Good morning, Nickel City! Here are stories to start your day
Sudbury health unit posts a warning about measles
The Sudbury health unit has issued a social media notice asking people to be aware of the possibility of measles.
This follows several media reports from Toronto Public Health on Friday that revealed the first reported case of measles in 2024 in that city was a baby that was hospitalized. Another case was reported last Tuesday in nearby Peel Public Health of a child with measles, who had recently been exposed to international travel.
The notice by Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD) asked if anyone had "cold-like symptoms and an unexplainable rash?"
The PHSD notice advised members of the public who are concerned to call on their primary health care provider to be assessed and to check on their personal immunization status.
The PHSD notice also advised local residents to "learn more" about vaccine preventable diseases by visiting the public health website that has specific information on measles.
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L'Arche celebrates Family Day with a glow party.
It was a family day glow party and fundraiser for more than 100 friends, family members and supporters of L'Arche Sudbury at the The Northbury Hotel and Conference Centre on Monday.
L'Arche is a Sudbury-based non-profit organization that provides homes and services to intellectually challenged adults and children.
Kassandra Bazinet, the development leader at L'Arche said the event was the first ever glow party for core members and friends of L'Arche.
A large conference room at the hotel was packed with L'Arche core members, assistants and volunteers who enjoyed games and activities amidst upbeat music and flashing lights.
"So this is really giving that inclusivity opportunity for young and old alike to to learn about people with intellectual disabilities and get to know them and everybody gets to spend time together and we're doing something fun. We're having a dance party. It's all glow in the dark. There's games, there's popcorn. Just a fun day. We want to celebrate family day because at L'Arche, we're a family," said Bazinet.
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Laurentian approves new five-year strategic plan
With no fanfare, Laurentian University’s board of governors approved the university’s 2024-2029 strategic plan, entitled “Laurentian’s Plan for Connection, Innovation, and Impact,” during their Feb. 16 meeting.
You can view the 22-page strategic plan document online here, through the board’s package materials.
Laurentian’s second governing body, its senate, already endorsed the strategic plan earlier in the week, at their Feb. 13 meeting.
The document was approved by the board of governors without comments from any members. Laurentian has also not yet issued a news release announcing the plan’s approval, with university communications staff saying this will come this week.
However, this was far from the first time the governing body had seen the document - the draft strategic plan was on the agenda for its December meeting.
Chris Loreto, managing principal of StrategyCorp, the consultant that helped Laurentian craft its strategic plan, said the document is similar to the document presented to the board just before the Christmas break, but “just looks a lot prettier now.”
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New parking gates installed at York Street lots
Gates are in the process of being installed at the two gravel parking lots on York Street, outside of Bell Park, to limit access during the winter months.
They’ve sparked curiosity online, particularly among the so-called Freedom Convoy movement, since the group meets at the parking lot every weekend to wave Canadian flags and signs.
Reporters connected with city Leisure Services director Jeff Pafford for clarification on why the gates are being installed.
The gates have been installed to limit access during the winter months, he explained, noting the city’s approved service level is to have one of the parking lots partially open in the winter.
The gates are similar to those installed throughout the municipality, including at the nearby parking lot outside of old St. Joseph Hospital building, which is similarly closed during the winter.
They will be opened in the spring, when service levels dictate the parking lots are both in service.
They will also be opened up for major events this weekend which require parking
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Ontario puts the cap on the LCBO anti-theft idea in the North
The plan to have customers show identification documents at half a dozen LCBO outlets in Northern Ontario has been shut down before it became a reality.
The Ontario government has told the Liquor Control Board of Ontario it cannot proceed with the plan called controlled entrances pilot project which was outlined roughly a week ago.
The idea was to have security officers greet customers at the front doors of six Northern Ontario LCBO outlets and request a valid photo identification containing the customers' name, date of birth, and a photo.
According to the information contained in a news release (now deleted from the LCBO.com website) the information would be shared with police if there was a safety or security incident with that customer while they were in the store.
The plan was to be implemented at LCBO stores in Kenora, in Sioux Lookout and at four stores in Thunder Bay. People who would not share such information would not be granted access to the liquor store, said the initial release
The news release said the concern was the problem of people entering LCBO stores and committing theft.
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Mines Minister calls for economic support for critical minerals
When it comes to critical minerals for the battery electric vehicle industry, Ontario Mines Minister George Pirie is telling people to stay away from Chinese-financed nickel, to stay away from cobalt from the Congo and to buy Canadian products.
Pirie said he is taking that same message to Washington, D.C. when he visits the U.S. in April.
He was in Sudbury on Thursday at the Workplace Safety North forum on the safety of battery electric vehicles in mining. Pirie spoke at Cambrian College on the importance of the supply chain of Canadian minerals for the manufacture of batteries.
"And we can secure the supply chain here in Ontario. Now we don't want the nickel from Indonesia. That nickel is powered by coal, by burning coal and the money comes from China. Why would you take nickel from Indonesia and build a battery in North America and say it's a green solution or that you're helping the climate? You're not," said Pirie.
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