Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Sam Bruno’s smiling down on us today: PET scanner will be installed this month:
If you believe in angels, one very happy one is smiling down on Sudbury right now. The efforts of the man who led the drive to bring a positron emission tomography scanner to Sudbury are bearing fruit this week after Health Sciences North received 38 boxes containing parts of a sophisticated PET/CT scanner. Award-winning salesman Sam Bruno became the poster child for the need for a PET scanner in the Northeast after he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer. Bruno, who died at 55 in July 2010, had two PET scans during the course of his illness, both in southern Ontario. Bruno first fought for Ontarians to gain wider access to PET scans, which were at the time being used only in limited clinical trials. While travelling to Toronto regularly for cancer treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital, the indomitable Bruno began a movement to collect tens of thousands of names on a petition demanding a scanner for the Northeast. His family and friends, through the Sam Bruno PET Steering Committee formed after his death, launched a campaign that caught fire in the Northeast and went on to raise $4.3 million for the capital cost of the scanner. More on this story here.
Marcus Drive stabbing suspect's case put over until June 13:
The man accused of stabbing a mother and injuring an infant in a Marcus Drive parking lot earlier this week made his second appearance in bail court June 6. Alexander Stavropoulos appeared in court via video from the Sudbury Jail. The justice of the peace instructed Stavropoulos to connect with his lawyer, and put his case forward to June 13. Stavropoulos seemed to be wearing a bandage on his neck, as he was during his first court appearance, although a smaller one this time. During his first court appearance, the justice of the peace made a note on his file that he needed medical attention. He was also given a list of witnesses and victims he is ordered not to contact. The 25-year-old has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, two counts of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose and one count of breaching probation in connection to the June 3 incident.
Loved ones hold silent vigil for opioid victims outside Sudbury courthouse:
Four women stood outside Sudbury Courthouse this morning holding photos of their loved ones, loved ones who lost their lives when they overdosed on opioids. Inside the courthouse, suspected opioid dealer David Leon Stefanczuk was waiting to have his bail hearing, having been charged with manslaughter in connection with an overdose death in Sudbury in February, 2018. He is the first alleged dealer in Sudbury to be charged with manslaughter over the overdose of one of his alleged customers. The mothers want the city to know that the opioid crisis doesn't just affect drug users themselves, it affects entire families who are suffering along with their loved ones. Video from Thursday's vigil can be viewed here.
OPP reports a 35% increase in overdose deaths during the first quarter of 2019:
A startling statistic from the OPP today regarding opioid deaths. In a report titled "Opioids and Overdoses: Impact and Strategies," it highlights "the alarming increase of opioid overdoses and deaths across Ontario." The report is the work of the Opioids Working Group and contains information relating to OPP opioid seizures, overdoses, and relevant strategies. Some key information released includes that the OPP has identified a 35 per cent increase in overdose deaths during the first quarter of 2019, compared to the first quarter of 2018. Since September 2017, the OPP has administered naloxone on 79 occasions and saved 73 lives. OPP has administered the highest number of naloxone doses in March and April 2019. More on this stoy here.
Gentili: Not an emergency? Opioid deaths have flatlined life expectancy in Canada:
Sudbury.com managing editor Mark Gentili writes about the opioid crisis in his column this week in the wake of Statistics Canada's new report on life expectancy. Using data from 2016 to 2017, StatsCan showed that for the first time in 40 years, life expectancy in Canada has not increased. The reason: Opioid overdoses have killed so many young men, particularly in B.C., that it flatlined life expectancy across the entire country. You can read the full column here.
Decision to absolve city of responsibility in 2015 pedestrian death upheld:
There is no reason to overturn Greater Sudbury's aquittal on Ministry of Labour charges connected to a 2015 fatality at a job site, a Sudbury judge has ruled. In a decision released this week, Superior Court Justice John Poupore ruled he could find no fault with Ontario Court Justice Karen Lische's 2018 ruling absolving the city of responsibility in the death of Cecile Paquette. Paquette, 58, died Sept. 30, 2015, at the corner of Elgin and Beech streets when a grader operator ran her over, killing her. Greater Sudbury had pleaded not guilty to seven charges from the Ministry of Labour, which attempted to prove the corporation was the constructor and the employer of the project, and therefore culpable in Paquette's death.
Capreol resident wins big on Cash for Life ticket:
Juanita Rector of Capreol is celebrating after winning a top prize with Instant Cash For Life. Juanita accepted the lump sum payment of $675,000. Instant Cash For Life is available for $4 a play and the top prize is $1,000 a week for life. Odds of winning a prize are 1 in 3.93. The winning ticket was purchased at Opy’s Central Variety on Dennie Street in Capreol.
Sudbury boys join Florida Panthers coaching staff:
Two Sudbury natives will be joining the staff of the new head coach of the Florida Panthers. This week, the team announced Derek MacKenzie and Andrew Brunette will be assistants to Joel Quenneville when he takes the reins of the team this fall. MacKenzie, 37, retired last season because of a shoulder injury, following a long career with the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets), Columbus Blue Jackets and the Panthers. He was team captain in Florida for two years, an acted as an unofficial assistant coach last year. Brunette, 45, played with the Rayside-Balfour Canadians before being drafted by the OHL's Owen Sound Platers. He was drafted by the Washington Capitals in 1993, before being taken by the Nashville Predators in the 1998 expansion draft, scoring Nashville's first ever goal.
Friday Weather:
More beautiful summer-like weather as we close out the work week. Mainly sunny throughout the day with the high getting up to 23. A few clouds overhead this evening. Overnight low will be hovering around 11. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
