Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are stories to start your day on this Saturday morning.
City working to hire second deputy fire chief
The City of Greater Sudbury is in the process of hiring a second deputy fire chief, with an application deadline of Feb. 14 set. They’ve gone without a deputy chief since November 2021, when Richard Renaud vacated the position, but city Fire and Paramedic Services Chief Joseph Nicholls said “it was time” they finally filled the vacancy. “I've made the decision to go back to a two-deputy model so that we can have a deputy focusing on some important initiatives, such as our volunteers, volunteer training and things like that,” he said. “There's a huge amount of work to be done in the fire service.” While he contends an alternative staffing model wherein they did without a second deputy chief for the past year has worked overall, it created gaps that need addressing. Prior to his departure in November 2021, the city’s former deputy chief, Richard Renaud, oversaw the volunteer portfolio, fire prevention and public education efforts. Under the one-deputy chief model, Nicholls said too much pressure has been placed on Deputy Chief Jesse Oshell.
Deeper dive: Addressing local taxpayers’ budget priorities
With Greater Sudbury residents’ municipal priorities established, how does what the city has proposed stack up? Sudbury.com dug through the proposed 2023 budget document and recent public survey results to find out. We also connected with city Corporate Services General Manager Kevin Fowke and Growth and Infrastructure General Manager Tony Cecutti to make better sense of some of certain numbers that stick out. A public survey about city services was open from Nov. 1 to Dec. 6, 2022, during which time contributors filled out 872 copies. City services they determined important were, in order: winter maintenance (85 per cent); road maintenance and construction (85 per cent); drinking water, wastewater and stormwater (81 per cent); emergency Services (80 per cent), and; garbage and recycling (74 per cent). Reporter Tyler Clarke dove into the results with city officials to provide more context on how the priorities shake out.
OPP: Driver who struck school bus in January has died
The driver of a motor vehicle that struck a school bus on Highway 64 in the French River area Jan. 16 has succumbed to his injuries, the Nipissing West OPP has announced. Police have identified the deceased as Denis Lafrenière, 66, of Noelville. His obituary said he passed away on Jan. 30. The Nipissing West OPP responded to the collision in the French River area at 6:51 a.m. Jan. 16. None of the occupants of the school bus were injured, but the driver of the other involved vehicle was transported to hospital by Manitoulin-Sudbury Paramedic Services with life-threatening injuries, said the OPP report from last month.
Bold: Adventure365 donation means free rentals to high schools
A Sudbury outdoors adventure retailer has stepped up with donations of equipment rentals to 25 local secondary schools in the City of Greater Sudbury. The Adventure365 store is donating $25,000 altogether in rentals in a post-pandemic effort to get more young people involved in outdoors activities. "So basically, we donated $1,000 to each high school so that their students can come out and try, you know, fat bikes or cross country skiing or snowshoeing so they can come out as a class and try it," said Melissa Anderson, a member of the Adventure365 team. "We were involved with the first ever Sudbury high school mountain bike race this past fall, and it kind of stemmed from that," Anderson added. She said some of the students had never been on a mountain bike before, let alone be in a race. "And it was very inspiring to see these kids try something new. We have the capability of having a facility on site at Kivi Park to be able to offer a similar experience to more than just the ones who signed up for the bike race," she added.
Paper Kings take big bite out of Cubs
Solid goaltending from Jake Marois helped the Espanola Paper Kings to a big 7-2 win over the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League-leading Greater Sudbury Cubs on Feb. 2. Ranked in the top 10 of junior hockey teams in Canada, the Cubs have a commanding lead in the NOJHL with 72 points, three ahead of closest rival the Timmins Rock. The loss drops the Cubs’ record to 35-7-2-0 while the Paper Kings boosted theirs to 21-16-2-2. The Cubs are back in action on the road on Feb. 4, taking on the French River Rapids at Noelville Arena.
Missing M’Chigeeng woman may be in Sudbury
A missing woman from M’Chigeeng First Nation may be in Sudbury and police are seeking the public’s help to find her as there is concern for her well-being. On Feb. 1, UCCM Anishnaabe Police began an investigation into Josephine Corbiere’s whereabouts after receiving a missing person report. Corbiere was last seen Dec. 26. “A member of M’Chigeeng First Nation, she may be on Manitoulin Island or in the Sudbury area,” police report. She is described as standing 5-2, with a medium build, dark brown hair, brown eyes. She wears glasses. “Police are concerned for her well-being and are asking the public’s assistance to help in locating her.” Anyone with information regarding Corbiere’s whereabouts are asked to contact UCCM Police ((705) 377-7135) or OPP (1-888-310-1122) immediately. If you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit information online at CrimeStoppers.ca.
Forecast promises a break from the deep freeze
Expect periods of snow today with between 2 and 4 centimeters possible. Today’s high is -8. The wind will blow at 15 km/h, bring a -31 wind chill in the morning that will lessen to -13 for the afternoon. There is a risk of frostbite. For tonight, the skies will stay cloudy with a 60-per-cent chance of snow and a low of -8. For Sunday, expect cloudy skies and a 60-per-cent chance of flurries. The high should hit around -3. For Sunday night, more clouds and an overnight low of -12.
