Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Best in the business: Chamber honours outstanding entrepreneurs and more:
Ten of Greater Sudbury’s outstanding entrepreneurs and businesses were celebrated Tuesday evening at the Bell Business Excellence Awards gala hosted by the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce. A crowd of more than 400 colleagues and friends attended the ceremony to recognize and celebrate the award finalists and recipients. The awards pay tribute to those hard working entrepreneurs and businesses whose achievements and contributions to the community distinguish them from their peers. The award winners are positive role models who have shown the desire to improve the community. Among the winners was Huntington University vice chancellor and president, Kevin McCormick, who was named Executive of the Year. Check out the full list of winners here.
Soccer dome could be ready in early 2019:
The soccer dome being named in honour of former city councillor Fabio Belli could be built as early as January 2019, members of the community services committee were told this week. Dino Moretta, co-chair of Fabio Belli Foundation, told councillors the group hopes it will be ready by then, admitting it's an “aggressive” timeline. "We've had discussions with various builders," Moretta said. "We now think it's possible." Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer, who now holds the council seat Belli held before his death in 2014, has made it a priority to help the project get off the ground. He was encouraged to hear of the ambitious building schedule. "I would like to see it up and running sooner rather than later," Sizer said. Indoor soccer players in Sudbury have been homeless since they lost access to the Exhibition Centre facility on Falconbridge Road a few years ago, forcing them to rely on gymnasiums with hard floors. Full story here.
Ramping up accessibility: Bitter Bill's now has its own ramp:
Katie Bellehumeur beamed as two classmates manoeuvred her wheelchair up the small wooden ramp into Bitter Bill's Ice Cream Parlour in Val Caron. She then enjoyed some ice cream with help from an educational assistant. The Grade 7 student at École élémentaire catholique Jean-Paul II was the first person to use the ramp at Bitter Bill's, built thanks to the non-profit community group Access2all. The group aims to eliminate barriers by providing businesses and stores with portable access ramps built through community collaboration. The ramps installed Tuesday at Bitter Bill's as well as at Chico's Bowl and Sports Lounge in Hanmer were constructed by instructors and students with Cambrian College's carpentry program. Materials were donated by Rona. They were painted by Jean-Paul II students, who also did an audit of businesses in the Valley area to see where ramps are needed.
It’s the poopiest time of the year: Here’s how to get rid of all that dog poop, and get some money from the city, too:
Now that spring is finally here, in all its glory, just about everyone is spending every minute they have outside. Patios call to us, decks demand our comfortable chairs, and the fresh spring air greets us with every breath we take. But let’s be honest with each other. There is a certain smell to spring, and though we try not to name it in certain company, we need to call a spade a spade. Spring smells like poop. But now, to be civilized. There is a way to get rid of it all, in an environmentally safe and convenient way, and even a chance to get a rebate from the City of Greater Sudbury for doing so. Dog Waste Digesters are an excellent and often inexpensive way to do away with doo-doo. It acts as a septic system of sorts, allowing the waste to liquefy and drain into the surrounding soil with no harm done. Not only it is a convenient way to get rid of dog waste, but it helps divert garbage from the landfill, something important to the environment, and to those who are already close to their bag limit.
Cops and community members mingle as Police Week kicks off:
Members of Greater Sudbury Police Services welcomed members of the community to the All Nations Church parking lot on May 14 in celebration of the kick-off of Police Week 2018. This year's theme for Police Week is Celebrating Policing and Community Partnerships and throughout the week, officers will be tipping their caps to their partners in the community that help keep the city safe. "We have a lot of different partnerships throughout the community that assist us in doing our job, whether it's Sudbury and Area Victim Services, Health Sciences North, Public Health Sudbury and Districts or the City of Greater Sudbury," said Insp. John Somerset. "It's really recognizing those partnerships and how they make the community a safer and healthier place."
Grand Family Council looks to candidates for answers to long-term care crisis:
The Grand Family Council will be meeting with candidates in both the Sudbury and Nickel Belt ridings for the upcoming provincial election. The council met with Sudbury candidates on May 15 from 7 - 9 p.m. at Finlandia Village, and will meet Nickel Belt candidates on May 24. A moderator will direct the meetings and there will be a question and answer period for all candidates who attend. The focus of both meetings is long-term care in Greater Sudbury, and the Grand Family Council is looking to their candidates to be fully aware of the crisis that exists in long-term care in the city. "There are currently seven long-term care facilities within the city of Greater Sudbury. These facilities provide essential health care services to approximately 1,650 residents," said a news release from the Grand Family Council. "When you factor in the immediate family members and support workers who assist these residents, you have a voter base in excess of 6,500 constituents."
Wednesday Weather:
A mix of sun and cloud today, but another warm one on tap. Wednesday's high will get up to 20. Partly cloudy this evening with some gusting winds and a low near 8. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
