Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Cinéfest Sudbury starts this evening, runs until Sept. 22
Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival starts tonight with the gala film "The Song of Names." It's about a violin prodigy in the backdrop of the Second World War. Other gala films cover topics as diverse as the 1970s kidnapping of heiress Patricia Hearst (“American Woman”), a Chinese family visiting a dying grandmother who hasn't been told she's dying (“The Farewell”) and Judy Garland's later life (“Judy”). Several of this year's gala films are subtitled foreign movies, but the Friday, Sept. 20 gala — the Canadian film “The Rest of Us” — was filmed in neighbouring city North Bay. Read more about the festival online here.
NDP's Stef Paquette opens campaign office in Val Caron Saturday
Now that the 2019 federal election is officially underway, Nickel Belt NDP candidate Stef Paquette is opening his campaign office Saturday morning. The opening event takes place at 11 a.m. at the campaign office, located at 3020 Hwy. 69 North in Val Caron. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Support the care of animals in need at the Friends for Life! Walk
Honour your special pet, past or present, by participating in the Ontario SPCA Sudbury and District Animal Centre's Friends for Life! Walk Sunday, Sept. 15 to raise funds for animals in need. Sudbury is one of 12 communities across Ontario hosting a Friends for Life! Walk this September. Funds raised will support programs and services provided by Ontario SPCA and Humane Society animal centres across the province. Read more about the event here.
Meet some of Sudbury's bravest at the 2020 Superhero Calendar launch party
Some of the most brave (and most adorable) heroes in Greater Sudbury will be signing autographs at the 2020 Superhero Calendar launch party in support of the Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer on Sept. 15. The calendar features photos of local children who know first-hand what it means to take up the fight against cancer. A portion of the money raised will support Northern Ontario Families of Children with Cancer. The calendar launch party will take place at the Social House Kitchen & Bar, 830 Barrydowne Rd., from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Award-winning kids' performers Splash'N Boots back in Sudbury Sept. 15
Canadian children's performers Splash'N Boots — aka Nick Adams and Taes Leavitt — return to Greater Sudbury Sept. 15. Splash'N Boots will be performing two shows at Sudbury Theatre Centre Sunday. The first show runs at 10 a.m. and the second at 1 p.m. Each performance will be followed by a 30-minute "meet and greet" in Steve's Encore lounge at STC. Tickets cost $40 each. Buy tickets online at sudburytheatre.com. Learn more about the group here.
Deadline for KED decision unclear: LPAT
When the outgoing Liberal government brought in a new planning appeals regime in 2018, the new system was supposed to give local councils more deference, and a legislated timeline for decisions. The Local Planning Appeals Tribunal was designed to render rulings in less than a year for most cases, unlike the Ontario Municipal Board, which routinely took years to settle disputes. In the meantime, however, a new government was elected, and Doug Ford's Conservatives opted to change the planning rules again, passing legislation known as the More Homes, More Choice Act. So which rules will the KED appeal be following? And what is the deadline for a decision, considering the tribunal set a May 2020 date for a hearing – two years after the appeals were filed? Silvia Cheng, a spokesperson with the Ministry of the Attorney General, said in an email this week a deadline for a decision has not been determined.
GSPS investigating Flour Mill arson
Detectives with the Greater Sudbury Police Service were in the area of Murray and Leslie streets Friday morning, looking for information relating to arson that took place in the area Thursday. Around 10 a.m. on Sept. 12, GSPS received a call regarding a suspicious person seen exiting a residential building on Murray Street. It was later discovered that a fire had been started within one of the units. The unit sustained smoke and water damage as a result of the incident.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact GSPS at 705-675-9171. You may also leave tips with Sudbury Rainbow Crime Stoppers at 705-222-8477 (toll free, 800-222-8477) or online at SudburyCrimeStoppers.com.
It's the law: You can't deny dog guides access or deny their owner service
Despite clear laws allowing service animals into public places, guide dog handlers continue to face discrimination when entering businesses, restaurants and stores. Stephanie Pilon can attest to that. She's the program lead for children and youth engagement at the Sudbury office of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. She's blind, and her guide dog's name is Luca. They've been working together for three years. One of the more frequent services that deny access to individuals with guide dogs are taxis and ride-sharing programs like Uber, Pilon said. If refused service or denied access, guide dog handlers in Ontario should call the police. Under Ontario’s Blind Persons’ Rights Act, no one can deny accommodations, services or facilities offered to the public “for the reason that he or she is a blind person accompanied by a guide dog.” If convicted, the person may be fined up to $5,000. That's why the CNIB has declared September as Guide Dog Awareness Month. It's a time to raise awareness about the rights of guide dog teams and the legal responsibilities of businesses in Canada.
Read the full story here:
Weekend weather:
There's a chance of showers all weekend — 70 per cent Saturday and 60 per cent Sunday — with a high of 17 C both days. The low will get down to 9 C Saturday night and 13 C Sunday night. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.