Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Where Do They Stand? Mayoral candidates on expanded casino gambling in Greater Sudbury:
Voters want to know where the candidates stand on the issues and so does Sudbury.com. To that end, we’ve starting a new election feature: Where Do They Stand? We picked nine issues that mattered to us, and reached out to the mayoral candidates and invited them to give us their answers. Thursday's topic is one related to an issue that is dominating this election: the Kingsway Entertainment District project. Specifically, we asked about an element of that project: new, expanded gambling opportunities in Greater Sudbury at a casino that forms part of the KED. Everyone has chosen sides. Click here to find out exactly what the candidates think. Be sure to check back with Sudbury.com regularly for more on our 'Where Do They Stand?' series.
Election roundup for Oct. 4:
Ward 11 candidate Kevin Lalonde says, while he's concerned about all the spending on the big projects, he believes there are ways to move forward while scaling back the city's plans. “I would still today be willing to add $100 million to that tote board for the (Kingsway Entertainment District), especially knowing and understanding how the debt will be financed and repaid,” Lalonde wrote in a letter. “There are very little hurdles for the KED to face any more. Voting in a pro KED majority council assures this.” The next council has to focus on the Junction, he writes, the plan to build a new art gallery, library and convention centre downtown in the site of the current arena. Candidate Geoff McCausland has heard a great deal, he said, about people’s dissatisfaction dealing with city hall. He’s had his own bad customer service experiences at Tom Davies Square, too, the Ward 4 candidate said in a news release this week. “The reality right now is that it’s easy to get lost in the ‘red tape’ at city hall,” McCausland said. “I’ve experienced first-hand the frustration of doing the ‘Stairmaster’ at city hall, going floor-to-floor to various departments, and then waiting in line at Building Services to find out I actually need to be at Engineering.” Highlighting the importance of having good data and asking the right questions when it comes to planning policies and making decision, McCausland said other communities have ideas Greater Sudbury could use to improve the customer experience when it comes to dealing with Tom Davies Square: the One-Stop Shop. Ward 7 Coun. Frank Mazzuca Jr. says it's time to admit that Greater Sudbury is not working as it should. “All of us need to look beyond the ever-growing not-in-my-backyard-tribalism and admit that the amalgamation experiment is a failure,” Mazzuca writes. “We need to address the unpleasant reality that Greater Sudbury is in trouble and needs fixing.” He said city council has been spending money like “a teenager with their first credit card, spending freely with no regard for consequences. “For too long, Sudbury has lived the high life while only paying the monthly minimums,” he writes. “It’s time to make some changes. It’s time for the city to live within its means.” Get caught up on all your election news at Sudbury.com's election page.
Good news for chronic pain sufferers: an integrated chronic pain program is now available in Sudbury:
Integrated chronic pain programs are available in many larger cities within of the province. Health Sciences North was pleased to announce that Greater Sudbury now has one of its own. The Integrated Chronic Pain Program (ICPP) has officially opened at the Sudbury Outpatient Centre located at 865 Regent Street. “It’s like all the pieces have finally come together,” said Melissa Moore, Clinical Lead for the ICPP. “With this integrated approach, people will come here and meet with an entire team of clinicians who will develop a personalized care plan for the patient, which empowers them with education and techniques to self-manage their pain.” With a referral from a primary care provider (such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner), people living with chronic pain now have access to treatment and services at one location. A gym and several treatment rooms will address the physical aspects of chronic pain at the ICPP, and patients will have access to a pharmacist, physicians, nurses, a recreational therapist and an occupational therapist on-site. Full story can be found here.
