Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Friday morning.
Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier has died
Longtime Ward 3 Coun. Gerry Montpellier has died. Mayor Paul Lefebvre announced the long-time city council member’s death at the start of Wednesday’s finance and administration committee of city council. “It is with great sadness that I share the news that our colleague Gerry Montpellier has passed away this afternoon,” Lefebvre said at the start of short and emotional remarks. “It is heartbreaking and unfathomable that we find ourselves mourning Gerry even as we continue to grieve the late councillor Michael Vagnini,” Lefebvre added. “Gerry was a devoted champion for his community and a loyal proponent of his constituents. He was a supportive presence at many events across the city, particularly those with his beloved classic cars. Gerry touched the lives of so many of us in Greater Sudbury, and we will miss him.” Following Lefebvre’s brief tribute and a moment of silence, the mayor tabled a motion to end the meeting out of respect, which received unanimous support. Lefebvre’s comments were reiterated in a media release issued shortly after the meeting closed. “On behalf of city council, I send my heartfelt condolences to Gerry’s wife, son, family and friends,” Lefebvre said in the media release. “Mourning the loss of Gerry while still grieving the recent passing of Michael Vagnini is an unprecedented and sorrowful experience for our Council, our employees and our community.” This has been a tragic month for Greater Sudbury city council. On Feb. 13, Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini was found deceased after being reported missing to police by his family who were worried about his health. That evening’s city council meeting was similarly cut short out of respect.
Man shot by police was armed with an ‘edged weapon’: SIU
The 40-year-old man shot by Greater Sudbury Police on Wednesday was armed with an edged weapon, according to the Special Investigations Unit’s first public report regarding the incident. The shooting took place at a Jean Street residence in Sudbury’s Donovan neighbourhood at approximately 3 p.m. The SIU’s initial report echoes much of what Greater Sudbury Police reported in a media release issued Wednesday afternoon, including that the man had barricaded himself in his residence and attempts by police to negotiate with him were unsuccessful. Between the SIU and GSPS media releases, it has been reported that police were dispatched to the residence in relation to an “armed, barricaded person” at approximately noon. A Feeney Warrant was applied for, which granted police entry to the residence, which the GSPS Emergency Response Unit did at approximately 3 p.m. The building’s exterior was seen with police tape stretched across it on Wednesday night, and the front door was off its hinges.
Serious injuries in Wednesday night’s Martindale-Regent crash
Greater Sudbury Police had just attempted to conduct a traffic stop when the motorist sped up and proceeded to crash at the intersection Martindale Road and Regent Street on Wednesday evening. The incident resulted in serious injuries to one of the motorists, who was taken to hospital, according to Greater Sudbury Police Service spokesperson Sarah Kaelas. Just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday, a Greater Sudbury Police officer was travelling northbound on Regent Street when he saw a motorist driving at a high rate of speed, according to the spokesperson. “The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, however, the motorist continued to accelerate,” Kaelas noted. Moments later, the vehicle was involved in a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Martindale Road and Regent Street. The intersection was closed for approximately six hours while police, Greater Sudbury Fire Services and Greater Sudbury Paramedic Services remained on scene. The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has invoked its mandate and will be investigating the incident.
Own a piece of local history: LU president’s home for sale for $899K
The historic six-bedroom John Street home traditionally occupied by Laurentian University’s presidents has now been listed for sale for $899,000. If you’d like to take a peek, an open house has been scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 25 from 2-4 p.m. Laurentian’s board of governors made the decision to sell the property a year ago. Given the length of time that had passed without the house being listed, Sudbury.com reached out to Laurentian for an update earlier this month, and learned the property’s listing was imminent. The university said earlier this month the process of the sale of the home was more complex than the average home. A request for proposal had to be issued to select a realtor, and various repairs were necessary to prepare the house for sale. Laurentian University interim president Sheila Embleton also addressed the issue during the Feb. 13 senate meeting. She said the property would have been listed earlier this month, but “there was a leak in the ceiling of the kitchen, or something like this. Anyway, it’s all fixed and it will be open soon.” The Laurentian president’s house at 179 John St. has been listed for sale with Didi Martin of Unreserved.
City seeking alternative plans for Hanmer twin pad project
Despite years of trying, the City of Greater Sudbury has yet to secure funding from senior levels of government for the Valley East Twin Pad Multipurpose Sports Complex. The Hanmer-based project was approved during 2022 budget deliberations, but was only OK’d to proceed if at least $20 million of its estimated $29.2-million cost was funded by the senior levels of government. This funding has not come in the months that followed, during which its estimated cost has ballooned to $40.2 million. During this week’s community and emergency services committee meeting of city council, Ward 6 Coun. René Lapierre tabled a successful motion which seeks alternative plans for the project. It requests a report from staff by June 2024, “with the intent of reducing the city’s financial obligations to realize the project.” The report will include such things as insights regarding recent multi-pad arena projects from other jurisdictions, alternate approaches to arena construction and public-private partnerships to community sports venues. After this week’s meeting, Lapierre told Sudbury.com the twin-pad arena is an important part of the city’s infrastructure renewal, with other arenas in The Valley several decades old.
Next-gen 911 coming to Greater Sudbury this year
A “monumental change” is coming to Greater Sudbury’s 911 system, with the long talked-about introduction of next-generation 911 finally coming to fruition. So described Greater Sudbury Police Service communications and information technician Nathan Dokis, who announced a Q3 2024 launch during Wednesday’s police board meeting. Infrastructure for the new 911 system is currently being installed through a series of phases anticipated to conclude by the third-quarter of the year, when it’s slated to be online. “We’re getting very, very close to our cutover,” Dokis told Sudbury.com of the big change, noting it’s the first major system-wide update in approximately 30 years. “If you look at what the technological landscape was 30 years ago, cell phones were not necessarily a thing, the ability to send pictures and things like that were not readily available,” he said, adding the new system will cover these bases.
Women & Girls: Liz Wood doesn’t let agoraphobia limit her success
Elizabeth (Liz) Wood lives with several severe mental illnesses, including agoraphobia. In her case, this means she’s only able to tolerate going a few blocks from her home. As vice-president and chief compliance officer, working remotely with CMI Financial Group, Wood is also a successful business executive. She wants to spread the message that “mental illness doesn't have a face, it doesn't have an image, it doesn't have a look, because it can be absolutely anyone or anything, and it doesn't have to inhibit you,” she said. “I always say I don't take no for an answer. If there's a barrier, if there's an obstacle, and you can't go through, go around it, forge a new path, build a bridge over it. “There's always a way to get through it, you know, surround yourself with people that are willing to take that journey with you and invest in you and support you in that.”
