Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning.
Safer consumption must include a safer supply, say harm reduction advocates
While they are both pleased with the soon-to-be opening of the temporary safe consumption site after years of running the Sudbury Temporary Overdose Prevention Society (STOPS), Karla Ghartey and Marie Pollock told Sudbury.com the site is “merely a drop in the bucket,” of a necessary drug strategy. Ghartey is a nurse, community advocate and co-founder of STOPS; Pollock is a peer harm reduction advocate and a person with lived experience, though she refers to it as “living experience.” They both feel there needs to be what’s known as “safe supply” when it comes to substance use. It’s a similar tactic used to ensure those who wish to use substances like alcohol, cannabis and cigarettes are receiving a product that is high-quality, but also contains ingredients that can be listed, as well as the amount of each ingredient contained in the product. Much like there is quality control for harmful substances like alcohol, cannabis and cigarettes to keep people safer, Ghartey and Pollock both said contamination of the opioid supply is a major driver of overdoses and deaths. There is no quality control for illegal drugs.
Alzheimer Society aiming to make improved dementia care an election issue
The Ontario Alzheimer Society is advocating for the Ontario government to do more for older residents living at home, particularly those living with dementia. Based on feedback from a panel of 21 dementia care experts including physicians, researchers, sector advocates, and individuals personally affected by dementia, the Alzheimer Society of Ontario recently released its Roadmap Towards a Renewed Ontario Dementia Strategy. The roadmap contains 56 policy and 21 funding recommendations. The society said this is a ready-made, costed, actionable path towards a transformational dementia strategy, available for review at VoteDementia.ca. The Alzheimer Society also said a survey carried out earlier this year shows a majority of voters in Ontario want the government to do more to help people living with dementia be able to get care at home. As Ontario moves toward a June 2 general election, the society is hoping to make dementia care an election issue with the hope of securing more health funding for the 260,000 Ontario residents living with dementia.
The only wildlife refuge in the northeast is in Val Caron and it needs your help
Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre is holding an online auction fundraiser. Bids are only open until noon April 23, so if you want to take part, you’re going to have to do it soon. The auction is available online here. All proceeds go directly towards Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre, and the animals there. With more than 200 pieces of unique artwork, jewelry and other handcrafted treasures up for grabs, there’s something for everyone – and lots of gift ideas for Mother’s Day. Heads up, Letterkenny fans, among the items up for grabs is a Letterkenny hockey jersey signed by the cast of this shot-in-Sudbury hit show. Turtle Pond, based out of Val Caron, is now the only authorized wildlife rehabilitation centre in Northeastern Ontario after the closure of the Wild at Heart Refuge Centre in Lively in 2019. “We serve an enormous area — about 130,000 square kilometres,” said Gloria Morissette, Turtle Pond’s Authorized Wildlife Custodian, in a press release.
OPP data shows 25- to 34-year-olds most likely to die in collisions for lack of seatbelt use
The OPP points to three age demographics that are the least likely to buckle up based on its 10-year fatality data. Of the 542 people who died between 2012 and 2021 in collisions in which lack of seatbelt use was a factor in their deaths, vehicle occupants between the ages of 25 and 34 had the highest rate of fatalities, accounting for 24 per cent of the deaths. The 15 to 24-year age bracket was the second-highest group, at 22.3 per cent, followed by 35 to 44-year-olds at 13.5 per cent of those who died without wearing seatbelts. Drivers (vs. passengers) accounted for 75 per cent of the deaths. While the majority of road users understand the lifesaving value of seatbelts, the many excuses for failing to buckle up cost road users their lives year after year says an OPP news release. "The excuses range from only driving a short distance or at low speeds, seatbelts being uncomfortable or no longer needed because of airbags, to the myth that wearing a seatbelt will trap a person and make things worse during a crash, to name a few," says the release.
City to review French-language policy, advocate says it's time for a refresh
Last updated approximately 22 years ago, City of Greater Sudbury administrators have been tasked with reviewing its French-Language Services Policy. The initiative received city council’s unanimous support last week, and is expected to result in policy change recommendations being presented to the city’s elected officials next year. Among those anticipated to weigh in on a community engagement component for the changes is the L'Association canadienne-française de l'Ontario du grand Sudbury, which played a central role in advocating for the review. “Definitely, we see ourselves working with the city to make sure people participate, voices are heard and working on strategy and communications,” executive director Joanne Gervais said. “It’s been 22 years,” she added. “It would appear that it would be a good time to review policy.”
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Cubs inaugural season comes to end in heartbreaking 3-2 loss to the Soo
The Greater Sudbury Cubs inaugural season came to an end on April 15 in a heartbreaking loss to the Soo Eagles. The Cubs battled their way to the sixth game of the best-of-seven Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League series against the second-place Soo squad. The final game was a squeaker that ended 3-2, sending the Cubs home and advancing the Eagles to battle it out against the Soo Thunderbirds in the NOJHL semi-finals. “Over 500 fans jammed the Countryside Arena to cheer-on the Cubs,” the team said this week. The Eagles made it a 1-0 game in the first period. Sloppy play though from the Cubs in the second sealed their fate. Sudbury took two penalties within 30 seconds and the Eagles were able to capitlize on both, jumping out to a 3-0 before the final frame started. Billy Biedermann “scored a beauty” from the slot early in the third (assist, Pierson Sobush), the team said, to make it 3-1 game. “The Cubs narrowed the score to 3-2 when captain Kyler Campbell scored with 6.5 minutes remaining in the game,” the Cubs said in a news release. Sudbury pulled the goaltender and went with an extra attacker over the final two minutes. They managed to keep the Soo out of their net, but weren’t able to capitalize with the extra attacker.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
High of 7 today, but snow tonight
Well, the forecast is calling for clear, sunny skies today and a high of seven, but the snow is expected to start falling tonight. The wind will be out of the north today at 20 km/h, before swinging to blow from the south this afternoon. Expect a -12 wind chill in the morning. The UV index today is six, or high. Tonight, the clouds will roll in and the mercury will drop to zero with southerly winds at 20 km/h continuing. Snow is expected to begin after midnight.
