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Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your weekend

310122_chris-blomme black-capped chickadee and peanut butter Fielding Park crop
Sudbury.com reader Chris Blomme took this photo of a black-capped chickadee enjoying peanut butter at Fielding Park. Sudbury.com welcomes submissions of local photography for publication with our morning greeting. Send yours to [email protected].

Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your weekend on this Saturday morning.

Ontario’s Chief Justice grants Wright’s leave to appeal bail decision

Robert Steven Wright may have another shot at bail after he was denied for a third time in January. Associate Chief Justice of Ontario J. Michal Fairburne granted Wright’s leave to appeal. The reasons for the decision are covered by a publication ban. Wright’s lawyer, Michael Lacy, confirmed the leave to appeal, and said “that the Associate Chief Justice found that by ordering a review, she had to be satisfied that there was an arguable basis to conclude that a three-member panel of the court might review the bail and come to a different conclusion on the issue of bail. “We will be working with the Court and the appeal Crown to schedule that review as soon as possible.” On Jan. 17, Superior Court Justice Patrick Boucher dismissed Wright’s bail application, stating any material change in circumstances, as filed by Wright and his counsel, wasn’t sufficient. The reasons are again covered by a publication ban.

Read the full story here.

Douglas Jeffries sentenced to 8 years, six months in fatal downtown Sudbury stabbing

The man who stabbed and killed Deion Faries on Oct. 14, 2020 in downtown Sudbury pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Thursday. Douglas Jeffries pleaded guilty to the downgraded charge on Feb. 17. Jeffries was originally charged with second-degree murder for killing Faries, who was 25. Superior Court Justice Alex Kurke sentenced Jeffries to eight years and six months, but with time served, he has six years and five months left. He was also given a lifetime weapons ban and was ordered to submit a sample of his DNA. Kurke agreed with a joint sentencing submission by both the Crown and defence lawyer Michael Haraschuk. This proposed sentence fits within the range given by the Court of Appeal of eight to 12 years for aggravated manslaughter, he said. “I wish you the best of luck going forward,” Kurke told Jeffries. “The way forward, I know, will be very difficult in many respects, but I encourage you to attempt to find a way to deal with that drug issue that besets you and get it under control.”

Read the full story here.

Municipal services will be impacted by Family Day

In advance of Family Day long weekend, the City of Greater Sudbury has issued a reminder that certain municipal operations will be affected. The city is offering reduced rates at pools, skill hills and arenas on Monday. More information can be found online at greatersudbury.ca/leisure. The following are how some other municipal operations will fare this weekend: GOVA Transit buses will follow a holiday service schedule on Family Day. Visit greatersudbury.ca/transit for the holiday transit schedule or phone 311. Garbage, recycling, and green cart collection are unaffected by the holiday. Landfills and the Recycling Centre will be open. The following municipal services will be closed for Family Day: Tom Davies Square, Citizen Service Centres and libraries, fitness centres and the Greater Sudbury Animal Shelter. 311 and Live Web Chat at 311.greatersudbury.ca will not be available on Monday, while people are still encouraged to phone 311 for urgent public works, animal control or COVID-19 enforcement services.

Wolves chew up Peterborough in 7-1 victory

The Sudbury Wovles took a big bite out of the Peterborough Petes on Thursday night, sending them packing with a 7-1 win. The Pack got out to an early start, scoring two goals in the first period. Jacob Holmes scored his first of two less than five minutes into the game. Fed on the powerplay by Evan Konyen and Liam Ross, the Wolves jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Then, with two minutes left in the period, Quentin Musty picked up his 12th of the season (Kocha Delic, Matthew Mania) and the Wolves were up 2-0. The Pack scored again early in the second to make it a 3-0 game. Delic and Musty fed Alex Pharand who picked up his second of the season. Holmes picked up his second of the game about seven minutes later on a pass by Dominik Jendek to put the Wolves up 4-0. Less than a minute later, the Pack would score again when Nolan Collins would score his first of the season off a pass from Ryan Smith, giving the home team a 5-0 lead. At the 7:50 mark of the final frame, Liam Ross potted another goal (his seventh of the season) making it a 6-0 game for the Wolves. Assists came from Holmes and Nick DeGrazia. Peterborough would finally get on the scoreboard about a minute later on a goal from Chase Stillman, but it would be too little, too late. Marc Boudreau would score one more time for the Wolves (assisted by Holmes and Collins) to make it a 7-1 game. The Wolves are now in eighth place in the OHL’s Eastern Conference with a record of 15-25-3-2, one spot ahead of Peterborough. Overall, the Pack is 17th in the OHL.

