Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your weekend.
Brace yourself, this is expected to be a tough year for flu:
The fall weather is upon us and as sure as the leaves change colour and the days get shorter, an annual visitor is just around the corner - Influenza. This year's flu virus is projected to pack a significant punch, as doctors and nurses in North America use Australia as a barometer for what to expect when the virus makes its way to our side of the globe. "In Australia they had a tough season and we're gearing up for a tough season," said Karly McGibbon, public health nurse at Public Health Sudbury and Districts. "The flu virus can mutate, so when the vaccines are put together it is a bit of an educated guess, we are anticipating a good match (with the vaccine) but we never know until the cases start to come in." On average, Public Health Sudbury and Districts gets about 200 lab-confirmed cases of the flu virus annually, though actual cases of the flu are higher than that number. "The only place in Sudbury that tests is the hospital, so we know that the majority of people don't need hospitalization," said McGibbon. "We can say that there are 200 people admitted to hospital or seen through the emergency department that required testing. We know that the majority of the people who do become ill with Influenza don't need to go to the hospital." There have been no confirmed cases of the flu in Greater Sudbury yet this flu season. More on this story here.
Much policy, few fireworks: Chamber quizzes Sudbury candidates on debt, taxes and electoral reform:
Continuing a trend this election season, the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce welcomed five candidates in the Oct. 21 federal election from the major parties to College Boreal on Wednesday. In the past, everyone registered to run was invited, and it led to an often chaotic, rambling event, not to mention occasional hate crime investigations involving one religious extremist with an affinity for running in every election to expose his views. But on Wednesday, the modest crowd at Boréal heard from Conservative Pierre St. Amant, Green Bill Crumplin, Liberal Paul Lefebvre, NDP candidate Beth Mairs and the PPC's Sean Paterson, five of the eight people running, all of whom are members of larger national parties. While lacking the fireworks the fringe candidates often brought, the format allowed candidates time to address business-related questions – some of which were asked more than once. Get the full story here.
Watch as we team up with Rogers to talk politics over beers with the candidates:
Sudbury.com and Rogers Radio teamed up this month for a new election video series we're calling Pints & Politics. The idea was simple: to get to know the candidates in a new way. Election interviews often come across very stiff and scripted as candidates struggle to portray a certain image. We wanted to meet the candidates in a neutral location, over beer, and hope that the person behind the candidate came to the fore. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't, but we had a lot of fun getting to know them. In a kind of good cop, bad cop routine, Sudbury.com editor Mark Gentili asked more serious, policy-driven questions, while Nick Liard, news director for 92.7 Rock and KiSS 105.3, asked lighter questions aimed at getting at the candidates' personalities. Find all the videos here.
Excited to cast your ballot? Advance polls are now open:
Your first chance to vote in the federal election is today (Friday, Oct. 11), as advance polls have opened to electors. To find your advance polling station, check your voter information card or use the Voter Information Service. Vote at your assigned polling station from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, October 11, Saturday, October 12, Sunday, October 13, Monday, October 14. The regular polls are open October 21, election day.
Zero-waste shopping fans rush to 'get their fill' at newly opened Nickel Refillery:
Making your dream a reality is never easy, but if you ask the owners of the newly opened Nickel Refillery, anything is possible when you have a motivated team and supportive community rallying behind you. On Oct. 5, co-owners Liz Anawati, Trista LeBlanc and Julie Rodriguez opened the doors to Northern Ontario's first zero-waste store, the Nickel Refillery. They were met with a crowd of supporters at the Regent Street shop over the course of the day, around 350 to be more specific, eager to “get their fill” of this eco-friendly store and the lifestyle it promotes. Full story here.
Pedophile Fr. George Epoch cut a wide swath of destruction on Manitoulin:
It was on April 23, 1990, according to the Kitchener-Waterloo Record, that the story of the late Father George Epoch began to unravel. (The crimes of Epoch, who died in 1986, along with Brother O'Meare and Brother Norman Hinton, are now at the centre of a pending class action lawsuit by his accusors in Wiikwemkoong on Manitoulin Island). The priest at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Cape Croker on the Bruce Peninsula reported the allegations he had heard from one of his parishioners about what Father Epoch had done to the complainant. Two years later, on August 30, 1992, Jesuit Provincial Superior Father Eric Maclean travelled to Cape Croker and offered an apology to the victims of Father Epoch. A further two years later, the Jesuit Fathers of Upper Canada published an institutional apology on Page 27 of The Manitoulin Expositor’s December 7, 1994 edition. “On behalf of the Jesuit Fathers of Upper Canada, I apologize to the primary victims of the late George Epoch, S.J., for the sexual abuse they suffered,” the notice stated. More on this story here.
Check out Sudbury.com's election page:
The federal election is less than two weeks away and Sudbury.com will be bringing you news releases and stories from all of the parties and candidates running on the 2019 federal election page. Be sure to check in at our election page daily for the news of the day and for a closer look at the candidates running in Sudbury and Nickel Belt.
