Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
A World Trade Centre in Sudbury? Former mayor says project would be a 'game-changer':
The city's finance and administration committee agreed to spend up to $35,000 to study the possibility of bringing a World Trade Centre to Greater Sudbury. Meeting on Tuesday evening, the committee heard from World Trade Center Greater Sudbury (WTCGS) members, former mayor Marianne Matichuk and 2018 mayoral candidate Cody Cacciotti, who were requesting a $10-million contribution from the municipality to bring what Matichuk called "a game-changer" to the city. Funding requests also include $10 million in provincial support and $20 million from the federal government. Get the full story here.
Sudbury doctor facing child porn charges going to trial in June:
A Sudbury physician facing child pornography charges will have the charges against him tested when the case goes to trial in June. The trial for nephrologist Dr. Ian MacDonald will begin June 22-25, then resume again July 13-17 in Courtroom L. MacDonald was arrested May 15, 2019, by Greater Sudbury Police Service after staff at Health Sciences North contacted them about concerns regarding activity on a computer in the hospital, suspecting child pornography had been accessed on the device. The Internet Child Exploitation Unit and Computer Forensic Unit executed search warrants and a forensic investigation was conducted on the computer seized from MacDonald's personal office. He was charged with seven counts of accessing child pornography and two counts of possessing child pornography. He was released on bail on May 17. A court-ordered publication ban has been imposed on evidence in the case.
Ongoing dispute between teachers, province cancels popular student music festival:
A music festival popular with school bands has been cancelled due to the ongoing labour dispute between the province and teachers' unions. Carolyn Otto, director of the Northern Ontario Music Festival (NOMF), said the committee that organizes the festival is made up of teachers, retired teachers and community members. With teachers on the committee already engaged in job action including work-to-rule and rotating strikes, and with uncertainty about how job action may ramp up, the decision was made last month to cancel the festival. NOMF, which has been running for more than 40 years, and typically takes place in Sudbury yearly at the beginning of March, attracts bands from as far away as Timmins and Barrie. While many school bands take part in the festival, there's also participation from community bands. Participants are graded on their music performance, and an adjudicator holds a workshop with each band.
City inks $16M deal for eight-year snow-clearing contracts:
The city will lock in a trio of eight-year contracts for snowplowing services at a cost of just over $2.1 million per year, with options for two single-year extensions on each of the three contracts. Meeting Tuesday, the Finance and Administration committee voted unanimously in favour of the three contracts that will provide on-demand snow removal service for up to the next 10 years. The contract now goes to council for final approval. Pioneer Construction Inc. was awarded one of the contracts at an estimated annual cost of $980,000, while Belanger Construction Inc. was awarded two contracts at an estimated annual cost of $598,000 each. The city's current operational model for snow clearing is that 42 per cent of the city's roadway snowplowing routes are completed by city personnel, with the remaining 58 per cent cleared by contracted services. That remaining 58 per cent that is contracted out is broken down into three different areas around the city, hence the three separate contracts. Full story can be found here.
Sudbury sixth in Ontario when it comes to organ donor registration:
Out of 170 Ontario communities, Sudbury has the sixth highest organ donor registration rate at 56 per cent, to the end of September 2019 according to the latest organ donation stats from the Trillium Gift of Life Network. The provincial average is 34 per cent. North Bay has the highest donor registration rate at 58 per cent. It had 432 donations in 2019. This community has 13 active registration drives. Espanola sits second, one point back. Nipissing South ranks fifth and Parry Sound seventh. According to beadonor.ca of the more than 47,000 health cardholders in the city, over 27,000 are registered donors. More on this story here.
Five add Wake Forest alum to the roster:
The Sudbury Five made a roster addition on Feb. 10, adding 26-year-old, 6-7 guard Cornelius Hudson. The Dallas, Texas native played college basketball for Wake Forest University where he averaged 7.62 points per game, 3.19 rebounds per game and 1.19 assists per game. "Cornelius is a very talented player with a huge upside," said Sudbury Five head coach Logan Stutz. "He came here focused and ready to help the team. I'm excited get him in the mix." Hudson will see his first action as a member of the Five this weekend when the team heads on the road to visit the London Lightning on Thursday and Windsor Express on Monday. Five fans will then get their first chance to see Hudson in a Five uniform next Wednesday, Feb. 19 when the St. John's Edge visit the Sudbury Arena at 7:05 p.m.
Helpers: Cancer took her mother and inspired her to give back to those who survive it:
At age 25, Julia Nosich is living her dream. She has a career she loves and her volunteer life just happens to be a perfect fit. As a registered nurse, Nosich specializes in oncology and palliative care. “I wanted to work with cancer patients because it’s a time when they’re most vulnerable and need the most care,” she said, adding, “As patients go through treatment, it’s such a good feeling when they reach remission.” Nosich has worked in the Oncology Unit at Health Science North since 2017. “I found oncology particularly interesting because it’s continuous learning, and ground-breaking research and advancements in treatments are very encouraging. I’m inspired every day by how brave cancer patients are.” She also works on a casual basis at Maison McCulloch Hospice, part of a dedicated team of nurses committed to resident care. “It’s heartwarming to help palliative patients. And, it feels like home because we all care so deeply about them.” Full story here.
Thursday Weather:
Flurries to start the day, then clearing late this morning. It's going to be a chilly one out there today with the high sitting at -18, feeling like -28 with the wind. Clear skies overhead this evening with the low dipping down to -31. It's going to feel like -35 with the wind chill overnight. There is a risk of frostbite. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
