Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
More confirmed COVID-19 cases at Rainbow schools
Rainbow District School Board is advising parents of more confirmed cases at several schools. The school board said in a Feb. 27 letter to parents that Public Health Sudbury and Districts confirmed one case of COVID-19 at Algonquin Road Public School. The individual is self-isolating and being monitored by the health unit. The school remains open for in-person learners and the school is implementing enhanced cleaning and disinfecting before school resumes. The Kindergarten class in Room 9 has been asked to self-isolate to and including March 10. Public Health will contact parents and guardians of students and all school personnel who have been identified as close contact. There is no impact on transportation. For more, click here.
École Alliance St-Joseph in Chelmsford closed due to COVID-19
École Alliance St-Joseph in Chelmsford is closed until March 12 due to a confirmed case of COVID-19. The daycare located at École Alliance St-Joseph will also be closed until Friday, March 12. “The health and safety of students and employees remains CSC Nouvelon’s top priority,” said the school board in a news release. At the moment, students are expected to resume their in-class learning on Monday, March 15. If this return date should change, the CSC Nouvelon will inform parents of details. To support students in their learning, Kindergarten to grade 8 students from École Alliance St-Joseph will be able to pursue their learning at home in a virtual format until their return to the classroom. The distribution of technological tools is expected to take place in the coming days based on the needs of families, all the while respecting recommendations from Public Health Sudbury and Districts, said the board.
Notice declaring an outbreak posted at Balmoral apartments
A tenant at Balmoral Apartments has many questions after Public Health Sudbury and Districts declared a COVID-19 outbreak there on Feb. 25. Three notices have been posted at the apartment complex, located at 720 Bruce Ave., said the tenant, who asked that his name not be used. The first notice, posted by Sudbury Housing Corporation, informed residents that someone living there who might have COVID-19. That was posted Friday. The second notice, posted by Public Health, stated an outbreak has been declared at the building, posted Saturday, while the third notice informed tenants that community paramedicine will offer onsite COVID-19 testing for tenants and staff on Feb. 28. The outbreak notice is dated Feb. 25, but only posted Feb. 26, said the tenant. On Friday morning, the resident said they stepped outside their apartment and saw a person dressed in what was described as basically a “hazmat” suit posting a notice near the elevator. Given the situation in North Bay, where dozens of people have tested positive for COVID-19 in connection to an outbreak at Skyline-Lancelot Apartments, it was cause for concern, said the resident. He said other than the notices posted in the building, he hasn’t heard from anyone about the situation. “We would like to be informed, and to keep this from becoming something similar to what is happening in North Bay,” said the resident. The Balmoral Apartments are not listed in the outbreaks section on PHSD’s website. A phone call to the health unit’s communications department was unreturned.
COVID-19 outbreak declared at Jean Hanson Public School
Public Health Sudbury and Districts has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in Jean Hanson Public School (Rainbow District School Board) in Greater Sudbury after three additional individuals tested positive for the virus. The school remains open. Parents and caregivers are being provided notice of the outbreak and will receive public health guidance. Public Health is working closely with Jean Hanson Public School and school board administrators at Rainbow District School Board to monitor the outbreak, further limit the spread of infection, and ensure ongoing measures are maintained to protect students and employees. In accordance with provincial guidance, an outbreak in a school setting is declared when two or more laboratory confirmed cases of COVID-19 are linked and occur within 14 days of each other, and at least one case could have acquired their infection in the school. The individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 are currently self-isolating and being monitored by Public Health Sudbury & Districts while the investigation continues. Parents and guardians of students can visit the Rainbow District School Board’s website for information: rainbowschools.ca. Public Health Sudbury and Districts is reminding everyone to follow public health measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Continue to screen yourself for symptoms and practise COVID-safe behaviours.
Check your Lotto Max tickets: someone in the Sudbury region has won $70M
Someone in the Sudbury region is sitting on a $70-million Lotto Max ticket from Friday’s draw. This is the sixth time that the maximum jackpot has been won in Canada and the fourth time it’s been won in Ontario since the jackpot cap was increased in May, 2019.
