Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
A 'whirlwind project': LU's new engineering facility opens its doors:
The “whirlwind” project that is the Cliff Fielding Research, Innovation and Engineering Building has officially opened its doors. It's a whirlwind project because Laurentian University had to meet some very stringent deadlines in order to bring the project to fruition. Point of fact: LU had only 18 days to put together a proposal for funding from the provincial and federal governments, and the 60,000-square-foot building was finished in two years, on time and on budget. The new, $30 million facility is home to a collaborative research hub for Laurentian research centres, an innovation and commercialization space, a state-of-the-art analytical facility for industry and scholars alike. Each space was an identified need in consultation with local industry in order to maximize interdisciplinary opportunities. The federal and provincial governments invested $27.4 million into the project while private donors provided additional funding. A $3-million investment by Lily Fielding and her family was recognized by the naming of the building, while a $1 million investment by the Perdue family was recognized by the naming of the university's new research and development centre housed within the facility. Find the full story and get a look at the new facility here.
United Way campaign launches today:
United Way Centraide North East Ontario will celebrate their official campaign launch on Sept. 11 at the Northern Water Sports Centre. The event will celebrate the organization's partnerships with the Sudbury Wolves, Sudbury Five, 211, Our City Playground Revitilization Project and many more. The United Way has worked with thousands of citizens and built partnerships in the city of Sudbury for more than 36 years to raise funds to help address and alleviate community needs. United Way will set their campaign goals for the coming year at Tuesday's event. Sudbury.com will bring you a full story from the campaign launch so be sure to check back with us.
Smile! Tim Hortons cookie campaign returns Sept. 17:
Health Sciences North Foundation is partnering with Tim Hortons once again for the annual Smile Cookie Campaign that runs Sept. 17 – 21. When you purchase a chocolate chunk Smile Cookie for just $1, 100 per cent of the proceeds from either of the two Tim Hortons located at HSN, and a portion of the proceeds from other locations in the region, goes toward supporting HSN’s priority needs. “We are excited to have the opportunity once again this year to raise the bar on the Smile Cookie Campaign with the HSN Foundation, with all proceeds supporting our local healthcare system," said Stewart Brown, district manager, HSN, Marek Hospitality Inc. "The HSN Foundation partners work with us side by side, decorating Smile Cookies and pre-selling Smile-A-Gram packaged cookies that they deliver! We hope to smash last year’s total of just over 5,000 cookies." Smile-A-Grams can be purchased at www.hsnfsmile.ca. You can also visit the Health Sciences North Foundation office, located next to the gift shop at the main site of HSN to purchase your Smile-A-Grams.
Ford fights back against ruling striking down council-cutting plan:
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday his Progressive Conservative government would invoke a rarely used notwithstanding clause in order to go ahead with its plan to cut the size of Toronto city council despite a court decision that ruled the move unconstitutional. The premier said the province would also appeal the court decision, which said the legislation — called the Better Local Government Act — was hurriedly enacted in the middle of a municipal election and interfered with the right to freedom of expression for both candidates and voters. "I believe the judge's decision is deeply, deeply concerning," Ford told a news conference. "The result is unacceptable to the people of Ontario." Ford said he'd be recalling the legislature this week to introduce legislation that will invoke the notwithstanding clause, which gives provincial legislatures or Parliament the ability, through the passage of a law, to override certain portions of the charter for a five-year term.
Police fishing for information related to theft:
The Greater Sudbury Police Service and Crime Stoppers are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying suspect(s) with relation to a theft. It is alleged that sometime between 6:41 p.m. and 6:52 p.m on June 25, unknown culprit(s) attended a school on Lasalle Boulevard, accessing the property from Cambrian Heights Drive. While on the property, the culprits attended an area where two large fish harvesting tubs were located. Two suspects exited the vehicle and loaded one of the tubs into the truck, then drove away on Lasalle Boulevard towards Frood Road. The value of the stolen property is $ 2,500. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or Greater Sudbury Police Services at 705-675-9171.
'Job action' possible by Sept. 26 if postal workers approve strike mandate:
Canadians will find out soon whether they'll face a possible strike later this month by mail carriers and plant workers at Canada Post. Those workers, who have increasingly delivered online orders to Canadians over the past few years, wrapped up voting yesterday on whether to give their union a strike mandate. If they voted in favour, there could be a strike or lockout by Sept. 26. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers says results of the vote will be released today or tomorrow. Collective agreements governing working conditions for both sets of workers expired in December 2017. Contract talks, aided by a third party conciliator, ramped up in early June and were moved to an undisclosed hotel in Ottawa. Canada Post says both sides are working hard to find common ground. But CUPW national president Mike Palecek warned early last month that union members should be prepared for "some type of job action" if the talks fail.
Sudburians honour memories of loved ones lost to suicide:
Monday, Sept. 10 was World Suicide Prevention Day across the globe, a day that aims to spread awareness and the message that suicide is preventable. The day was founded in 1960 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), and has grown to be observed in more than 70 countries around the world with educational and commemorative events, conferences and social media campaigns. Here in Sudbury, the North East Suicide Prevention Network hosted its second World Suicide Prevention Day event in Bell Park, where friends and families who have lost loved ones to suicide gathered to release butterflies to honour their memories. Find more on this story here.
Tuesday Weather:
Had enough of that cool weather yet? Good news, some warm and sunny days are on the way. Mainly sunny today with a few clouds and a high of 22. Some clouds overhead this evening with the low sitting at around 11. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
