Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Thursday morning.
Trustee Stefano Presenza resigns from Sudbury Catholic board
For the second time this term, a trustee has resigned from the Sudbury Catholic District School Board. Stefano Presenza was elected as trustee for the Sudbury Catholic board in 2022 for the first time, representing Zone 4 (Wards 7 and 8 in Greater Sudbury, as well as the municipalities of St. Charles and Markstay-Warren). However, he submitted a letter of resignation to Sudbury Catholic board chair Michael Bellmore Nov. 23, a little more than a year into his four-year term. “Due to changes in personal and family circumstances, I feel I am no longer in a position to effectively fulfill the obligations of the role,” Presenza said in the letter. “I am glad to provide any assistance I can during the transition. I wish to thank my constituents for having previously selected me in the role, as well as the entire Sudbury Catholic School Board for their continued commitment to Catholic education.
Success: Sudbury’s Joey Niceforo on finding success as a solo
While it can appear that way, success doesn't happen overnight. Singer Joey Niceforo knows this very well. After some ups and downs, 20 years after making his professional debut with the original Canadian Tenors and classical crossover ensemble Destino, he is finally enjoying well-deserved success as a solo performer. "I have never been busier. And I could not be more thankful for all these opportunities, but it took a while," said the 44-year-old classically trained tenor. He performs on a regular basis with the Casa Loma Symphony Orchestra in Toronto and is looking forward to a tour in Florida where he will entertain snowbirds. Snowbirds "love to hear Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin standards," he said. And he enjoys singing them.
Struggling Sudbury Indie Cinema receives $60K from GSDC
It may have not gotten its entire ask, but financially struggling Sudbury Indie Cinema says the $60,000 bridging grant it received from the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation earlier this month gives the organization some breathing room. The local film co-op had asked for $200,000 over three years — $60,000 for the first year, $80,000 for the second and $60,000 for the third. “So we only got the first year, but it’s the full $60K that we had requested,” said Sudbury Independent Cinema Co-op board chair Ian Carlyle. He said this result, which he nonetheless calls “very positive,” was something the group had planned for, as they knew this was likely going to be the decision. “We’re happy with the decision,” Carlyle said. “It's good to have that financial backing from the municipal body like the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation.
Opioid crisis, child vaccine gap top of mind for new top doc
The opioid crisis and the pandemic-caused gap in childhood vaccination are top-of-mind issues for the region’s incoming medical officer of health. Public Health Sudbury & Districts announced Dec. 13 that Dr. Mustafa Hirji was selected to take over from Dr. Penny Sutcliffe as the new top doctor in the area. He is slated to become the new MOH in March, 2024, following Sutcliffe’s retirement after more than 20 years in the role. Hirji is the former associate medical officer of health for Niagara Region Public Health. He sat down with Sudbury.com earlier this week to discuss his new role and some of the priorities he has coming into the job. In particular, Hirji said the opioid crisis and the gap in childhood vaccinations caused by the pandemic were at the top of his list. In terms of the opioid crisis, he said doesn't have any easy answer to solving it, but he believes there are steps that could be taken, such as providing a safe supply of drugs and decriminalizing certain drugs, that could lead to better medical treatments for the people who are addicted.
Sudbury needs hundreds of blood, plasma donors over the holidays
The Greater Sudbury area has more than 800 blood and plasma donation appointments to fill over the Christmas holidays and Canadian Blood Services (CBS) is encouraging all those who can to book an appointment. “It is typically more challenging to collect plasma during the last two weeks of December, but that is when donations are especially needed. With the timing of statutory holidays, regular collections schedules are interrupted, so it is important that every available appointment is filled on the days when donation centres are open,” said CBS spokesperson Agnese Caruso in a news release. Across Canada, more than 31,000 blood and plasma donors are needed before January 7 to ensure patients in hospitals have the life essentials they depend on. “Over the next few weeks, every available appointment needs to be filled so that hospitals can receive the blood and blood products they need,” said Ron Vezina, vice-president of public affairs for Canadian Blood Services. “It’s something that can change lives.”
Infrastructure key in city’s approved 2024 tax levy jump of 5.9%
Greater Sudbury city council’s first multi-year budget process capped off this afternoon with a 5.9-per-cent tax levy increase approved for 2024, and a 7.3-per-cent increase slated for 2025. The annual increases average out to 6.6 per cent. The 2024 tax levy increase is Greater Sudbury’s highest since 2008 (when six per cent was recorded), and the 2025 jump is the greatest since 2004 (7.5 per cent). Although the 7.3-per-cent tax levy jump projected for 2025 looms over the city’s 20-year average annual increase of approximately four per cent, it’s unlikely to remain in place that high when 2025 hits. So described Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh, who chaired the city’s finance and administration committee which debated and passed the city’s 2024/25 operating budgets, and 2024-27 capital budgets this afternoon.
