Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Tuesday morning.
Strike halts work on new long-term care home on Algonquin
A strike by members of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) in Ontario has halted construction work on the new Extendicare nursing home on Algonquin Road in Sudbury. The dispute involving about 45 members of Local 793 has halted scores of construction projects across the province with the IUOE at a standstill in negotiations with the agency bargaining on behalf of construction companies, the Construction Labour Relations Association of Ontario. The strike, which includes crane operators and heavy equipment operators, began on May 2. The strike is now into its third week. The new $62.3-million Extendicare long-term care project on Algonquin Road began in November 2020 and is planned to house more than 250 residents in single-occupancy rooms. A news release issued by Extendicare in 2020 said the plan was for opening the new facility was sometime in 2022.
Fire near Gogama prompts evacuation order
The Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry is reporting three new forest fires in the northeast region and 23 total active fires across the region. Of these active fires, Timmins 1 is now 1,467 hectares in size and is located 2 km southeast of Morin Village and half a km north of Barager's Lake, states a news release issued by the ministry. This fire is not under control. The ministry has issued an implementation order that requires the evacuation of the Shining Tree area, including Highway 560 from Meteor Lake Road east to Grassy Road; Nabakwasi Road; all activities within Churchill, Connaught, Miramichi, Asquith Townships; and parts of Garibaldi and Sheard Townships. The order took effect at 7 a.m. Monday morning. Highway 560 remains closed by Ontario Provincial Police at the junction of Highway 144, and at Elk Lake.
None of the Above candidates in Sudbury and Nickel Belt drop off
The deadline for provincial election candidates to register passed on Thursday, revealing the Sudbury and Nickel Belt electoral districts are both down previously anticipated candidates. None of the Above Direct Democracy Party candidates Bailey Burch-Belanger (Nickel Belt) and David Sylvestre (Sudbury) are not included in the final list. A party representative clarified to Sudbury.com that Burch-Belanger did not get registered, and Sylvestre ended up getting registered in Windsor. The None of the Above Party pledges to “give voters control of politicians and parties” by putting in place a direct democracy where voters determine all of the major decisions rather than politicians.
GSHC chipping away at a waitlist of almost 1,000 households
A 14-unit affordable housing complex for seniors on Sparks Street and the divesting of 31 scattered single-family dwellings highlight Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation’s recent work. The organization, which manages 1,829 rental units for the City of Greater Sudbury, hosted its annual general meeting at Tom Davies Square on May 10, during which they reported passing an independent audit with flying colours and continuing to inch forward on larger initiatives. One of these efforts is the divesting of single-family dwellings, which they started work on last year with the sale of 19 units and continued this year by bringing the total number of units sold to 31. The sale of these units has raised more than $10 million toward the organization’s capital reserves, city director of housing operations Barb Dubois told Sudbury.com after the meeting. This fund allows projects to be completed “without impacting the tax levy, which is our goal,” housing services manager Cindi Briscoe added.
Titans take first playoff game against Five
The first game of the first round of the NBLC playoffs didn’t get off to the start Sudbury was hoping for. The KW Titans were in town Sunday for the first game in the best of five series against Sudbury. And while the game was close, it was Kitchener that came out on top, 122-116. Braylon Rayson led the way points wise for Sudbury with 32, going 10-18, 7-10 from downtown and 5-5 on free throws. Dexter Williams Jr. put on an impressive performance, as well, picking up 26 points, 13 rebounds, seven assists and five steals. The first two quarters ended with KW up 69-56, but the action was pretty back and forth. “Braylon Rayson was a bright point for the Five entering the half, having 17 points to his name after shooting 5-9 from the field, and 3-5 from the three-point line in the first half of action,” the league said in a release. Rayson, Williams, and the Five will be looking to bounce back while KW has an opportunity to take both of their first two away games as game two takes place on May 17 in Sudbury.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Tech company nets $10K in prize funds for safety technology
A Kitchener-based tech company is taking home $10,000 for the idea behind its professional mapping system, which locates and maps electrical circuits. CircuitIQ earned the cash after winning the 2022 NORCAT Pitch event, which was held in person on May 12 in Sudbury. During the event, four companies pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges, which then evaluated each proposal before choosing a winner. CircuitIQ won $5,000 for the Judges' Choice Award, and an additional $5,000 as the People’s Choice Award winner, which was voted on by the audience.
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Don’t expected a heat wave today
Expect a cloudy day today with a 40-per-cent chance of showers in the morning, before clearing late in the afternoon. The wind will be out of the northwest today at 30 km/h, gusting to 50. The UV index is three, or moderate. Tonight, the temperature will drop to three under clear skies.
