Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Thursday morning.
Community left reeling after tragic incident in Coniston
Though the details are still scarce, the community of Coniston is left reeling after the deaths of Brian, Janet and Ashton Desormeaux in what Sudbury police have now ruled a murder-suicide. As the community mourns, those who knew the family are reaching out to honour their memories and ensure that those who are suffering have an outlet for their grief. Both Brian and Ashton Desormeaux were members of a local arm wrestling club, and they recently participated in the seventh annual Sudbury Arm Wrestling championship on Oct. 22. Organized by the elder Desormeaux, the tournament brought people from all over Northern Ontario to see the 85 competitors. A public memorial post on the club’s Facebook page about the family describes what they meant to the people who knew them, and the loss that is left behind. “It’s unfortunate times like this that seem to bring together people,” the post begins. “We gathered as an arm wrestling family last night to mourn the loss of Brian, Janet and Ashton Desormeaux. We all needed time to talk, reflect and share stories of arm wrestling about the Desormeaux’s.”
Federal offender sought on Canada-wide warrant
Police are on the lookout for federal offender Lascel Tyndale. He is described as being 23 years of age, standing 6-4, 196 lbs with black hair, possibly in cornrows, and black eyes. He is known to frequent the Toronto, Milton, Cambridge, Sudbury, Wikwemikong First Nation and Manitoulin Island area. The man is a federal offender wanted on a Canada-wide warrant as a result of breaching day parole, and assistance is sought by the Repeat Offender Parole Enforcement Squad. Tyndale is currently serving an two-year-eleventh-month sentence for Possession of a Prohibited/Restricted Firearm with Ammunition, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon Knowing Unauthorized, Possession of Schedule I/II Substance For The Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of Property Obtained by Crime Under $5000 and Fail To Comply with Order-At Large.
City proposes GOVA Transit service level reductions
Service level reductions have been proposed for GOVA Transit affecting service after 11 p.m. and a few seldom-used routes, for a total net cost savings of almost $1 million per year. Conventional GOVA Transit service currently operates seven days per week, between 6 a.m. and 12 a.m., with all final trips departing the Downtown Transit Hub by midnight. The proposed service level reduction would have the final bus depart downtown at 11 p.m. for an annual net cost savings of $736,000 when fully implemented. Approximately 80 people daily would be affected by this change (the city’s average system-wide ridership after 11 p.m.), and the change would reduce service by 10,800 transit hours annually. The current total daily ridership for conventional transit is 14,000 passengers between Monday and Friday, and approximately 9,000 and 7,000 riders on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The current service level includes 174,000 annual transit hours. This proposed service level reduction to 11 p.m. is included alongside several business cases city administration tabled this week for city council consideration.
Despite CUPE walkout, Sudbury schools to stay open Friday
All four school boards operating in the Greater Sudbury area say they’re planning to keep schools open Friday amid plans by a union representing 55,000 Ontario education workers to walk off the job. The workers such as early childhood educators, educational assistants and custodians represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees plan to strike Friday, despite looming legislation that would make it illegal. Several boards, including the Toronto District School Board, have said they will have to close schools because they can't operate safely without the CUPE-represented staff. National media reports that CUPE and the province are expected to return to mediated talks Wednesday morning, after CUPE presented its latest offer. The Ontario government has introduced legislation to impose a contract on the education workers and ban them from striking upon threat of steep fines.
Mayor-elect Paul Lefebvre appoints his chief of staff
Dawn Noel de Tilly has been named Mayor-elect Paul Lefebvre’s chief of staff. “I’m excited to be working with our new mayor to help move his plans for our city forward, while assisting council and supporting the delivery of our public services to the community,” Noel de Tilly said in a media release. Born and raised in Sudbury, Noel de Tilly is credited in the release as being a “skilled professional” with more than 30 years of administrative leadership skills and experience. Her background includes government relations, communications, media relations, public policy, as well as office management and administration. She is the former director of academic services at Huntington University and was a key member of former Sudbury Liberal MPP Rick Bartolucci’s constituency office for 13 years. “I am happy to welcome Ms. Noel de Tilly to this critical role,” Lefebvre said in the release.
Local stable sending two riders to prestigious horse show
After years of training, practice and hard work a couple of Sudbury girls will be competing in Canada's prestigious Royal Winter Fair Horse Show, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The two young riders, Adriana Whynott and Holly Heikkila, are both from the Foothills Farm rider training and equestrian education program in Chelmsford. Whynott with her horse Know How and Heikkila with her pony Leroy Brown will be competing in several events being held on Friday and Saturday, at Toronto's Exhibition Place, the home of the fair. In the past 100 years, "the Royal" has grown to become the largest indoor agricultural and equestrian event in the world, states the Royal Winter Fair website. "The Royal Horse Show is one of the world’s finest equestrian spectacles and attracts athletes from across the planet," the site states. Speaking with a hint of pride, Laurel Scott, Holly’s grandmother and the owner-operator of Foothill Farms, is pleased with the young riders’ progress. She said their efforts are paying off by the mere fact they have qualified to be part of the national event.
Cloudy but mild day in the forecast
Although it will be cloudy, it will be mild today. The forecast calls for cloudy skies and a high of 14. The skies should turn to a mix of sun and cloud in the afternoon. Fog patches should dissipate over the morning. The wind will be southwesterly at 20 km/h, gusting to 40. The UV index today is one, or low. Tonight, the skies will be clear and the temperature will dip to 10.
