Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
COVID-19 blamed in death of 80-year-old St. Joseph’s Villa resident:
Public Health Sudbury & Districts has confirmed a second death related to COVID-19. Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, chief medical officer of health for the region, made the announcement this afternoon. The woman, who was in her 80s, tested positive on April 21 for COVID-19 as part of the outbreak declared at St. Joseph’s Villa. Out of respect during this difficult time, the health unit said no further details will be provided. “On behalf of all of our staff, I want to extend our sincere condolences to the family,” said Jo-Anne Palkovits, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Centre (SJHC). “I also want to acknowledge the efforts of our staff, who themselves are devastated by this news. “We continue to follow all necessary policies and procedures to provide safe care to our residents. Our community needs to continue to be kind and supportive to one another during these difficult times, while also ensuring we follow the advice of public health officials.” Sutcliffe also extended condolences on behalf of Public Health Sudbury, while encouraging people to look out for one another and be safe.
Laurentian president discusses university's looming financial crisis:
This week, Laurentian University anounced that it was facing a looming financial crisis from a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes to its funding. Dr. Robert Haché said the situation puts the continued financial viability of the school at risk. Haché spoke live with Sudbury.com editor Mark Gentili on Friday about the university's finances, how it ended up here and what it is doing about it. You can watch that conversation here.
Theatre, motion picture arts programs cut by cash-strapped Thorneloe University:
Thorneloe University's theatre arts and motion picture arts programs will no longer operate after the end of this school year due to a financial crunch at the school. Financial pressures stem from funding decisions made by both the province and Laurentian University, said Thorneloe University president John Gibaut, speaking to Sudbury.com on Thursday after the program cuts were announced. Along with Huntington University and the University of Sudbury, Thorneloe University is a federated university with Laurentian University. Thorneloe is located on the Laurentian University campus, and its students are issued Laurentian degrees. Gibaut said Thorneloe has been operating in a deficit position since June of last year for the first time in its history. Despite several requests, Gibaut refused to disclose specific deficit numbers, but said they amounted to about a third of Thorneloe's overall budget.
Queen Elsa's back, lifting spirits at LTC homes with musical window visit:
Due to COVID-19, seniors living in long-term care and retirement homes haven't been able to visit their families. But a woman from Greater Sudbury with a big heart, and even bigger vocal range, is bringing smiles back to their faces. Singer songwriter Kassie Taylor has been busy spreading magic around the world since the video of her first performance as Queen Anna exploded online. The original video of Taylor singing to a little girl who was struggling with isolation has been viewed more than 19,000 times on Facebook. Since then, Taylor's message of hope has been spread far and wide. The video posted on Sudbury.com's YouTube channel has been viewed in Canada, the U.S. and has reached as far as India. Here in Sudbury, the Laurentian University communications student continues to help others with driveway performances as Queen Anna, as well as Anna's sister, Queen Elsa. Taylor has been visiting families throughout the city, sometimes booking 10 shows in one day, to deliver a little light and happiness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Watch the video here.
Hockey parents frustrated with lack of refunds after COVID-19 suspends training programs:
Frustration is mounting for a group of hockey parents in Greater Sudbury in their efforts to be refunded for deposits paid to a local athletic training centre for a program that was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Valley Outlaws Atom team was registered to play in RHP Training's 3-on-3 season over the spring and summer, which was scheduled to run from early April until the end of June. The team's $2,700 registration fee was paid upfront by team rep Adam Brouse on Jan. 15, well before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Canada and Greater Sudbury, suspending all sporting activities. "I've been reaching out to RHP since March, asking what do we do and it took them almost a month to get back to me," said Brouse. "When they did respond they said that they wouldn't be giving refunds but will be giving us a credit for a later date." RHP owner Marc Savard explained that the company's policy has not changed amid COVID-19 and that they have never given refunds, but have opted for credit. "What we've done is we've postponed our leagues, but we don't know when it's going to start," said Savard. "As of March 17 we were mandated to be shut down, we've been talking to local government officials, but we're in the dark here as well. We don't know what's going to happen, but our policy is on our website and nothing has changed, it's not due to COVID-19 that we changed our policies, it's always been like that." Get the full story here.
Health Sciences North helipad to undergo routine maitenance at month's end:
Health Sciences North will be shutting down their helipad for about a week at the end of May as its service elevator is scheduled for maintenance. Hospital helipads require regular maintenance and evaluation to ensure the safety of patients and staff. This year helipad elevator maintenance is scheduled for the end of May. "Like all other hospitals, when we are required to shut down service to the helipad as part of our regular maintenance activities we follow standard down time and safety procedures which require us to shuttle patients to and from the airport, which is a very safe place for helicopters to land," said HSN spokesperson Jason Turbull. "Given the timing of this maintenance occurring during the pandemic, we will be working with our contractors to expedite the maintenance to minimize the amount of downtime and have the work completed in less than a week." Maintenance will be performed on the service elevator that goes to the helipad in the North Tower. This maintenance is required in order for HSN to be compliant with current safety standards and regulations. Patient elevators are not impacted.
Mining supplier shutters Sudbury shop:
An international mining supplier has closed its Sudbury shop but might recall a portion of its workforce, according to a union official. DSI Underground Canada delivered the news to employees April 30 that its 100-member unionized workforce was being laid off, effectively immediately. "These are fairly good-paying jobs and it's sad to lose them," said Marcel Charron, president of Mine Mill Local 598/Unifor. Though not sure of the company's rationale or timing of the layoffs, Charron was told 21 employees will remain with DSI Canada after a May 1 conference call with DSI Canada senior management in Saskatoon. Management at the Lorne Street shop declined comment. More on this story here.
Love in a pandemic: Sudbury couple gets creative after COVID-19 cancels destination wedding:
Sudbury couple Ashton Labonte and Kyle Sasseville were supposed to get married April 20 in the Dominican Republic with about 80 friends and family watching. But like it has with so many aspects of life, the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with those plans, and they had to cancel their sunny destination wedding. Undeterred, the couple had a wedding of sorts April 20 anyway, although it was nothing like their more-elaborate original plans. They made their own wedding cake — the confection took them the better part of a day to create — ordered take out food from a local restaurant, put on their wedding dress and suit, and exchanged rings and vows in the backyard. “We just had a symbolic ceremony between just the two of us, where we just exchanged our vows, we exchanged our rings and we told each other basically why we wanted to be with each other for the rest of our lives,” Labonte said. Labonte's parents, who are self-isolating with the couple, were in attendance, as were Sasseville's parents — watching from a safe distance, thanks to the pandemic. Full story here.
