Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Saturday morning.
North has the minerals BEVs need, challenge is meeting demand
As much as Ontario is ready to reap the rewards of the anticipated boom in battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the next 10 years and beyond, the move to go green is not as rosy as it might seem. That was revealed during the two-day BEV conference held at Science North in Sudbury to explore the future of the BEV industry. On the first day of the conference, it was revealed the province has a virtual treasure trove of all the right minerals — nickel, lithium, cobalt, and copper — right here in Northern Ontario. The conference also revealed the harsh reality that most of that supply is still in the ground. It hasn't been mined yet. Or, it hasn't been recycled yet. But big efforts are underway to get at those materials by both Vale and Glencore, two of the leading mining companies represented in Sudbury. Adam MacMillan, the manager of Strategy and Strategic Prospects for Vale Base Metals told the Sudbury conference the demand for battery-related minerals is so great right now that Vale cannot do it alone. That's despite the fact that Vale is the largest integrated nickel operation in North America.
Finlandia turns 40: Seniors’ community founders had ‘sisu’
In its 40 years, Finlandia Village has grown from an idea among Greater Sudbury’s Finnish community to a 400-resident community with facilities spanning the housing continuum. On Thursday, the community came together to celebrate Founders Day at a hall in Finlandia Village’s expansive collection of buildings at 233 Fourth Ave. in the Minnow Lake neighbourhood. Three founding members, Marjatta Vainio, Raili Myllyharju and Irene Salmenmäki Pakkala, were among the event’s most cherished dignitaries, which also saw Finnish ambassador to Canada Roy Eriksson make his first visit to the community since taking on the role in 2019. When a group of volunteers dreamed up Finlandia Village more than 40 years ago, Myllyharju said that they never dreamed it would have gotten as big as it has.
BLM, LGBTQ+ are ‘nut bars’, Sudbury a ‘s***hole’, candidate says
Jason LaFace is angry about a lot of things — a point made abundantly clear in recent videos and written posts the Ontario Party candidate for Sudbury has posted to social media. According to LaFace, Black Lives Matter and LGBTQ+ community members are “nut bars.” He also uses these groups to exemplify extremists who “use a fake-demic to attack our kids. For years, you’ve been going after our kids with your public health unit.” The connection is unclear. Contrary to LaFace’s assertion, leading medical experts throughout the world agree that the global COVID-19 pandemic is real. The World Health Organization estimates the death toll at more than 6.2 million people. The local death toll is 149. LaFace, a central organizer of the Northern Ontario leg of the so-called Freedom Convoy to Ottawa earlier this year in opposition to COVID-related mandates, blamed Black Lives Matter activists for problems that arose in Ottawa when the convoy arrived.
Sudbury arrest in trafficking case involving youth under 16
A 54-year-old man has been charged with numerous offences following a human trafficking-related investigation involving a youth under the age of 16. Greater Sudbury Police said due to the sensitive nature of the incident and in order to protect the survivor’s identity, no further details will be provided. Police say they began the investigation May 25, and the next day, on May 26, GSPS executed a search warrant at an address in the Lockerby area. Involved in the search warrant were GSPS’ Integrated Crime Team and its Missing Persons Investigator from the Major Crime Section of its Criminal Investigation Division, assisted by members of its Emergency Response Unit.
Two Sudburians awarded for Totten Mine rescue efforts
Two Sudburians have been awarded the Mining Safety Leadership Medal from the Canadian Institute for Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM). The CIM awards were recently presented to Stephanie Bleker, Manager and engineer at Vale Totten Mine, and Shawn Rideout, Chief Mine Rescue Officer at Ontario Mine Rescue. CIM said the award was in recognition of the planning and execution for the safe evacuation of 39 miners stranded in the Totten Mine last September. The Totten incident began after the shaft was damaged while trying to sling a scoop (LHD) bucket. It meant that 39 miners on shift were stranded underground and spent three days in refuge stations.
Faculty group: Fire senior Laurentian admin before CCAA ends
The Canadian Association of University Teachers is renewing its call for a change in senior administration at Laurentian University. The association, which is the voice of academic and professional staff at 125 universities and colleges across Canada, warns that “Laurentian University’s ability to resolve its financial woes is in jeopardy if the board of governors does not dismiss senior administrators responsible for the debacle that led to massive lay-offs at the university, and enormous damage to staff, students and the community of Sudbury.” “The academic community has no faith in the current administration,” said David Robinson, executive director of CAUT, in a recent letter to the Chair of Laurentian University’s Board of Governors. “Senior administrators…knowingly withheld financial information from the Laurentian University Faculty Association and the public.”
Read the full story on the Sudbury.com homepage.
Mixed bag of weather this weekend
Expect a sunny start to your Saturday and a high of 21. Increasing cloudiness is expected over the morning. A southwest wind at 20 km/h will kick up late in the afternoon. The UV index today is seven, or high. Tonight, the clouds will stick around the temperature will dip to 12. For Sunday, expect a cloudy day with a high of 20. For Sunday night, expect a low of 14 with a 60-per-cent chance of showers.
