Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Defence for Case and Loyer go after accuser's credibility in final submissions:
Lawyers for David Case and Celine Loyer entered their final submissions on Friday, the last day of their trial on charges of sexual assault in connection to a 2011 incident involving a 19-year-old woman. Michael Haraschuk, representing Loyer, and Nicholas Xynnis, counsel for Case, tried to poke holes in the complainant's testimony, characterizing her testimony as unreliable. The now 28-year-old woman testified Monday she was sexually assaulted after she was invited to a barbecue at Case's home June 17, 2011. Assistant Crown Attorney Stephanie Baker said Friday the complainant was credible and her statements were consistent throughout the course of the trial. "During the course of her cross examination there were very little inconsistencies, but the core of the story remains the same," said Baker. "Ultimately she's very credible and the real issue here is the credibility of the evidence. The obvious issue is her lack of memory of the three to four hour time period (when she blacked out)." Baker said the woman recalled the events leading up to the alleged assault in incredibly specific detail. The same is true of the flashback she had of what happened that night. "She remembered fairly specific details about how she was positioned, about what the defendants were doing, about being assaulted, about the words that were being said," Baker told the court. "Memory is a complicated thing. We have to take a common sense approach. People can have repressed memories and have triggers that cause them to remember. Her flashbacks were vivid and she couldn't forget what had happened." Get the full story here.
Traveler’s report: Coronavirus concern evident at airports in Toronto, Denver:
Walk through Pearson Airport and you will see more passengers masked in a growing trend to feel secure and protected from this rapidly expanding infection. Amazon and other platforms are reporting they are selling out of facemasks. Worried travelers in the “D” or Domestic wing of Toronto International have donned white, blue, or green masks, but it seems more of a fashion statement than containment and control. In the Transborder zone the percentages are higher. In International, the dominant fashion accessory is the mask. Few though have securely positioned the masks to cover both the mouth and nasal passage. More often the mask is on the chin or hung by one strap over an ear. Full story can be found here.
138 Sudbury students were charged for vaping, smoking at school in 2019:
If you are the parent of a youth that vapes, be aware that if they do so on school property, they could be slapped with a hefty fine under the Smoke-Free Ontario Act or end up in court. It seems the popularity of vaping among youth — Health Canada said data from a recent survey showed 34 per cent of students in grades 7-12 had tried vaping, and 20 per cent had vaped in the last 30 days — is causing some problems for local school boards. Sudbury.com looked into the issue after being contacted by a parent of a Rainbow District School Board high school student who was recently caught vaping at school. The student received a three-day suspension, and will now also likely receive a fine for allegedly violating the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which is enforced by Public Health Sudbury & Districts. More on this story here.
Independent food-testing laboratory to open in Sudbury:
Food and beverage regulations in Canada are complex, and ever-changing. Registered dietitian Lucie Plante said that finding the right information can be especially challenging for new food producers in Northern Ontario. “When people are starting out, they don't know where to go and who to talk to,” she said. “We can help navigate the process with Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.” Plante is the lab manager and president of Capella Innovation, a new food-testing laboratory in Sudbury, which will open sometime late this winter. The lab specializes in food microbiology, nutrition labelling, and sensory evaluation. It comes equipped with state-of-the-art technology, purchased with the help of funding from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and private investment. Full story here.
We Will Rock You hits the stage in Sudbury:
The traveling musical celebrating the music of rock icons Queen hit the stage at Sudbury Arena on Jan. 30. "We Will Rock You" drew thousands of Sudburians to the downtown core for the stage show. It's really thanks to a man we can claim as one of our own that Sudburians are being treated to the touring show of “We Will Rock You”. JP Thibodeau, the production's director, was born in Sudbury, and spent most of his younger years in the Northern Ontario communities of Elliot Lake and Timmins. Although he lives in Calgary now, where he's the artistic director with StoryBook Theatre, Thibodeau said his parents live in Azilda and most of the rest of his family lives in the Greater Sudbury area too. Written by Ben Elton, it tells the story of a group of Bohemians who struggle to restore the free exchange of thought, fashion, and live music in a distant future where everyone dresses, thinks and acts the same. Musical instruments and composers are forbidden, and rock music is all but unknown. Check out photos from the show here.
A Night of Mismatches' raises $5K for the Human League:
It a night of mismatches on Dec. 27 when local business owner Connor LaRocque went head-to-head in the squared circle with none other than former UFC fighter Mitch Gagnon. Held at the Steelworkers Hall on Brady Street, 'A Night of Mismatches' drew 250 people to see local influencers and businesspeople square off for charity. The fundraiser was sponsored by LaRocque's marketing firm, SocialRise Inc. Comedian Shawn McLaren warmed up the crowd, before singer Dominica Frometa sung the national anthem. Ritchie Rich kept the evening flowing as the emcee. Celebrity judges were Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini, Sudbury Wolves owner Dario Zulich and Eastlink TV show Lace 'Em Up host Amanda Zurkowski. Paul Berthiaume served as referee. Halfway through the night, local band The Fortunate Losers kept the crowd warmed up. Ultimately, the fundraiser provided $5,000 dollars to The Human League Association, which offers programming for underprivileged youth in Greater Sudbury.
Dancing with the Easter Seals Stars: Event celebrates 10 years in 2020:
Dancing with the Easter Seals Stars returns for its 10th anniversary with a Battle Back Edition Feb. 28 at the Caruso Club. “The 2020 lineup of ‘Stars’ features an amazing group of past participants who are taking on this challenge and hitting the dance floor once again in our Battle Back Edition,” said Joanne Bowers, development officer for Easter Seals, in a press release. “They are generously donating their time and energy in an effort to improve the lives of children with physical disabilities in our community.” The evening, which is sponsored by Sudbury.com, begins with a cocktail hour, hors d'oeuvres, followed by a delicious dinner, musical entertainment and a live Dancing with Easter Seals Stars competition. True to the element of competition, celebrity judges, along with our guests, will assist in determining which dance team will be the “Stars” during this edition of the event. Last year's Dancing with Easter Seals Stars raised more than $80,000 for kids with physical disabilities. Find out who will be competing in this year's Dancing with the Easter Seals Stars here.
