Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Thursday morning.
Northern communities push for funding for Hope Air
Hope Air is not the sort of thing you'd need to think about if you lived in Toronto or some other large community in Southern Ontario. But if you live in Northern Ontario where it can sometimes be difficult to arrange or even afford medical travel, the reason for Hope Air becomes obvious. The organization is a national charity that provides essential travel and accommodation service to people who normally cannot afford non-urgent medical travel outside of their home community. This week in Ontario, friends and supporters will observe June 7 as Hope Air Day, said a news release. Spokesperson Amanda Gun-Munro said municipal leaders representing such communities as Sudbury, Timmins, Hearst, Sault Ste. Marie, and Marathon, will join Hope Air in advocating for critical funds and services by issuing their own proclamations.
Blaming province, Rainbow board pulls from reserves to balance budget
Trustees with the Rainbow District School Board are expressing concern about having to pull from the board’s reserves to balance the board’s 2024-2025 budget. In making a presentation to the board June 4, Rainbow board superintendent of business Adam Guilbeault said the board’s projected deficit for the 2024-2025 school year is $704,045. However, the board is able to balance its budget thanks to money it already had in the bank. With the use of the reserves, the board is projecting both revenues and expenses of around $249 million in its next financial year, which begins Aug. 31 and runs until Sept. 1 of next year. School boards are expected to present balanced budgets, but in the event that there is a projected deficit, “the use of reserve funds can be utilized limited to the lesser of the accumulated surplus balance, and one per cent of the board's operating revenue,” Guilbeault said.
Ministry of Labour investigating Glencore dust incident
Ontario's Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development said Tuesday that “one order and seven requirements” were issued to Glencore Canada as a result of the structural incident that occurred at the Glencore Smelter in Falconbridge at around 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday May 29. The labour ministry declined to provide any additional information on the nature of the orders and requirements. "The Ministry’s investigation is ongoing. As such, no further information can be provided at this time," said an email from the ministry in response to an inquiry from Sudbury.com. "It was reported that a structural event occurred at the smelter. No worker injuries were reported. A Ministry inspector, engineer and hygienist attended the scene. One order and seven requirements were issued to the employer, Glencore Canada," said the email from the ministry's communications office.
Rotary’s highest honour bestowed upon Mayor Paul Lefebvre
In what felt like a lifetime achievement award ceremony, the Rotary Club of Sudbury-Sunrisers gave Mayor Paul Lefebvre a Paul Harris Fellow recognition during a luncheon on Tuesday. “It’s humbling,” Mayor Paul Lefebvre told Sudbury.com following the event, adding that his only goal was to get 2,000 backpacks for low-income students for the next school year. Lefebvre joined Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall in heading the Providing Instruments for Excellence Education effort locally. Tuesday’s sold-out luncheon raised enough money to pay for 2,000 backpacks for local youths, filled with essential school supplies. During his speech, Lefebvre said he wasn’t expecting all of the recognition at the fundraiser luncheon. “I’m very uncomfortable right now, as you can imagine,” he said, after visibly squirming in his seat while his wife, Dr. Lyne Giroux, shared stories about their early days together in college and jokingly threatened to roast him. Lefebvre beamed as his three children, Tim, Henry, and Mylene, took to the stage to deliver brief speeches about the pride they have for him.
Bust by Sudbury sculptor pays tribute to early mining pioneer
The smiling face of an early Timmins mining pioneer now greets visitors to the open-pit lookout at Newmont's Hollinger Mine. A bronze bust of Benny Hollinger, created by Sudbury-based sculptor Tyler Fauvelle, has been erected at the lookout. Hollinger came to fame with his 1909 discovery of the massive gold deposit — one of the largest in Canadian mining history — that bears his name. “This relief pays tribute not only to the development that came of Benny's discovery, but to all the prospectors, miners and industry workers that followed,” Fauvelle said at a recent private unveiling of the sculpture. “Their spirit of hard work and dedication lives on to this day.”
Police enforcement on truckers results in dozens of charges
A three-day crackdown by provincial and municipal police has resulted in 15 commercial vehicles being pulled off the road and dozens of charges being laid throughout the Sudbury area, said a news release. Between May 29 and 31, members from the North East Region of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Greater Sudbury Police (GSPS) engaged in a three-day introduction to Commercial Motor Vehicles (CMV) enforcement training program in various locations in the City of Greater Sudbury, said the release. No less than 14 officers were involved in pulling over and inspecting 75 CMVs. Police said 15 of the trucks were pulled off the road. In addition police laid 66 provincial charges and 40 warnings were issued to drivers and businesses, said the release. "The OPP and GSPS acknowledges and commends the many CMV drivers who contribute to safe Ontario roads by following traffic laws, driving at safe speeds and distances while complying with inspection requirements, adhering to recording their hours and making sure loads are secure," said the release.
