Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Tuesday morning.
Health Sciences North receives ‘historic’ $10M private donation
In what is likely the first big step in the multi-million dollar capital expansion of Northern Ontario's largest hospital, Health Sciences North (HSN) in Sudbury revealed today that the Fielding and Purdue family has donated $10 million to the Northern Cancer Foundation. The private donation was billed as “historic” by the hospital. In addition to that, the combined foundations at HSN revealed Monday that another $9 million has been accumulated and will be part of the overall contribution to that multi-year effort. The Fielding-Purdue donation was announced as part of a special event held at the hospital Monday morning, attended by hospital board members and administrators from across Northeastern Ontario. There was also a video-taped message from Premier Doug Ford expressing his thanks to the family for contributing the largest ever single donation to a Northern Ontario hospital.
CUPE education workers vote 96.5 per cent in favour of strike mandate
Ontario education workers such as early childhood educators, custodians and school administration staff have voted 96.5 per cent in favour of a strike, the Canadian Union of Public Employees announced Monday. Laura Walton, the president of CUPE's Ontario School Board Council of Unions, said the bargaining team can now go back to the table with a clear indication of the level of support members have for CUPE's proposals. "Tens of thousands of education workers across this province voted to send a message to the Ford government that education cuts are not acceptable, that more front-line education staff is urgently needed for students to succeed and it’s time for a meaningful wage increase for us, the lowest paid education workers who earn on average $39,000 a year," she said at a news conference Monday.
Iran-Sudbury community protests regime in home country
More than 100 Irainian-Sudburians and their supporters lined Paris Street across from Bell Park on Oct. 1 to protest what is being called the brutal murder of Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini. An act that protest organizers told Sudbury.com has become a movement for resistance against “the 44-year rule of the religious dictatorship regime, the Islamic Republic of Iran, that has no other means of survival but brutality, persecution, tyranny, murder and corruption.” Thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets in protest since the death last week of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was apprehended in Tehran and taken to a “re-education centre,” apparently for “not wearing her hijab properly.” Over the last week, demonstrations have taken place nationwide, including the capital Tehran, with protesters demanding an end to violence and discrimination against women as well as an end to compulsory wearing of the hijab.
Let’s eat! Sudbury’s amazing travelling fresh food market
Putting wide smiles on people’s faces — that is the kind of work Rylan Stolar wanted to fill his cup. Stolar runs the Good Food Market for Sudbury and its surrounding areas. The non-profit project by Better Beginnings Better Futures started a few years ago with the intention of providing fruits and vegetables at wholesale prices to underserviced areas. Each week, Stolar loads up the utility trailer with boxes of fresh carrots, lettuce, zucchini, watermelon and other staples and travels to eight different locations reaching Atikamashing First Nation, Sagamok and Copper Cliff to the west and Markstay to the east. Stolar also heads north to Levack and Onaping Falls. Here in the city limits, he visits O’Connor Park in the Flour Mill and Minnow Lake near the dog park. “Some of these communities like Levack and Onaping Falls have not had a grocery store in 20 years so when we arrive with fresh fruit and vegetables, they are lined up with their bags ready to go,” Stolar said.
Wolves take big bite out of Mississauga
Coming off a home opener Friday that saw the Sudbury Wolves fall by one goal (6-5) to the Barrie Colts, the Pack hit the road to take on Mississauga on Sunday and they gave the Steelheads a bit of lesson in hockey at the same time, winning the game 6-2. Sudbury heads out on a three-game road swing now. They visit the Windsor Spitfires on Thursday, travel to Flint to take on the Firebirds on Saturday, then head over to Saginaw for a Sunday match against the Spirit. With a record of 1-1, the Pack is sitting fifth in the OHL's Eastern Conference, second in the Central Division and seventh overall.
Skills Ontario holding ‘Day of the Girl’ event Oct. 11
Skills Ontario has opened registration for its annual International Day of the Girl Celebration. As a not-for-profit organization that provides skilled trade and tech career exploration programming to youth, Skills Ontario is delivering in-person and virtual events in recognition of this important day. The in-person conference, featuring keynote speaker Kendra Liinamaa, will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 11 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Science North. The virtual series of events, running Sept. 21 to Oct. 11, includes hands-on challenges, a VEX Code VR Tutorial & challenge, and a “sit down” with Paige Knowles, a skilled tradeswoman. Skills Ontario celebrates the International Day of the Girl to recognize and inspire girls across the province to build their skills, conquer boundaries, and explore their career pathways.
Nice October day in the forecast
Expect a lovely October day according to the forecast. A high of 20 is expected under sunny skies. Fog patches will dissipate in the morning. The UV index today is five, or moderate. Tonight, expect a few clouds, fog patches and a low of 10.
