Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
‘The right place to start is somewhere’: Greater Sudbury looks to provide warming shelters seven nights a week:
The city's finance and administration committee has directed staff to work towards opening the city's warming shelter spaces seven days a week, starting as soon as possible. Meeting Tuesday evening, a pair of members' motions were brought forward by a trio of city councillors: Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh, Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier and Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann. The motions are aimed at closing the gaps in services to the city's most vulnerable citizens. The first motion tabled Tuesday night directs city staff to work with existing service providers, including the YMCA and the Sudbury Action Centre for Youth (SACY) to expand the availability of warming shelter space to seven nights a week, effective as soon as possible. Under the current system, warming shelters in Greater Sudbury are only opened on nights when extreme cold alerts are issued — when the temperature hits -15 C. "As we're all aware, there's a lot of issues that have come to the surface over the past several months that have been exacerbated for a myriad of reasons, and we're responding to those as best we can," said Cormier. "By no means is this an ultimate solution. I know we as a community can and will do better as we go forward and identify the gaps and the needs and responding to those, but what this will do if supported is provide immediate relief for this upcoming season." Funding to keep the warming centres open on a seven-night-a-week basis would come from upper levels of government, with $175,000 coming from the existing Social Services Relief Fund Phase 2 - toward the youth warming shelter and temporary youth shelter beds. An additional $200,000 would come from the existing Provincial Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) and Federal Reaching Home funding initiative. Get the full story here.
Three more new cases of COVID-19 reported in Greater Sudbury:
Public Health Sudbury & Districts reported three new cases of COVID-19 in Greater Sudbury on Wednesday. With two cases reported over the weekend and another three reported on Nov. 3, Wednesday's report brings the city's total to eight new cases in the past four days. The total number of cases that have been confirmed in Greater Sudbury since March is 133. Two of the most recent cases have no known epidemiological link, while the third case was in close contact with another confirmed case. All three of the individuals who tested positive are self-isolating at this time. There are currently nine active cases of COVID-19 in the city, and 124 cases have been resolved.
Police arrest man accused of robbing Bancroft Rexall at gunpoint Sunday morning:
Greater Sudbury Police have arrested the man they believe to be responsible for robbing the Rexall pharmacy on Bancroft Drive at gunpoint Nov. 1. Police say they were notified of the robbery at 10 a.m. Sunday morning. They were told a man had entered the pharmacy, pulled out what was believed to be a handgun and demanded narcotics. The man fled the pharmacy with an unknown quantity of prescription drugs. A K9 track was conducted in the area, but it was later learned that the man left the store in a vehicle. The man was not located at the time of the track. Just before 1 p.m. Nov. 3, members of the Greater Sudbury Police Break, Enter and Robbery (BEAR) Unit located the suspect on Lasalle Boulevard and placed him under arrest. Shortly after the arrest, a criminal code search warrant was executed at the man’s residence where officers located narcotics, as well as illicit drugs including crack cocaine and cocaine. A 38-year-old man was charged with: Robbery with a Firearm, Disguise with Intent, Possession of a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose, Possession of a Firearm Contrary to Prohibition Order, Possession of a Schedule I Substance, Possession of a Schedule II Substance, Operation of a Vehicle While Prohibited. The man was held in police custody and attended bail court Nov. 4.
Who is that masked man? (video):
With the U.S. election still being hotly contested, it would seem Donald Trump, or a close facsimile thereof, was seen parading around Greater Sudbury early Wednesday morning. Readers sent Sudbury.com a few photos and a short video of someone dressed as Trump as he made his way around the South End of the city, riding in the back of a black convertible and waving as he went. The fake Trump even stopped in at Tim Hortons, posing with patrons at the same time. Check out the photos and video here.
Keeping Seniors Warm: ‘Grateful’ seniors get shopping trip at Giant Tiger:
For Sudburian Cindy McDonald, whose only source of income is the Ontario Disability Support Program, it can be a difficult choice sometimes between paying bills or being able to afford warm clothing. That’s why she was so appreciative to be a beneficiary of the Keeping Seniors Warm program, which provided about $150 to 100 seniors on Nov. 4 to purchase clothing at Giant Tiger. “It’s hard when you’re a senior and you live on Disability,” McDonald said. “I’m grateful, because on a fixed income, I couldn’t buy half of this stuff.” McDonald was shopping for sweaters and pants, “things to keep me warm over the winter,” she said, while looking through the racks at Giant Tiger. “This is a great program, and I wish it was able to help out even more seniors.” Brenda Legault, a volunteer with the Sudbury Teacher’s Alliance, accompanied McDonald around the store to help her shop. It was her second year volunteering with the Keeping Seniors Warm program. “It’s a fantastic thing, and it makes me feel really good,” Legault said. “It’s a great day to meet someone new and help them shop.” The number of seniors benefiting from the program this year is 100, double the number from last year, said May Michasiw, co-chair, Keeping Seniors Warm. Get the full story here.
Alban man fined more than $1K for failing to quarantine after Jamaica trip:
A 67-year-old man from Alban has been fined $1,255 for not abiding by the mandatory two-week quarantine after he came back to Canada from Jamaica on Nov. 1, said provincial police. Officers responded to a complaint on Nov. 3 of a possible breach of the Quarantine Act in French River. Police said the man returned from Jamaica on Nov. 1 but failed to comply with the 14-day quarantine. With the assistance of the Public Health Agency Canada (PHAC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), he was charged with failing to comply with conditions upon entering Canada under section 58 of the Quarantine Act. When individuals enter Canada from another country, they are ordered to quarantine for 14 days. A plan outlining the quarantine is first established with Canada Border Services. The OPP will support this process by conducting compliance checks. Individuals are reminded that while under quarantine order, there is no exception to leave the quarantine residence until the 14 days are complete.
Miss Vickie's chips recalled due to possible pieces of glass:
There’s a recall on a popular chip brand, Miss Vickie’s, due to the possible presence of glass. It affects both small and big bags of a number of flavours including ‘Applewood Smoked BBQ’, ‘Jalapeno, original recipe’, ‘Sea salt and malt vinegar’, and ‘Sweet Chili and Sour Cream’. If you have purchased one of the recalled products, it should be thrown out or returned to the location where you bought it. The affected products have been sold in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec, as well as through online sales. There has been one reported injury associated with the consumption of these products. Get the full list of products affected by this recall here.
Francophone Immigration Week: Ottawa was cold, but in Sudbury she found the warmth she was looking for:
Priscillia Mbemba smiles in front of an autumn sky, on the boardwalk of the largest lake in her new hometown. But just beneath that smile, just beneath the hope and joy that comes from starting something new — creating a life for yourself — is the deepest pain a mother can feel. For in January of 2020, just before she came to Canada from France, Mbemba embraced her husband and kissed her four children goodbye — not knowing when she might see them again. In an interview translated from her native French, Mbemba speaks of that bittersweet moment. “I knew they could not come with me because I had to first establish myself in Canada, find employment and housing – it was my husband’s and my choice. I cried when I said goodbye to my family because I didn’t know when I would see them again. It was painful – caught between sadness and joy.” And just after her arrival in Canada, a pandemic flares around the world. A lockdown — an even longer separation from her family — but also the sheer terror that comes from the fear of losing your family, and not being able to do a single thing about it. More on this story here.
Thursday Weather:
The warm fall weather will continue on Thursday. A mix of sun and cloud for today with the high reaching 10. Partly cloud skies overhead into the evening. The overnight low will hover near plus-2. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
