Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning.
GSPS presence at Val Caron high school yesterday following threat
Greater Sudbury Police Service made their presence known at l’École secondaire catholique l’Horizon in Val Caron on Tuesday after a threat against the school was discovered written on a bathroom wall on Monday. GSPS spokesperson Kaitlyn Dunn said a school resource officer (SRO) was assigned to spend the day at l’Horizon today “to support staff and students, as well as follow up on the ongoing investigation into the origin of the message.” “The officer who is present already has an existing rapport with students and staff through his role as a SRO,” Dunn said. “He is present not only for visibility and as part of the investigation but to also provide support and reassurance to students and staff.” Besides the SRO having a presence in the school, an unmarked police vehicle with two officers maintained a presence in the area of the school this morning, Dunn said. Meanwhile, police continue to investigate the threat to determine whether it is credible. GSPS said it will release more info on the investigation with there is more information available.
Five facing elimination after dropping Game Two to London
The Sudbury Five were back on home court on Monday night for Game Two of the Basketball Super League semi-finals against the London Lightning, hoping to rebound from a Game One loss. Much like Game 1, Game 2 was a defensive affair. Both teams came out looking to assert themselves on both ends of the court, but it was the Lightning that found themselves in the lead, ahead 31-30 after the first quarter of play, thanks in part to the play of Jermaine Haley, who scored 18 points in the game. Both teams played better defensively in the second quarter, holding each other to 19 points apiece and heading into the halftime break the London Lightning held a very slim lead over the Sudbury Five by a score of 50-49. The defensive efforts remained a top priority for both clubs coming out of the halftime break, with London winning the third quarter 26-22, and holding an overall lead of 76-71 with one quarter remaining in the basketball game. The Sudbury Five scored 21 points in the fourth and final quarter, including a game from Ja’Myrin Jackson, who scored 28 points in the game. Jackson’s strong performance wasn’t enough as London held on to win Game Two over the Sudbury Five by a score of 100-92.
Tibollo an advocate at Queens Park for transitional housing
The city’s ongoing push for provincial funding to operate transitional housing has an advocate within the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. “110 per cent,” Mental Health and Addictions Associate Minister Michael Tibollo affirmed to Sudbury.com earlier this week. On Monday, Tibollo delivered a wide-reaching presentation on his and his government’s goals during the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities conference at the Holiday Inn and Conference Centre. Speaking to municipal leaders from throughout Northern Ontario, he spoke against focusing too greatly on “Band-Aid solutions” to mental health and addictions, and asserted that the government is working on longer-term solutions. While important, he said withdrawal management and detox programs only go so far if there aren’t adequate follow-ups, without which people end up on a “merry-go-round” and re-enter the system.
Grand Nord school board, support staff ratify new deal
Conseil scolaire du Grand Nord and the Fédération des enseignantes et enseignants des écoles secondaires de l’Ontario (FEESO) have ratified a new four-year collective agreement. The ratified deal was announced May 6 and covers the period starting Sept. 1, 2022, and ending Aug. 31, 2026. FEESO represents clerical staff, technicians, educational assistants, lunch supervisors, student services personnel, para-professionals and casual staff. The chair of the Grand Nord school board said the deal means better salaries and working conditions for FEESO members. “The new settlement will certainly enable the board to maintain superior quality service that meets its’ students’ needs,” said Anne-Marie Gélineault, board chair, in a news release. “Students remain our priority and this agreement is coherent with our vision and our goals. Employees will benefit from an increase in salary and better working conditions.”
Pirie: For mining critical minerals, Ontario can do it right
Ontario Mines Minister George Pirie said this week securing a supply of critical minerals in Canada is being done for the right reasons, to improve the country's environmental status. Speaking Monday as part of the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities conference at the Holiday Inn and again at Dynamic Earth, Pirie commented on his recent trip to Washington, D.C., where he met with government representatives at the Energy Transition Metals Summit. Pirie was one of the featured speakers at that event. In recent months, Pirie has commented on the need to secure Ontario's — and all of Canada’s — supply of critical minerals and has spoken against the idea of accepting nickel from China, for example, since he said many minerals processed there are from environmentally unfriendly coal-fired refineries and smelters. Pirie said there is a valid environmental concern for having the mining and refining of critical minerals done in Canada. Securing critical minerals will also help Canadian auto producers in their move to produce more battery electric vehicles and reduce dependence on gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles.
Chris Hadfield inspiration for young company’s ‘One Small Step’
YES Theatre Young Company opens its acclaimed kids’ show, “One Small Step,” at Sudbury Theatre Centre May 11. The Canadian-born show, all about astronaut Chris Hadfield, has been in rehearsals since February, guided by YES Theatre mainstay April Perrin. Perrin starred in “Matilda the Musical” and was responsible for the choreography for the hit show “Jersey Boys.” “It’s been so thrilling working with the kids of the Young Company for the last three years,” she said. “This is an amazing and important investment in our community, in our youth and in the future of the arts in Sudbury. An interest and love for the arts starts young and this is our way of giving these kids training on their feet (which also happens to be extremely fun and excellent work).
