, during the time Sudbury.com was on the scene. An event organized by the same group last weekend drew as many as 200 people. JR Demellweek, who posted a notice about the rally to the MADSudbury Facebook page, told Sudbury.com at the event that while the group shares a name with a similar Toronto-based group, it is not affiliated with them. Demellweek also described MADSudbury as less of an organized group and more of an “idea,” while encouraging those who might share their point of view about pandemic restrictions to get involved. “This is about freedom of choice,” Demellweek said.
Ontario will allow salons, outdoor gyms to open in lockdown regions
Hair salons and outdoor fitness classes will reopen in Ontario regions under lockdown, the government announced Friday even as it tightened restrictions in one of its largest cities due to soaring cases of COVID-19. Personal care services and gyms have been shuttered in the province's virus hot spots for months since they weren't allowed to operate in the strictest "grey lockdown" category of Ontario's pandemic framework. Premier Doug Ford defended the decision to loosen those rules even as another city -- Hamilton -- is moved to the "grey" zone and COVID-19 cases rise in the province's intensive case units. "I'm very, very concerned," he said. "A message to the people of Ontario. Do not let your guard down ... We're loosening it up, just a little bit." Under the new rules, hair and nail salons can open with capacity limits as of April 12 in regions in the "grey" zone.
Region records 46 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend
The Public Health Sudbury & Districts region recorded 46 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend. On the plus side, 36 people recovered from the virus, and no new deaths were recorded in the region. As of this morning, there are 335 known active cases being monitored in the area. Provincially, Ontario reported 4,901 new cases over the course of the weekend and 35 new deaths. The outbreaks at Health Sciences North on the sixth and fourth floors of the South Tower have also been declared over. The outbreaks were announced March 12 and 13 respectively. One designated care partner (no alternate) is now permitted on 4 South. Designated care partner restrictions remain in place on 6 South.
Former Sudburian Perry Dellelce and family donate $2M to support Canadian Olympic athletes
Former Sudbury resident Perry Dellelce and his family have donated $2 million to the Canadian Olympic Foundation to support Canadian athletes at the upcoming games in Tokyo. The 2020 Summer Olympic games are scheduled to begin July 23, however, the Olympic Torch Relay for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 started its journey from Fukushima to Tokyo on March 25. Dellelce, his wife, Susan, and their children, Taylor and Nicholas, all believe in the transformational power of sport, said a news release. Dellelce is a managing partner of Wildeboer Dellelce LLP, is a renowned business leader, lawyer, philanthropist, and chair of the board of the Canadian Olympic Foundation.
Internal review launched after accused in Sudbury court case takes screenshot
Greater Sudbury Police’s courts branch is conducting an internal review and investigating after someone attending virtual court proceedings took screenshots of lawyers and judges. “It has been reported to us through our courts branch,” said Kaitlyn Dunn, spokesperson for GSPS. “The complaint is in relation to an accused that is currently before the courts. Our court’s officers are conducting an internal review and have initiated an investigation.” Under the Ontario Court Justice Act, which prohibits persons from attempting to take or taking photos, videos, audio recordings or other recordings at a court hearing, a person found to be in contravention can be fined up to $25,000 or sentenced up to six months in jail or both.
Murder trial for Tyler Sels adjourned to September due to pandemic
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second-degree murder trial for Tyler Sels, who is accused of stabbing a man to death at a house party in 2018, has been adjourned to Sept. 27. Jury selection will begin Sept. 27 at 9 a.m. Sels is charged with one count of second-degree murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of assault with a weapon, four counts of possession of a weapon dangerous to the public peace and one count of breach of probation. Sels was committed to trial in January 2020 by Ontario Court Justice John Keast. The trial was scheduled to begin March 29. The stabbing happened at a party outside a residence on Levesque Street, off The Kingsway. According to police, Charles St. Jean, 27, succumbed to stab wounds. Two other people were also stabbed and treated at hospital.
