Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Tuesday morning.
Police investigating threat written on school bathroom wall
Greater Sudbury Police officers were dispatched to l’École secondaire catholique l’Horizon in Val Caron this morning after students discovered a threat about a school shooting written on the bathroom wall. Police responded just before 9 a.m. on May 6. “Just prior to police being called, students located a message warning of a school shooting on Tuesday,” GSPS said in a news release. “The message was written in a bathroom at the school. No other details were included in the brief message. The students immediately notified administration who contacted police.” Police said officers are investigating to determine whether the threat is credible. “Officers are working with administration, staff and students to conduct a thorough investigation,” GSPS said. “The safety of students, staff and our community is our top priority.”
Ontario beefs up supply chain funding for critical minerals
Ontario Mines Minister George Pirie said today Ontario is committed to strengthening the province’s critical minerals strategy in the global race to ensure there is a stable supply chain for battery electric vehicles by spending millions in new science and technology to help do that. He said the effort is already underway in Sudbury to develop new ways to procure more critical minerals. Pirie said the Ontario government will be spending $15 million over the next three years to expand the Ontario Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF), which is a re-announcement of the funding increase that was announced as part of the Ontario budget earlier this year. Pirie was speaking to a group of mining supply and service representatives at Dynamic Earth on May 6. “This investment is another milestone for our government’s Critical Minerals Strategy and is about building a made-in-Ontario supply chain to meet the increasing global demand for critical minerals needed to manufacture technologies like batteries and electric vehicles,” said Pirie.
Province refuses to talk about police board appointments
Two of five Greater Sudbury Police Board members are provincially appointed, but the province refuses to clarify how they were selected. The board is mandated with providing civilian oversight to Greater Sudbury Police Service, and is thrust into the public spotlight each year when deciding on the annual police budget. Last year, they unanimously greenlit a 2024 budget of $78.59 million and a 2025 budget of $83.5 million, which includes the hiring of 26 more staff members and increases of a respective 8.09 per cent 6.2 per cent. Although city council retains the final yea or nay vote, city council members have limited power in altering the police budget. In the event both sides disagree and stick to their guns, the budget is sent to the Ontario Civilian Police Commission for a final decision out of the community’s hands. Locally, the police board holds the cards when it comes to how much funding the police receive, and where the funding goes. This is why it’s important to know how they were selected.
Let’s eat! Find ooey-gooey heaven at the Caramel Kitchen
How do you measure the perfect caramel apple? For Susan and Jim Tumback, who are in that very business, it all amounts to happy customers who come back for more and sweet sales. In 2018, the couple moved back to Sudbury from southern Ontario to be closer to aging parents. “In all honesty, I was looking for something to occupy myself,” Susan said. “First I came across a lady dipping strawberries online. Then I discovered a woman in Texas dipping apples. “I made a dozen traditional caramel apples in the fall of 2021 and put six on social media to sell to friends and family. All were sold in two seconds flat — I found my niche,” she said. The duo make the perfectly decorated and sweet tasting apples in their home in Wahnipitae, near Kukagami Road.
Crane cuts into the Downtown Sudbury skyline
In a sight much more common in the Greater Toronto Area, a crane was erected at the eastern edge of downtown Sudbury this week to assist in the construction of Project Manitou. Mayor Paul Lefebvre had a photo of the crane projected on a screen during Thursday’s annual State of the City address, which was held at the Caruso Club. “There’s a crane in our skyline, which I think is great,” he said to applause from the audience. Around the time the 347-unit residential building broke ground earlier this year, Lefebvre described the building as “a huge project” the city needs due to its vacancy rate hovering quite low, at around 1.7 per cent. The development is located on a hill beside where Brady Street curves east of Paris Street. With city hall nearby, blasting for the project has at times startled city council members and staff during recent meetings.
Sudbury Housing units for those with mobility issues available
The City of Greater Sudbury is advising that applications are being accepted for modified social housing units for people with mobility issues. Modified community housing units are available both for residents on the Housing Services centralized wait list and market renters. “The units can include adjustments such as lower counters, wider doors and universal showers,” the city said in a news release. “Community housing providers are offering modified units in the Downtown, Flour Mill, South End, Val Caron, Hanmer, Garson, Minnow Lake, Azilda, Lively and Chelmsford areas.” “Those applying for the first time can go to and follow the prompts to create a new account. A valid email address is required to create an account. You can pick up a paper copy of the application in the lobby or on the sixth floor of 199 Larch St.” All applications for modified units will be reviewed to ensure they are eligible to be included on the modified unit wait list.
