Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
GSPS school officer facing discreditable conduct, neglect of duty charges:
Another Greater Sudbury police officer will face a disciplinary hearing in May. Const. Nihad Hasanefendic is charged under the Police Services Act with one count of discreditable conduct and two counts of neglect of duty. His hearing date is scheduled for Thursday, May 9 at Tom Davies Square. Hasanefendic came to Canada from Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, as a child. A school resource officer for the GSPS who sports numerous visible tattoos, Hasanefendic was once very active on social media, tweeting from his account @cop_inked and posting to his Instagram @nihad_cop_inked almost daily. However, he hasn't posted to either of those accounts since late September 2018. Kaitlyn Dunn, spokesperson with GSPS, said as the matter is currently before the tribunal, and no details can be shared at this time. “As a result of concerns that were brought forward to the Chief of Police on Oct. 11, 2018, an internal investigation was launched into the conduct of Constable Nihad Hasanefendic,” GSPS said in an email. “The Greater Sudbury Police Service requested the assistance of the Ontario Provincial Police Professional Standards Bureau, who conducted a comprehensive investigation into the allegations. This matter is being treated as misconduct resulting in one count of discreditable conduct and two counts of neglect of duty contrary to the Police Services Act of Ontario.”
HSN board approves first balanced budget in three years:
The Board of Directors for Health Sciences North has approved their operating budget for 2019-2020. This is HSN’s first balanced budget in three years and marks the elimination of an $11.1 million deficit in 2017-2018. According the the hospital's website, the $512.1 million budget will advance HSN’s strategic plan to provide high quality health services, support learning and generate research that improves health outcomes for the people of Northeastern Ontario. “I am happy to report that HSN is in good financial health,” said Nicole Everest, Chair of the HSN Board of Directors. “With this stability, we can put financial resources into what matters most to Northerners as indicated with our new Strategic Plan.” The 2019-2020 budget includes investments aimed at helping HSN and HSNRI be patient and family focused, digitally enabled, and socially accountable, while supporting and developing its people and strengthening its academic and research impact - which are the five key goals outlined in the hospital's strategic plan that was unveiled on Feb. 5. Check out more budget highlights here.
Feds announce $4.2M for homeless strategy:
The federal government is changing the way it funds programs aimed at combating homelessness. Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre announced this week Greater Sudbury will receive $4.2 million over the next five years under the new Reaching Home Program, which came into effect April 1. The new program replaces 2011's Homeless Partnering Strategy, and represents a net increase in funding of $279,375 over the next five years to Greater Sudbury. Lefebvre announced the funds on behalf of Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development. The Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy aims to support cities in their efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness. The funding includes $2.2 million through the Designated Communities Stream and $870,000 through the Community Capacity and Innovation stream, both to Greater Sudbury, and a further $1.2 million to the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres to deliver programs to First Nations in Sudbury. More on this story can be found here.
Combined paper, online ballot in 2022 will cost $600K more:
While it's going to cost more, it looks like voters in Greater Sudbury will have a choice in the 2022 election: paper ballot or online. A report headed to city council April 9 says the combined option will add about $600,000 to election costs next time round. By comparison, the bid for the Internet only vote was about $300,000 in 2018, which would bring the cost of the election to about $900,000 in 2022. The combined option is the one staff is recommending, despite the higher costs. That's because a problem with the Internet provider in 2018 caused voting to slow to a crawl, forcing the election to be extended for a second day. Full story can be found here.
Daffodil Month Campaign launches today:
On April 4, the Canadian Cancer Society, Sudbury & District Unit will be holding their Daffodil Month Campaign launch at the Hampton Inn on Regent Street. Daffodil Month, held every April, is the Canadian Cancer Society's national fundraising campaign. Money raised through this campaign all the CCS to to continue their critical work in research, advocacy and support for Canadians living with cancer. Dr. Lacey Pitre will be speaking at Thursday's launch at 10 a.m. Dr. Pitre specializes in medical oncology and is actively involved in several clinical trials led by the Canadian Cancer Trials Group. Mayor Brian Bigger will also be in attendance to proclaim April as Daffodil Month in Sudbury. Be sure to check back with Sudbury.com for a full story later today.
Attention cinephiles! Indie cinema theatre promises thought-provoking flicks, and popcorn:
Here's some good news for local film lovers — Sudbury Indie Cinema Co-op's new theatre in the former École Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague School gymnasium is now fully up and running. The new cinema, located at 162 Mackenzie St., across from Sudbury Secondary School, first opened its doors for the Junction North International Documentary Film Festival at the end of February. Despite the space needing some finishing touches — it did close for a few days in March for more work to be done — it held 70 regular film screenings last month. The first screenings went ahead with patrons sitting on the bare wooden risers, as the chairs hadn't been delivered yet. But the seats were finally installed in mid-March, and the space now looks like a proper theatre, although the carpets and sound panels still need to be installed once they're delivered. Get the full story here.
Watch the Wolves and Five playoff games this Friday at Overtime:
SW Sports and Entertainment will be hosting a playoff watch party this Friday at Overtime Sports Bar and Grill. The party will begin at 5:30 p.m. with tip-off for the Five’s inaugural playoff game as they visit the St. John’s Edge. The Wolves will then begin their second round hunt at 7 p.m. as they visit the Ottawa 67’s. Fans are invited to come hang out with Howler, Rocky and the Five Dance Squad as they cheer on the Wolves and Five in Sudbury Playoff Madness. There will also be prizes and giveaways for lucky fans courtesy of the Sudbury Wolves, Sudbury Five and Overtime Sports Bar and Grill, including tickets to the upcoming home playoff games. Overtime will be providing special offers throughout the night including 2 for 1 wings. Fans are encouraged to bring non-perishable food donations for the Sudbury Food Bank.
The Pothole Reporter: See a hole, report a hole with Sudbury.com:
Pothole season is here and Sudbury.com has partnered with Fuel Media to create an easy and convenient way for you to report potholes to the City of Greater Sudbury, right from your cellphone. You can find the Pothole Reporter by visiting Pothole.Sudbury.com. There you can upload photos and descriptions of the pothole you found, and the app will produce a report that you can send along to Tom Davies Square. Let's help the city not miss any potholes this year. Check with Sudbury.com every week day to find out what our Pothole Crew is up to. Drive safely out there.
Thursday Weather:
Mainly sunny for Thursday with some chilly temperatures on the way. It's going to feel like -16 with the wind chill this morning, rising to a high of 1. Clear skies into the evening with some increasing cloudiness overnight. Low will drop to -5 tonight, feeling like -15 with the wind chill. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