City to investigate adopting a living wage for some municipal jobs

The City of Greater Sudbury is looking at the implications of adopting a living wage for municipal employees, with staff preparing a report for city council consideration on May 17. “Really, this is about getting information so that we can have some concrete numbers to consider in May,” Ward 7 Coun. Mike Jakubo said during Tuesday night’s finance and administration committee meeting.  “There has been a lot of attention drawn to the living wage and I think we owe it to our whole city … to at least be able to consider this information and then perhaps, if it is the will of council at that time, to be able to make some concrete decisions.” Jakubo, who also serves as chair of the finance and administration committee, supported the motion, which was brought forward by Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh, who serves as vice-chair. Greater Sudbury isn’t alone in mulling a living wage, McIntosh said, with the Region of Waterloo also currently considering a living wage for its employees and contractors. It’s unclear how many municipal employees will see a pay bump as a result of a living wage, with this detail to be included in whatever report city administration comes up with for the May 17 finance and administration committee meeting. McIntosh said that there are 10 categories of jobs at the city that could be impacted, including but not limited to seasonal summer student positions. Since not all students are treated equally and can have their own financial challenges, she’s advocating for the inclusion of students.

Read the full story here.

No change in visitor restrictions at Sudbury hospital despite rule changes in Ontario

Regardless of the changes in restrictions in Ontario that take effect on February 17, there are still visitor restrictions in place at Sudbury's Health Sciences North (HSN) hospital. Jason Turnbull, the manager of communications at HSN, said no change was planned. "HSN’s visitor restrictions remain in place. One designated care partner is allowed and proof of vaccination is required," said Turnbull. "HSN continues to review its pandemic approach and associated policies around visitation with the safety of our patients and families, employees, medical staff, learners and volunteers top of mind," he added. Turnbull said HSN will continue to communicate any changes that would impact the experience of our patients and families as they are adopted and introduced. "It’s important to keep in mind that as of February 15, HSN had 44 COVID-19 positive patients in its care, nearly twice the peak of 2020 and 2021, which was 27," he said. 

Highs in the teens and snow in the forecast for the weekend

Heavy overnight snowfall is expected to lighten in the morning and then the skies are expected to clear. There is sun in the forecast for the day. The wind will be out of the northwest at 30 km/h but gusting as high as 70. The overnight temperature of -11 is expected to fall to -16 in the morning and then rise to the day’s high of -13. Coupled with the wind, expect wind chills of -27 in the morning and -21 in the afternoon. Tonight, clouds will roll in and periods of snow are expected. The overnight low is -19. On Sunday, expect more snow in the forecast, but significantly more mild temperatures. The daytime high is -3. For Sunday night, there is more snow in the forecast and a low of -16.

Current Weather

Mostly Cloudy

Mostly Cloudy

-2.6°C

Pressure
101.6 falling
Visibility
32.2 km
Dewpoint
-4.9 °C
Humidity
84%
Wind
SSW 12 km/h

Radar Satellite


Hourly Forecast

Today
9 AM
-2°C
Chance of flurries
Today
10 AM
-1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
11 AM
-1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
12 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
1 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
2 PM
1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
3 PM
1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
4 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
5 PM
0°C
Chance of flurries
Today
6 PM
-1°C
Chance of flurries
Today
7 PM
-2°C
Chance of flurries
Today
8 PM
-3°C
Chance of flurries

7 Day Forecast

Chance of flurries

Today

1 °C

Mainly cloudy with 60 percent chance of flurries. Wind southwest 30 km/h. High plus 1. Wind chill minus 9 this morning. UV index 3 or moderate.


Chance of flurries

Tonight

-9 °C

Cloudy. 30 percent chance of flurries early this evening. Wind southwest 20 km/h becoming light this evening. Low minus 9. Wind chill minus 7 this evening and minus 12 overnight.


Overcast

Friday

3 °C

Overcast. Wind up to 15 km/h. High plus 3. Wind chill minus 14 in the morning. UV index 1 or low.


Clear

Friday night

-6 °C

Clear. Low minus 6.


Chance of flurries

Saturday

4 °C

Cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries. High plus 4.


Chance of flurries

Saturday night

-4 °C

Cloudy with 30 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 4.


Sunny

Sunday

6 °C

Sunny. High 6.


Cloudy periods

Sunday night

-4 °C

Cloudy periods. Low minus 4.


Cloudy

Monday

4 °C

Cloudy. High plus 4.


Chance of flurries

Monday night

-2 °C

Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 2.


Chance of flurries

Tuesday

5 °C

Cloudy with 40 percent chance of flurries. High plus 5.


Chance of flurries

Tuesday night

-6 °C

Cloudy periods with 40 percent chance of flurries. Low minus 6.


Chance of flurries

Wednesday

5 °C

A mix of sun and cloud with 40 percent chance of flurries. High plus 5.


Yesterday

Low
0 °C
High
0 °C
Precipitation
0.3 mm

Normals

Low
-7.4 °C
High
2.9 °C
Average
-2.3 °C

Sunrise and Sunset

Sunrise
7:10 AM
Sunset
7:49 PM

Record Values

Type Year Value
Max 1993 15.3 C
Min 1959 -18.3 C
Rainfall 1977 34.3 mm
Snowfall 1971 11.7 cm
Precipitation 1977 34.3 mm
Snow On Ground 1959 99.0 cm

Based on Environment Canada data