Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Update coming this month on high-tech downtown parking machines:
Plans to install pay-by-plate technology to allow users to buy time at downtown parking spots in downtown Sudbury using their computer, smart phone or nearby machines are moving forward. First discussed last July, a progress report headed to the finance and administration committee May 14 will update city councillors on the plan to implement the new technology sometime this summer. The city has an agreement with a vendor for the machines and councillors will hear details of the plan to roll out the new system. Both projects are on pace to be implemented over the course of the summer. More on this story here.
Oryst Sawchuk, architect who designed several Sudbury landmarks, has passed away:
Oryst Sawchuk, an architect and artist behind several buildings that have become Sudbury landmarks, passed away Thursday at Health Sciences North, following complications from a successful heart procedure at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto. He was 91. Born in Winnipeg, he lived in Sudbury most of his life. As senior partner of Sawchuk Peach Associates Architects Planners, his architectural contributions to the city include the Sudbury Transit Centre, the main fire hall in downtown Sudbury, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School, and the N’Swakamok Native Friendship Centre. He was most proud of his work as the designer of the original Grace Hartman Amphitheatre when Bell Park was extended in the mid-1960s. In 2001, he was chosen to design the national memorial to Canadians who fought for the republic in the Spanish Civil War. The monument is located on Green Island opposite Rideau Falls on the Rideau River in Ottawa. The family is making plans for a celebration of his life. Details will be made available later. More on this story here.
Extendicare employees rally for more support for frontline staff:
Extendicare Falconbridge employees took to the streets on Thursday for an information picket, calling on their parent company to better support frontline staff. The company made $31.7 million across all of its Extendicare locations in 2018, and frontline workers say that far too much of that money is going back into the pockets of executive staff and management, rather than bolstering frontline workers, which in turn is hurting residents. "At one time, seven, eight years ago, we were never short on frontline staff," said Shantel Cashmore, a PSW (Personal Support Worker) and laundry aid at Extendicare Falconbridge. "Now it's a daily occurrence that we're short staffed." The message from many PSWs who are caring for residents is that they are overworked, mentally and physically drained, and there is no support in sight. Cashmore says that on any given day, there should be at least 10 people working directly with residents, at a 1:8 ratio, where one PSW is working directly with eight residents. On most days at Extendicare Falconbridge, that number is closer to six people working, with a ratio of 1:14. Ontario's Long-Term Care Homes Act does not mandate a set ratio with respect to the maximum or minimum number of residents each PSW can have in their care. Find the full story here.
Const. Joe MacDonald's murderer applies for day parole:
Clinton Suzack, one of two men convicted in the 1993 murder of Sudbury Police Const. Joe MacDonald, has applied for day parole. Suzack, who MacDonald managed to shoot during the incident, was found guilty of first-degree murder along with accomplice Peter Pennett. Both were sentenced to 25 years in prison with no chance of parole. MacDonald, 29, was beaten, pistol whipped and shot to death on Oct. 7, 1993, in a crime that shocked the community and led to improved communications and equipment for police, among other changes. The hearing process is open and transparent, she said, and the public can apply to receive a full copy of the decision. However, for safety reasons, they don't release information about the date of the hearing ahead of time, unless someone applies to be at the hearing in person. Full story can be found here.
Tory cuts see 51 teacher redundancies at Rainbow board, up from 35 last year:
The teachers' union representing secondary school teachers at the Rainbow District School Board says 51 of its members received redundancy notices last week, meaning they could be without a job come September. James Clyke, president of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation (OSSTF) District 3, representing Rainbow board secondary school teachers, said there's been a 25 per cent jump in redundancy notices among his members. He said the board would normally issue redundancies to 35 teachers, but he said that has increased to 51 due to the Ford government's new policies.
Four West Nipissing residents charged after suspected fentanyl found in vehicle:
A traffic stop on Tuesday night didn't go so well for a group of West Nipissing residents. The vehicle the foursome were in was pulled over by the OPP in Markstay-Warren, and the stop turned into a drug investigation with the help of the North East Region Community Street Crime Unit. A search of the vehicle turned up suspected fentanyl with a street value of around $3,000. Police arrested a 31-year-old man, a 21-year-old woman, a 33-year-old man and a 22-year-old man. They face numerous charges including possession of a controlled substance and trafficking. While one person was held in custody, the others were released and given a court date of June 5.
Sudbury MPP, NDP leader pose with vulgar anti-Ford sign:
Ontario Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath apologized to Premier Doug Ford on Wednesday, after it emerged she and Sudbury MPP Jamie West posed for a picture this week featuring a sign with vulgar things to say about the the Tory leader. The photo was taken Tuesday at a rally at Queen's Park opposing the government's plans for health care. The main sign read “Ontario's new logo,” with an image of a pair of scissors. Below, however, was the hashtag #FuckFord. Horwath apologized to the premier in person Wednesday in the Ontario legislature, and she later told reporters that he accepted her apology. More on this story can be found here.
Friday Weather:
The spring weather returns today with temperatures getting back into the double digits. Cloudy periods this morning, clearing by the afternoon. Friday's high will get up to 11. Partly cloudy this evening with the overnight low dropping to zero. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
