Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your work week.
$10K in tickets handed out by Sudbury police, bylaw at Saturday rally, say protestors opposing COVID restrictions
Greater Sudbury Police officers and City of Greater Sudbury bylaw officers were on site at a Saturday “Freedom Rally” in front of Tom Davies Square, handing out tickets. Sudbury.com has reached out to Greater Sudbury Police and the City of Greater Sudbury for more information. The scene was captured in a live video posted by the local business “Mr. Greens Novelties,” a cannabis novelty boutique. At one point, a man taking part in the protest against COVID-19 restrictions told the woman taking the live video he had collected all of the tickets and tabulated the grand total, which added up to $10,000. Read more here.
Ontario walks back new pandemic police powers following widespread backlash
Ontario's government has walked back sweeping new police powers a day after they were announced. Solicitor General Sylvia Jones says officers will no longer have the right to stop pedestrians or drivers to ask why they are out or request their home address. Instead, she says, police will only be able to stop people who they have reason to believe are participating in an "organized public event or social gathering." Friday's announcement that police could arbitrarily stop residents prompted a swift and furious backlash from civil libertarians and public health experts alike. Many police services in the province said they would not randomly stop people, including Greater Sudbury Police. Read more here.
Franco-Ontarian writer so angry about Laurentian cuts, he's handing back 2002 honourary doctorate
In the beginning of a letter written to Laurentian University president Robert Haché on April 15, playwright, novelist, poet, screenwriter and actor Jean Marc Dalpé, three-time recipient of the Governor General’s Literary Award and pillar of Franco-ontarian culture, recalled the sunny day he received his honorary doctorate from Laurentian University in 2002. At the end of that letter, he renounced the doctorate he received. Read our full story.
High-risk exposure at Sudbury's Wacky Wings restaurant
Public Health Sudbury & Districts is advising the public of a potential high-risk of exposure to COVID-19 at a local restaurant. The advisory is for anyone who attended Wacky Wings restaurant (187 Shaughnessy St.) April 11 between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The health unit advises people to take actions that include self-isolating and getting a COVID-19 test. Read our full story for more information.
Veteran journalist and writer Mick Lowe has passed away at age 73
Award-winning Sudbury journalist and author Mick Lowe passed away peacefully at his home at Pioneer Manor Saturday morning. Lowe, who was 73, died as a result of complications from a fall he suffered about three weeks ago. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, and immigrated to Canada in 1970 as a Vietnam War draft dodger. Lowe’s journalism has appeared in a range of publications such as Maclean’s, Canadian Business, Canadian Lawyer, the Globe and Mail and on CBC Radio. Lowe is also a former editor of Northern Life, Sudbury.com’s predecessor publication, and the author of seven books (with another pending publication), as well as a former lecturer in Cambrian College’s now-defunct journalism program. He was well known for his coverage of issues such as health-care and local labour disputes. In 2008, Lowe, who is a father, stepfather, grandfather and step-grandfather, suffered a stroke that left him disabled. In his later years, he lived in Pioneer Manor due to care needs, but he never stopped writing. Read our full story, which includes tributes from family and friends.
Monday weather:
Monday will be sunny, with increasing cloudiness late in the morning, then periods of rain. Wind becoming south 20 km/h gusting to 40 in the morning. High of 11 C. UV index 4 or moderate. Overnight there will be periods of rain or snow, with a low of -4 C.