Faculty calling out Ross Romano for ‘inaction’ on Laurentian’s financial crisis
A group representing university faculty in Ontario is calling out Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano for what they say is his inaction on Laurentian University’s insolvency. On Feb. 1, Laurentian announced it is insolvent and plans to restructure under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act. The Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations (OCUFA) said ministry officials said at a meeting that the government intends to wait until after the university has been dramatically restructured through the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) to determine its next steps. Faculty and students contend that the position taken by Romano is irresponsible, threatens jobs, essential programs, student education quality, and will do irreparable harm to the university and Greater Sudbury community, said a press release from OCUFA. “What was communicated to us is that Romano and the Ministry are essentially OK if their inaction causes dozens of program closures, hundreds of job losses, and thousands of students to reconsider where they want to study this fall,” said Jean-Charles Cachon, Secretary-Treasurer of the Laurentian University Faculty Association, in the press release. “The wounds these impending cuts would cause to our local Indigenous and francophone communities are difficult to overstate. Both Minister Romano and Minister of Francophone Affairs Caroline Mulroney have refused to meet with us. We feel we have been abandoned by the Ontario government.” As was recently revealed, Minister of Colleges and Universities Ross Romano has known about Laurentian’s worsening fiscal situation for more than six months, said the press release. “It is astounding that he knew that Laurentian was heading towards the edge of a fiscal cliff and chose to do nothing,” the press release said. “It is shocking that even now, when a public university is in free fall, he continues to stand by and watch.” For his part, Romano told reporters earlier this month that it is unfortunate that Laurentian has reached this point. He has appointed a special investigator, Dr. Alan Harrison, to look into the matter. A report will be issued by Harrison this spring.
Sudburians asked to complete short questionnaire on plastic waste pollution
The Junction Creek Stewardship Committee and Plastic-Free Greater Sudbury are seeking public input to better understanding public awareness and concern for plastic waste. The information will be used to develop a comprehensive plastic waste report which will guide decision making and community programs to address plastic waste in Greater Sudbury’s waterways. Plastic waste has been an increasing concern for the health of Greater Sudbury’s waterways, wildlife and community, say the groups. In addition to large amounts of plastic litter being removed during creek clean-ups, studies have found plastic in the stomachs of fish and microplastics in Junction Creek. The groups are asking Sudburians to complete a quick questionnaire by March 1. An English and French version of the Polluted Waters questionnaire can be found on the Junction Creek Stewardship Committee’s website.
Video: Sudbury's Finnish bakery turns 60, watch their famous jelly pig donuts take shape!
Aaron Laakso never met his grandmother Elli Leinala but says he feels honoured to carry on her legacy at Leinala's Bakery. The Sudbury Finnish bakery turned 60 in February and to celebrate the occasion, Sudbury.com visited the family run business. Watch the video above as head baker Aaron Laakso whips-up dozens of their popular jelly pigs and reminisces about what it was like to grow up in a bakery. Laakso's grandparents, Arvi and Elli, first opened Leinala's Bakery in 1961. His parents Mark and Marjaana took over the business in 1978 when it was located on Antwerp Avenue. Although many people have worked at the bakery over the past 60 years, it is now primarily run by family members including Laakso's father, his sister Erika Caron, who is the store manager and cake decorator. Caron's daughter, Brinnly, works in the store along with Laakso's other niece, Tiana Tyres who also bakes. The bakery is known for its delicious traditional Finnish treats such as pulla (sweet Finnish cardamom bread), jelly pigs (raspberry jam-filled sugar donuts), honey donuts, cakes, cookies and tarts. Check out the video here.
Expect flurries to kicked off your work week
Expect flurries today, at times heavy with about two to four cm. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 60. High -10 C with temperature falling to -18 in the afternoon. Windchill will make it feel more like -18 C in the morning and -29 C in the afternoon. Risk of frostbite. UV index 1 or low. Tonight, expect it to clear up with a low of -20 C.
