Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day.
Man arrested for homicide in Spruce St. death
Greater Sudbury Police say they have arrested a 34-year-old man for homicide in connection with a woman’s death. Officers attended an address on Spruce Street in Sudbury at 6:43 a.m. Aug. 11. When officers arrived on scene, a deceased woman was located in the home. GSPS detectives have arrested a man, Hatinder Sharma, for homicide as a result of an investigation. Police extended condolences to the victim’s family and friends. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS (8477) or www.sudburycrimestoppers.com.
Bigger submits papers to run for re-election as mayor
Putting rumours to rest, Mayor Brian Bigger has finally filed his nomination papers to seek re-election as mayor with the City of Greater Sudbury on Friday. "Today, I submitted my nomination papers for re-election,” he said in a media release issued today through campaign manager Bob Montgomery. “Dedicated and proud to have served two terms as your Mayor and CEO, and previously, as the first Auditor General. Pledging to continue moving our city forward in a positive way, with strong and experienced leadership. “As autumn approaches, there will be much listening and discussion of future plans for our city. In the meantime, I remain dedicated to serving the people of Greater Sudbury in my official duties as your Mayor." Bigger first announced his re-election bid while answering a question during his State of the City address in September 2021, and reaffirmed his intention at the start of 2022. Although he has reaffirmed his commitment since that time, filing nomination papers with the city Friday makes it official. Learn more here.
Wong’s mayoral campaign centres on decorum, technology
The city’s seventh of eight mayoral candidates to register thus far only decided a few days ago she wanted to put her name forward to lead the City of Greater Sudbury. “I’ve had enough of dysfunctional city council,” Mila Wong told Sudbury.com during an interview at Bell Park on Friday, the day after she filed her nomination paperwork with the city. Wong was followed by Mayor Brian Bigger, who filed his paperwork the following day. “There’s so much squabbling and egos that are just bent on insulting each other, there’s just no dignity to the position,” she said. “When things are bogged down by sweating the small stuff you forget the reason why you were elected and what’s beneficial to the city.” A turning point was Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini’s response to a deputy fire chief who declined to let him use fire department equipment for a longtime volunteer’s funeral. Read the full story.
‘Poor condition’ Fielding Rd. makes Sudbury’s 2023 priority list
Road and other infrastructure work within the city’s main industrial neighbourhoods is poised to receive a stronger prioritization from the City of Greater Sudbury in future budget years. “We know that speed to market and being shovel-ready is pretty much the top priority for most investors who are looking at all different regions these days,” said Meredith Armstrong, the city’s director of economic development during this week’s finance and administration committee meeting. The Fielding Road project was punted to the top of the stack during last week’s meeting due to a motion by Ward 2 Coun. Michael Vagnini asking the city to prioritize it during 2023 budget deliberations. His motion calls on the city to prepare a business case “outlining the cost to reconstruct Fielding Road with a breakdown of the cost to include water and/or water and wastewater, for council’s consideration during the 2023 budget deliberation. This is a project the industrial property owners along Fielding Road have been long calling for. Learn more here.
Photos: BLM Sudbury holds first-ever ‘Culture Matrix’ festival
A brand-new event took place in downtown Sudbury Saturday. Black Lives Matter Sudbury held its first-ever arts festival, dubbed Culture Matrix Black Arts Festival. Festival co-ordinator and BLM Sudbury co-founder Ra’anaa Brown said the event is designed to “uplift and highlight” BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) artists, practitioners and facilitators in the Greater Sudbury community. “So we really wanted to look at folks, both locally and nationally, who are recognized for shifting the stigma and really changing the scene of what arts can be within the lands we now call Canada,” Brown said. The event began at noon outside on Durham Street, and featured free activities such as group yoga, a hip-hop healing session, a silk-screening workshop and a Niger dance class. Culture Matrix is being hosted in collaboration with next week's Up Here festival. Durham Street has already been partially closed as organizers prepare for Up Here, and Culture Matrix was able to use the space for their event. Up Here’s signature geodesic dome is already in place. While things seemed quiet at the beginning of the event early in the afternoon on Saturday, Brown said she expected attendance would pick up as the day went on, especially during the evening. Activities moved to the brand-new Place des arts building in downtown Sudbury Saturday evening, where there was ive music. Read the full story.
Photos: Sudburians celebrate Pakistan Independence Day
Sudbury’s Pakistani community gathered at the James Jerome Sports Complex Sunday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Pakistan’s independence. Independence Day is observed annually on August 14 in Pakistan, and commemorates the day when the largely Muslim country achieved independence from Britain and was declared a sovereign state in 1947. The Sudbury celebration featured speeches, the singing of Pakistan’s national anthem and patriotic songs, as well as the reading of a City of Greater Sudbury proclamation and the raising of Pakistan’s flag by Deputy Mayor Joscelyne Landry-Altmann. Naeem Ahmed shared a comprehensive history of Pakistan with the roughly 50 people gathered at the event. He said he felt this was important to do, as some people of Pakistani descent living in Sudbury - including his own son - have never even been to Pakistan. “It is important to keep yourself abreast with what Pakistan is now and how it came into being, and what the history was,” said Ahmed, who left Pakistan in 1994, and lived in Germany and the U.S. before coming to Canada 20 years ago. “You shouldn't forget your roots.” Read the full story on Sudbury.com's home page.
STC opens registrations for 2022-23 educational programming
Sudbury Theatre Centre has announced its 2022-23 season of educational programming. Registration is now open for the fall term of drama and musical theatre classes, which begins Saturday, Sept. 10. The nine-week term will culminate in a recital for invited family members showcasing the participants’ talents. Academy classes are led by skilled instructors with extensive teaching backgrounds. Students are exposed to a wide range of games, exercises and experiences that are tailored to any skill level. These educational programs contribute to each student’s emotional, intellectual and social development. Participation also helps to develop their self-confidence, problem-solving skills, and fosters creative and critical thinking. Read the full story.
Monday weather:
Monday it will be sunny in the morning and early in the afternoon then a mix of sun and cloud with 30 per cent chance of showers in the afternoon. High of 25 C. Humidex of 27 C. UV index 7 or high. Monday night will be partly cloudy. Thirty per cent chance of showers early in the evening. Low of 14 C.
