Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning.
Sutcliffe ‘cautiously optimistic’ about plans to ease COVID-19 restrictions next week
Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) said it is "cautiously optimistic" about Ontario's new plans to ease COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, beginning on Jan. 31. The plan to move Ontario to a "modified" Step-2 was announced by Premier Doug Ford on Jan. 20, who said there was evidence that the impact of the Omicron variant was softening. Sudbury Health Unit's chief medical officer of health Dr. Penny Sutcliffe said she will be carefully watching as the days go forward. "As communicated by the province (Thursday), we are cautiously optimistic and carefully watching COVID-19 indicators. We understand that the gradual approach to exit the modified Step 2 of the provincial roadmap will be based on metrics, including outbreaks in higher risk settings and hospital admissions," said Sutcliffe in an emailed statement. "We also understand that the dates announced are subject to an ongoing assessment of these metrics and that the important ‘foundational’ measures such as staying home when sick, masking, and proof of vaccination remain in place," Sutcliffe added.
More than 330 Ontario schools report absences of 30 per cent or higher
More than 300 Ontario schools reported staff and student absences of more than 30 per cent by the end of last week, after students returned for in-person learning following the latest pandemic-related shutdown. But the data includes all absences, not just those that might be related to COVID-19, making it tough to gauge the impact of the Omicron variant on Ontario's school system now that the province is no longer publicly reporting cases in schools. Some schools reported high absences due to the weather or technical errors. Data was also missing for about 1,400 of the province's 4,844 schools. Data published Monday show 337 schools had hit the 30 per cent mark as of Friday and 111 schools reported absences higher than 50 per cent of all staff and students. Absence information was made available for 3,451 of the province's schools.
Ontario reportedly 'very close' to $10/day child care deal
Ontario is now the only jurisdiction in Canada that hasn’t struck a $10-a-day child care deal after the other holdout, Nunavut, signed an agreement with the federal government on Monday. The Toronto Star is reporting Queen’s Park is “very close” to a deal, learning from a source close to the Ford government that an agreement is “expected to be finalized shortly.” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the $66-million deal with Nunavut on Monday morning. Trudeau boasted that the deal will cut Nunavut’s child care fees in half by the end of the year, with the $10-a-day low coming into effect by March 2024. Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and NDP Child Care critic Bhutila Karpoche released a statement Monday morning, chiding Premier Doug Ford for lagging on the important issue. “Families in Ontario continue to be crushed by Ontario’s massive child care fees,” their joint statement read. “The price of everything continues to climb, and parents in Ontario are forced to pay our province’s staggering, mortgage-level fees.
Baseball bat-swinging truck driver arrested in Hwy. 17 road rage incident
Espanola OPP have arrested a 42-year-old pickup truck driver after a scary road rage event on Highway 17 in the Township of North Shores. On Saturday morning OPP were called about a vehicle driving erratically on Highway 17. Police say a motorist was travelling eastbound on 17 and had passed a pick-up truck. "The driver of the pick-up truck then began tailgating the complainant and driving in a dangerous manner," says Constable Bev Gauthier. "A short time later the pick-up truck driver parked in the middle of the highway and both drivers exited their vehicles. The pick-up truck driver had a baseball bat in hand and walked aggressively towards the complainant. The driver was swinging the bat and banging it on the ground while approaching the complainant." Later that morning Manitoulin OPP found the driver of the pick-up truck in a restaurant parking lot at the junction of Highways 17 and 6. Police learned the driver was under previous release conditions. As a result, the Penticton, British Columbia resident was charged with assault with a weapon and fail to comply with a probation order.
‘Lifestyle pioneer’ Debbie Travis to speak on her book at annual ‘Celebrate Women’ event
CFUW Sudbury has again partnered with the YWCA and the Women’s Legal, Education and Action Fund (LEAF) to raise much-needed funds to assist women and girls in the Sudbury area with the 26th annual Celebrate Women event. This year’s event, set for 10 a.m. March 5, will be virtual. Author and lifestyle pioneer Debbie Travis will speak from her home in Italy about her recent book, “Joy: Lessons from a Tuscan Villa.” “A lively and inspiring book with engaging and practical lessons on everything from how to get a good night’s sleep, find community, rediscover purpose, start a new endeavour, or regain your confidence,” said promotional material for the event, on Travis’ book. CFUW Sudbury awards $8,000 in scholarships annually, YWCA Sudbury provides safe housing and support for women and children escaping intimate partner abuse and LEAF Sudbury distributes relevant books to local libraries that advance public understanding of women’s equality rights. Tickets are now on sale, and cost $20 each. Details for registering or for purchasing a book can be found at cfuwsudbury.com.
Samaritan Centre now offers grief counselling for clients
As executive director of The Samaritan Centre said she has seen a vast increase in grief among the clients that frequent the centre. “So many of our clients cope with grief caused by multiple factors,” said Samaritan Centre executive director Lisa Long, in a press release. “They have seen their community devastated by opioids, they have been shut out of many of the places they could turn to for warmth and comfort. COVID has created a season of loss – of perceived normality, of relationships, of affected loved ones - over which we are all grieving. For our clients, this is compounded.” A client-centered, multi-agency facility, The Samaritan Centre services Sudbury’s most vulnerable citizens, those facing social barriers including homelessness, food insecurity, poverty, mental health and substance abuse disorders, and other issues in Sudbury’s downtown core. To help address issues surrounding grief, the Samaritan Centre has received funding through the Sudbury Community Foundation for Long to be trained as a specialist in The Grief Recovery Method. It is an international program that, according to their website, is “the only evidence-based grief recovery program in the world.” It has been utilized with homeless populations, as well as the general population.
Slightly warmer today, but look out for that wind chill
Today’s forecasted high of -16 is a bit warmer than yesterday, but the bitter wind we’ve been enjoying isn’t going anywhere. The day will start sunny but with increasing cloudiness in the afternoon. The wind will be blowing at 20 km/h, becoming southerly late in the afternoon. Expect a wind chill of -39 this morning and -22 this afternoon. There is a risk of frostbite today. Tonight, the skies will be cloudy with a 40-per-cent chance of flurries this evening, beginning near midnight. About two centimetres is expected. The wind will be gusting to 50 km/h out of the south, but swinging to the southwest and rising to 40 km/h with gusts up to 70 km/h after midnight. A wind chill of -27 is expected this evening, softening to -18 overnight. By Thursday morning, the temperature should climb to -9.
