Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
In a pandemic year, Greater Sudbury is the North's fastest growing city by far:
Greater Sudbury is Northern Ontario's fastest-growing city, with $105.8 million in new construction and property renovations in 2020, according to annual assessment figures released by Municipal Property Assessment Corp. (MPAC). That's almost double the amount of the next fastest growing city on the list. The pandemic-year growth is a $477-million total injection to the tax bases of northern communities, and a $37-billion boost in property values across Ontario. All of the growth comes from new construction and renovations to existing properties, because MPAC did no reassessments on existing properties that didn't undergo renovations during the past year. Among the nine cities in Northern Ontario, Sudbury was followed by Thunder Bay with $57.8 million assessment growth, and Sault Ste. Marie at $31.3 million. Find out how the other Northern Ontario cities stacked up here.
City searching for a 'Plan B' as Centre de Santé will no longer offer warming services come Jan. 1:
For the third time in as many meetings, a member's motion brought forward by Ward 11 Coun. Bill Leduc was left on the table with no decision from council. Leduc's motion proposes that the city provide a pair of construction trailers as a place where Sudbury's homeless population can warm up while they eat was first brought to the table by Leduc and Ward 5 Coun. Robert Kirwan on Nov. 10. Additionally, Leduc wants to the trailers to be more than just a warm spot to eat, but an access point for the city's most vulnerable citizens. The motion includes two trained social service workers on-site for nine hours a day at a cost of $18 an hour, or roughly $65,000 from Nov. 23 to April 30. Council pushed the motion back a second time during its Nov. 24 meeting, as discussions had been ongoing between city staff and the YMCA to provide a similar service at the ParkSide Centre where dozens of Sudbury's less fortunate could warm up while they eat their meals from the Elgin Street Mission. Currently, as many as 60 people access meal service at the Centre de Santé Communautaire du Grand Sudbury for breakfast on a daily basis, but that will be coming to a halt on Jan. 1 as the landlord of the building located at 19 Frood Rd. has raised some concerns. City staff was informed by CDS of that decision last week and have been working to find alternative solutions for when the location is no longer able to provide warming services for breakfast. Find the full story here.
Counterfeit drugs in Sudbury found to contain fentanyl:
Health Canada has confirmed that a counterfeit type of medication was found in Sudbury last summer that contained fentanyl. The highly dangerous opioid was put into pills made to look like prescription versions of oxycodone or Percocet, said a news release issued by the Sudbury Community Drug Strategy, which put out an alert this week. "This drug alert serves as an important reminder to our community that the illicit drug market remains toxic," said a statement from Public Health Sudbury and District. The statement said using anyone using pills of unknown origin runs the risk of ingesting what is regarded as a highly dangerous substance. "If you use oxycodone or Percocet that was not prescribed to you, be advised that pills could contain fentanyl." The statement expanded on the specific dangers of the illicit drug. "Fentanyl is a powerful opioid, even a small amount can cause an overdose or be fatal. It has no taste or smell and cannot be seen. It comes in many forms: powder, pill, liquid, and blotter. It can be mixed with other substances. The use of these substances increases the risk of an overdose. Multiple doses of naloxone may be needed to temporarily reverse an overdose," said the news release. It was not readily apparent if the incidents involving counterfeit pills has had any impact on the number of opioid overdoses locally. More on this story here.
Police called to Hanmer area school over ‘possible gunshots’:
Greater Sudbury Police investigated reports of possible gunshots near St. Anne Catholic Elementary School in Hanmer on Thursday afternoon. “Officers on scene after reports of possible gunshots,” GSPS tweeted. Officers assisted staff and guardians with getting students on buses and into vehicles. Police indicated that there was no immediate threat to school. Officers shut down Capreol Road from Cote to MR84 during the investigation and the road was reopened at around 5:30 p.m.
Ontario reports record 2,432 new COVID cases Thursday:
Public Health Ontario reported 2,432 new cases of COVID-19 on Dec. 17. The province reported 23 deaths in Thursday's update including one person between 40 and 59 years old, five people between 60 and 79 years old, and 17 people over the age of 80. Of the deaths reported today, 13 were residents at a long-term care home. Since Wednesday's report, 91 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 and 42 COVID patients have been admitted to intensive care units. Get the full breakdown of Thursday's report here.
St. Andrew’s Place partners with Kuppajo to deliver hot turkey dinner to 105 tenants:
The St. Andrew’s Place board of directors hosts an annual hot turkey Christmas dinner for the seniors who call the building their home. But this year presented special challenges to keep everyone safe while continuing the popular tradition. The board partnered with Kuppajo Espresso Bar, a commercial tenant at St. Andrew’s Place. Owner Betty-Ann Serré followed all guidelines of Public Health Sudbury & Districts, including the use of masks and gloves, and physical distancing. Turkey dinners were packaged, placed on carts, and brought door-to-door to 105 apartments in the complex. The tenants expressed much appreciation for the hot meal. “The board is grateful to the Kuppajo staff and wishes all residential and commercial tenants a safe and healthy holiday season,” said a press release. “Merry Christmas from the St. Andrew’s Place Board of Directors!”
Then & Now: That time Thomas Edison came to Sudbury and other famous visitors:
In the fall of 1982, the city's unemployment rate was close to 30 per cent. Macleans contributor Ian Austen visited Sudbury to cover its economic woes for the national news magazine. Sudbury residents will get a giggle out of what he wrote. "While it might seem strange to southern outsiders, who often assume life in Sudbury is the next best thing to a stint in prison, many of the laid-off workers maintain a striking loyalty to their city." What do southerners know? Despite Sudbury's rough mining town reputation — a reputation that that has been almost impossible to shake — many celebrated people have visited the Nickel City. They are interested in the unique geology and rich mineral resources, and since the 1980s, the efforts to repair the environment destroyed by industry. The list of distinguished visitors, at least in the first part of the 20th century, is noteworthy because Sudbury was a small town in the middle of nowhere and accessible only by train. Regular commercial air service did not start until 1954. Highway 69 was not completed until 1960. More on the latest installment in our Then and Now series can be found here.
Friday Weather:
A mix of sun and cloud for Friday with chances of some flurries. Sunshine expected this morning, with increasing cloudiness by the afternoon. There's a 30 per cent chance of flurries and risk of freezing drizzle. Daytime high will be sitting at -7, feeling like -13 with the wind. Mostly cloudy into the evening with a chance of flurries or freezing drizzle. Overnight low will be steady at -6, warming up to -2 by morning. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
