Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your Monday.
Blaze destroys tent in Memorial Park, one of several similar fires this winter
There were no injuries after a tent in Memorial Park being used by a member of Sudbury’s vulnerable population was destroyed by fire Saturday. When Sudbury.com visited the scene late Saturday afternoon, burned belongings and what remained of the tent were strewn on the ground in Memorial Park. The scent of smoke was still in the air. Greater Sudbury Fire Services Deputy Fire Chief Jesse Oshell said the fire was called in at 1:10 p.m. March 19. Firefighters put water on the structure and made sure the fire was completely put out. Read the full story here.
NLFB reveals 50th summer festival lineup, headliners include The New Pornographers, Judy Collins
Northern Lights Festival Boréal launched the lineup for its 50th anniversary summer folk festival at a musical reception at Collège Boréal Saturday night. Headliners at this year’s festival, which is set to take place July 7-10 in Bell Park, will include The New Pornographers, Bombino and Judy Collins. The Sudbury festival began in 1972 as a single day event called the Northern Lights Folk Festival. It has grown and evolved over the years to be the signature music and arts festival of Northern Ontario. Unfortunately, NLFB’s July festival had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 in both 2020 and 2021, although organizers did manage to squeak in a mini-festival in September of 2021. Organizers are urging festival lovers to pick up full festival passes before Monday, when prices increase. Individual All-Day Passes go on sale on Friday.
Moonlight Beach playground set for a major revitalization this year
Moonlight Beach is slated for a significant overhaul this year, with United Way Centraide Northeastern Ontario pledging $150,000 toward the effort. Central to the overhaul will be a new playground amenity, which will be renamed by United Way during a ceremony in celebration of their 40th anniversary this year. “It’s been well-used, and hopefully as things open up more we’ll see more young people and families going out to play,” United Way Centraide Northeastern Ontario executive director Mary Lou Hussak told Sudbury.com. “The focus really is to get into the areas where there’s low income or kids can’t access the playgrounds, or playgrounds aren’t up to date,” she said, adding that Moonlight Beach is a popular place for people to jump on a bus and spend the day with their families. More information here.
Charges laid against man after people attacked with bear spray at Ontario mosque
A man is facing several charges after police say worshippers at a Mississauga, Ont., mosque were attacked with bear spray in what is believed to be a "hate-motivated incident." Peel Regional Police said someone walked into the Dar Al-Tawheed Islamic Centre early Saturday and discharged bear spray toward people while brandishing a hatchet. Some members of the mosque tackled and subdued a suspect. Mohammad Moiz Omar, 24, was charged with assault with a weapon, administering a noxious substance with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm, possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, uttering a threat to cause death or bodily harm, carrying a concealed weapon and mischief to religious property. Read more on Sudbury.com's home page.
Laurentian University PhD student’s research combines his love for curling and geology
As an avid curler, Laurentian University PhD student Derek Leung used his favourite sport as inspiration for his academic research. Leung was a principal investigator and first author of a paper that researched curling stones for his undergraduate and master's thesis. Having been a curling athlete at Laurentian University, the geology student embarked on a project that would help him uncover research that hasn’t been touched since 1890. His research on curling stones focused more on the mineralogy of the stones, as well as the rock physics of current curling stones – which helped him dive into the damage evolution of the stone’s striking band. Read the full story here.
Former Sudbury resident Rick Prashaw recalls his time as a priest in new memoir
Former Sudbury resident and priest Rick Prashaw has released a new memoir that details his life around his faith and how some aspects evolved and some stayed the same over the past 70 years. Prashaw served as a priest in the Diocese of Sault Ste. Marie from 1980 to 1991. ‘Father Rick, Roamin’ Catholic’ was written in a story-telling style, inspired by explaining his faith journey to his niece during COVID-isolation. This technique allowed him to current subjects like the pandemic, Indigenous and Black Lives Matter issues, declining religious affiliation and church attendance, and the polarized Joe Biden-Donald Trump “uncivil wars.” Learn more here.
Monday weather:
Monday the weather will clear after overnight clouds. Winds becoming north 20 km/h in the morning. High of 5 C. Windchill of -12 C in the morning. UV index 4 or moderate. Monday night will be clear with a low of -11 C.