Arrest made in child pornography investigation:
Greater Sudbury Police arrested and charged a man on Oct. 3 for accessing and possessing child pornography. In September of 2010 Brian Leslie Burton was convicted of several child pornography and child sex assault charges following an investigation by the RCMP in British Colombia. In July of 2018, the GSPS Cyber Crime Unit initiated an investigation concerning local computer devices being used to access and possess child pornography through the internet. On Oct. 3, members of the Cyber Crime and Tactical Units of the Greater Sudbury Police Service executed a child pornography search warrant at the residence of Brian Leslie Burton in Greater Sudbury. Numerous computer devices and computer storage devices were seized for forensic examination. As a result of this investigation, Brian Leslie Burton has been charged with the two counts of access child pornography, and three counts of possess child pornography. Burton was remanded into custody following an appearance in bail court on Oct. 4.
Police searching for suspects who used fake $100 bill at Tim Hortons:
Crime Stoppers and the Espanola OPP are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspects in relation to a fraud. At around 11:40 a.m. on Sept. 29, an unknown man and woman entered the Tim Hortons in McKerrow and used a counterfeit Canadian $100 bill to pay for their order. The woman distracted the cashier, while the man payed with the counterfeit money. The man is described as approximately 65 years of age, wearing a brown hat, green sweater, jeans and had breathing tubes to his nose with a small tank. The woman is described as approximately 30 years of age, wearing a grey and green shirt, jeans, and carrying a brown purse. If you have information about this crime, contact Greater Sudbury Police Services at 705-675-9171 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Successful test: Drone delivers medical supplies, groceries to James Bay coast:
A cargo drone successfully delivered medical supplies and groceries in remote Northern Ontario communities during test flights in September. Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) said the beyond-visual-line-of-sight test flights delivered supplies between the communities of Moosonee and Moose Factory “flawlessly.” The Vaughan-based company conducted several test flights, approved by Transport Canada and Nav Canada, in the Class E controlled airspace surrounding the Mooseonee airport between Sept. 17 and Sept. 28. DDC’s Sparrow X1000 drone, which is capable of carrying 10 pounds of payload, successfully delivered medical supplies, dry blood spots kits for HIV, Hepatitis C and general blood chemistry testing, as well as food, automotive parts and general parcels for its customers. The flights were conducted to and from Mooseonee and the island of Moose Factory. The company said no flight safety incidents occurred, and each mission was completed successfully.
Planners to discuss community readiness at Sudbury symposium:
Registered professional planners will gather at Laurentian University in Sudbury Oct. 11-12 to talk about community readiness during the 2018 symposium of the Ontario Professional Planners Institute (OPPI). The forum will provide planners with an opportunity to discuss how communities can address challenges to their growth associated with factors such as climate change, economic uncertainty, and more. Participants will have access to more than 60 interactive training sessions and mobile workshops, and each day will feature a keynote presentation.
STC offers Thanksgiving deal on 'The Ballad of Stompin' Tom' tickets:
If you're looking for something to do over the Thanksgiving weekend, Sudbury Theatre Centre has you covered. When you buy one ticket to a Thanksgiving weekend performance of “The Ballad of Stompin' Tom,” you get another ticket for only $1. This offer is only available for the following performances. Friday, Oct. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. To take advantage of this offer, phone the STC DiBrina box office at 705-674-8381, or visit STC at 170 Shaughnessy St. in Downtown Sudbury.
Wolves hope to keep the momentum rolling as they head out on the road:
The Sudbury Wolves will head out for a Thanksgiving road trip this weekend as they make stops in Niagara, Erie and Kitchener. They will be looking to build on their successful weekend following two come from behind wins on the weekend. They will made their first stop in Niagara on Thursday to face off against the IceDogs. The team heads across the border today to visit the Erie Otters at 7 p.m. before wrapping up the weekend on Sunday against the Kitchener Rangers at 4 p.m. Quinton Byfield and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen lead the way on the weekend, registering two game winning goals and two wins respectively. The Wolves have seen some outstanding performances individually from players but collectively have played solid hockey out-shooting their opponents in almost every game this season.
Friday Weather:
Time to hunker down, Sudbury, there's rain in the forecast for the next five days. Friday will be mainly cloudy with periods of rain throughout. Today's high won't even get into the double digits, sitting at 9. Mainly cloudy into the evening with a low of around 2. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
