Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your weekend.
After integrity commissioner scolding, Kirwan resigns from GSDC:
The drama around Greater Sudbury's economic development body has taken another twist, with Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan resigning several weeks after his conduct on the board was called into question. A Sept. 24 report by Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze criticized several social media posts by Kirwan, as well as his conduct at a meeting of the Greater Sudbury Development Corp. (GSDC). Swayze misidentified the meeting in his report, saying it was related to the Kingsway Entertainment District. In fact, it was a GSDC meeting at which he told a female board member who disagreed with him to “grow up.” “I made a mistake,” Swayze told city council Sept. 24, but added he was not wrong about the way Kirwan has responded to people who disagree with him. Councillors approved the reprimand of Kirwan that Swayze recommended, and at the Oct. 29 city council meeting, he will formally resign from the board. Full story here.
Out of the ashes: Church, nursery school rise again after devastating summer blaze:
Rev. Erin Todd of Grace United Church says the last couple of months have been the most challenging of her career. In July, the nearly 80-year-old Minnow Lake church burned down after being struck by lightning. It has been a stressful time for the congregation, although it emphasized that a church is the people, not the building. “They certainly don't train you for this in ministry school,” the church's minister said. “There's a lot of work when your church burns down.” The Minnow Lake/New Sudbury Co-operative Nursery School, which was located in the church, also lost its home when the church burned. It turns out both Grace United Church and the nursery school found a common temporary home — at nearby Minnow Lake Place. Church services are being held at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday in the city-owned facility's gym. The nursery school has set up in a classroom at Minnow Lake Place, which is a former school. Find the full story here.
Lefebvre said overnight break-in, thefts didn't faze his campaign team on election day:
There was some unwanted drama in Sudbury Liberal incumbent Paul Lefebvre's campaign office early on election day (Monday, Oct. 21) when computer equipment belonging to campaign volunteers was stolen. Early Monday morning, thieves broke into the campaign office, which is located at 450 Notre Dame Ave., Unit 105. Bargain hunters might know the unit better as the one right next door to the Pet Save Re'Tail' Thrift Store. “Our campaign office suffered a break-in in the wee hours of last night, probably between 1 and 2 a.m.,” Lefebvre's campaign manager Mike Whitehouse told Sudbury.com reporter Keira Ferguson during our live election night show Monday night. Lefebvre told Sudbury.com the theft did not affect the morale of his campaign team, who had things up and running again with an hour and a half “as if nothing had happened.” Staff Sgt. Daryl Adams did say that the forensics unit was planning to pull security video footage from nearby locations. Other than saying there haven't yet been any arrests in the case — at least to his knowledge — Adams didn't have any further information. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Don't be duped: SIU says scammers now making calls that appear to come from agency's toll-free number:
The Ontario Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is warning the public not to be duped by a scam involving fraudulent calls appearing to come from its toll-free number. The scammers are making fraudulent calls regarding an individual's social insurance number. The group has been using the Ontario Special Investigation Unit's (SIU) toll-free number, with calls appearing to come from 1-800-787-8529. Police said that in some cases, the recipient of the call has been told there is something wrong with their social insurance number and that if they don't continue with the call by pressing one or two, they will be charged or jailed. Ontario's SIU would like to remind the public that they do not contact individuals by phone for this type of personal information. Individuals who receive a call such as this are asked to contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre and, or Canada's Do Not Call List. Anyone with information regarding an SIU case is asked to contact police at 1-800-787-8529.
Braylon Rayson coming back for another year with the Five:
The Sudbury Five have announced that guard Braylon Rayson has re-signed with the team for the upcoming 2019-20 season. The Five made the announcement via social media Monday with a live video of head coach Logan Stutz visiting Rayson in his home state. The 24-year-old Dallas, Texas native went to Central Michigan University where he scored 1,888 points and made 271 3-pointers over four years. Rayson was a standout player and fan favourite in the Five’s inaugural season. He is the reigning MVP of the National Basketball League of Canada and set the NBLC record for most 3’s in a season last year with 165 while still shooting 36 per cent. With the Five last season, Rayson averaged 24.7 points per game and five assists per game.
Discover: Meet the Sudbury scientist who feeds minerals to microbes:
As part of Sudbury.com’s ongoing Discover Series, Dr. Mike Commito, Director of Applied Research & Innovation at Cambrian College, who is often referred to simply as Dr. Mike on campus, is sitting down with researchers and entrepreneurs in Sudbury to spotlight the innovative work they’re doing in our community and beyond. This week, Dr. Mike had the chance to catch up with Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk on the shores of Ramsey Lake at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre at Laurentian University. Dr. Mykytczuk is a microbiologist who studies how bacteria live and adapt to extreme environments. She holds an Industrial Research Chair in Biomining, Bioremediation and Science Communication at Laurentian University. Read the full story here.
Ontario seeks public feedback on expanding nurses' prescription powers:
The Ontario government is looking for public feedback on a proposal that would give registered nurses the power to prescribe certain medications including contraceptives, immunizations and smoking cessation drugs. Under the plan proposed by the College of Nurses of Ontario, which regulates the profession, nurses would also be permitted to prescribe drugs related to wound care and travel health. A spokeswoman for provincial Health Minister Christine Elliott said the change could improve convenience for patients and help free up physicians to do more complex work. In 2017, the previous Liberal government amended the law to allow registered nurses to prescribe some medications, but then tasked the college with researching and designing the necessary regulatory changes. The college said it spent two years consulting with the public, nurses and other stakeholders in the field to develop a plan. That feedback found nurse prescribing would lead to quicker access and shorter wait times for certain services, the college said in a statement.
Atkins: How to live where you want to live:
Michael Atkins, president, Northern Ontario Business explains in his latest column that there are many factors that contribute to sustainable communities. "You need good health care, excellent education, a reasonable tax base, acceptable infrastructure (from roads to internet service), some luck, and an economic reason for being. Sometimes you can inherit that raison d’être (say, nickel deposits, farmland or lobsters) and other times you have to manufacture it out of thin air (say, Silicon Valley or Waterford Crystal)," writes Atkins. "What makes the difference is intangible. What you must have is a “can-do” culture. Without it you are more or less doomed. A can-do culture is infectious." Check out Atkins' columbn here.
Wednesday weather:
More rain in the forecast for Wednesday. Showers throughout the day with winds gusting up to 40 km/h near noon. Today's high will get up to around 8. Mainly cloudy this evening with a 30 per cent chance of showers. Overnight low will be 1. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
