Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are some stories to start your day.
GSPS seize $15K in drugs after erratic driving incident
A GSPS patrol officer was able to seize more than $15,000 in drugs after witnessing an aggressive driving incident in downtown Sudbury on June 19.
The officer began to strategically follow the vehicle in order to avoid a pursuit, as he believed that the driver would attempt to flee from police, states a GSPS press release.
“As the Officer approached the intersection of Patterson Street at College Street, he was waved down by two pedestrians who described the same vehicle, as it had almost struck them and another vehicle that was passing through the intersection,” reads the release.
The officer was approached by a community member who told him that the vehicle had been driven over the lawn, almost striking a residence before it struck a large manhole, causing damage to the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle was then seen fleeing the scene on foot.
On June 21, the officer executed a search warrant for the impounded vehicle, locating and seizing a loaded handgun, over 87 grams of cocaine, 17 grams of fentanyl, packaging material, a scale and additional drug trafficking items.
You can read the full story here.
Gallery maintains art ‘cannot be readily sold’ by Laurentian
The Art Gallery of Sudbury said it believes the art referred to in a settlement reached with Laurentian University last week “cannot readily be sold by Laurentian University, and that Laurentian University does not own it.”
Legal counsel for the art gallery and Laurentian reached the agreement June 17 after the matter was caught up in the university’s insolvency restructuring process.
It means, in part, that LU has the right to eventually sell the Bell Mansion, but AGS can continue to use it as its gallery space for three more years.
It also has several stipulations that deal with the art collection associated with the gallery.
You can find the whole story by clicking here.
Toronto man accused of human trafficking arrested in Sudbury
A 26-year-old Toronto man is facing human trafficking-related charges after being found in a Greater Sudbury hotel with two females, including one who is underage.
The OPP said in a press release that information received by the Provincial Human Trafficking Intelligence-led Joint Forces Strategy June 20 led to an investigation into allegations victims were being trafficked.
Earlier this week, an individual was located at Greater Sudbury hotel with two females, including one who is underage. The females were provided with aid through a victim services agency and are now in a place of safety.
You can find the full story here.
Solar system path unveiled at Science North
The shores of Ramsey Lake — or Bitimagamasing in Anishinaabemowin — are now home to the Sudbury Solar System Path.The Science North project launched June 21 is a scale model of the solar system that stretches almost two kilometres.
It features traditional Anishnaabe and Western knowledge in three different languages (English, French and Anishnaabe).
“It was really important that we started this project in the right way,” said Julie Moskalyk, Science Director of Science North told Sudbury.com in an interview.
“We wanted to share with our community, especially on national Indigenous peoples day, the good intent to do this project in the right way.”
You can read more about the Solar System path here.
'We're taking a stand' say striking Sudbury CN workers
CN Rail signals and communications workers across Canada continued their strike action on June 22, hoping to attract attention to the wages they say are insufficient, especially in light of their status as essential workers during the pandemic.
The striking workers, who maintain train crossings, signals and inspection equipment for CN Rail are members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), with about 750 members nationally. The union and CN Rail have been in negotiations since Oct. 2021.
Since the strike action began on Saturday, rotating picket lines have occurred around Greater Sudbury each day, and Thursday saw a dozen of the union’s 72 Sudbury members holding signs beside the rail crossing on Barrydowne Road in New Sudbury, and feeling the support from the din of cars honking in approval.
Sudbury Local 2052 representative, Jamie Taylor, told Sudbury.com the strike action is based on the need for fair wages in the face of rising inflation.
You can read the full story here.
Driver of third vehicle charged in Hwy. 144 fatal collision
A driver from a third vehicle involved in the June 19 fatal motor vehicle collision on Highway 144 between Dowling and Onaping Falls has been arrested.
On June 21, members from the Nipissing West (Sudbury) detachment of the OPP, with the assistance of the public, were able to identify a third vehicle involved in the collision.As a result of the investigation, a 25-year-old man from the City of Greater Sudbury was arrested and charged with:
- Dangerous operation, contrary to section 320.13(1) of the Criminal Code (CC)
- Failure to stop after accident, contrary to section 320.16(1) of the CC
The accused was released on an Undertaking and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice Aug. 24 in Sudbury.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a commercial motor vehicle and a passenger vehicle were involved in the collision, and that one of the vehicles caught fire.
The driver of the passenger vehicle, Jean Desjardins, 46, of Onaping, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The collision resulted in the highway being closed in both directions for approximately eight hours, according to an OPP media release.
You can read the rest of the story here.
Laurentian board replaces long-standing auditors
Laurentian University’s board of governors voted unanimously earlier this month to replace the university's long-standing auditors, KPMG, with the firm BDO.
The university continues to undergo restructuring under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (or CCAA) after declaring insolvency in the winter of 2021.
The decision to replace KPMG as the university’s auditors was made at a June 2 special meeting of Laurentian’s board of governors.
Although the decision was made in-camera, the June 2 motion passed by the board is included as part of the information package for the upcoming June 24 Laurentian board of governors meeting.
You can read the full story here.
