Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Accused arsonist throws 'incendiary device' at downtown rooming house
A man is facing multiple charges after being accused of an arson in the downtown area of the city Sunday afternoon. At around noon April 8, Greater Sudbury Fire Services and Greater Sudbury Police were called to the scene of a fire in the porch of a three-storey, 16-room rooming house on Beech Street. A man had been observed throwing what police call “an incendiary device” into the porch area, and then fleeing the scene. Anyone with information is asked to contact Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171 or Crime Stoppers at 705-222-TIPS, online at www.sudburycrimestoppers.com or by texting TIPSUD and the information to CRIMES (274637).
$1.8M for Shkagamik-Kwe's mental health, addictions programs
The province announced $1.8 million in funding April 6 to provide mental health and addiction support through the Shkagamik-Kwe Health Centre. The funding is targeted to urban Indigenous people living in Sudbury and the surrounding area, as well as four First Nation communities in the region. The funding will support year-round, clinical and cultural counselling, land-based healing, mentorship and other healing programs.
Meet your Telus Cup Wolves
It's official, Sudbury. The countdown to the Telus Cup is on. Beginning April 23, Greater Sudbury will play host to Canada's National Midget AAA hockey championship. Over the course of 19 games scheduled at Sudbury Arena, Pacific, West, Central, Quebec and Atlantic regional champions will vie for the national Telus Cup title. Sudbury's own Nickel Capitals Wolves not only host the tournament, but will also be battling it out for the Telus Cup crown. Every week day around noon, check with Sudbury.com for a new Rapid Fire spotlight on a Nickel Capital Wolves players.
Rick Bertrand out as USW Local 6500 prez after eight years at helm
United Steelworkers Local 6500, which represents about 2,700 Vale workers in Sudbury, has elected a new president and vice-president. According to a press release sent out by the union, Nick Larochelle, who was previously the recording secretary, was elected president during the April 5-6 election, while Kevin Boyd was elected vice-president. Rick Bertrand has been Local 6500's president since just after the union's 2009-2010 year-long strike against Vale ended. He was the union's vice-president during the strike. Tim Kiley is the union's current vice-president. Both were defeated in the election.
In memoriam: Sudbury hockey teams showing support for Humboldt Broncos
With news of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy fresh in their minds, the Nickel Centre Peewee Ice Dogs from Garson earned a gold medal at the 22nd Ken Creasey House League tournament on the weekend. The gold-medal game on Sunday was no ordinary game, though. In honouring those who were killed in that collision on Friday, much like the rest of the hockey world did, the team wrapped their sticks in green tape and held a moment of silence to remember the victims. “The horrific news we all heard Saturday put a huge lump in our throats,” said Kailey Boivin, a hockey mom. “As our babies were lacing up for another game, these parents were being informed they wouldn’t see their babies again. When we grieve, we grieve as a nation.” “In the small town of Garson — a few provinces over — we have some pretty amazing kids. May the families have strength during this tragic time.”
Sudburians stand in solidarity with Humboldt Broncos
A couple hundred Sudburians gathered outside the Sudbury Arena late Sunday evening to stand in solidarity with those affected by the Humboldt Broncos tragedy. The vigil took place at the same time as a nationally broadcast vigil in the community of Humboldt, Sask. On April 6, the team bus for the Broncos, a junior hockey team, was t-boned by a semi truck near Armley, Sask., killing 15 people and injuring 14 others, most of them young hockey players. During the Sudbury vigil, organizer Brenda Linney read out the names of those killed and injured in the crash.
Medical society backs legal fight to stop casino
Members of the Sudbury and District Medical Society have waded into the dispute over whether Greater Sudbury should play host to a new, larger casino.
In a letter signed by president Dr. Sanjiv Mathur and vice president Dr. Dennis Reich, the society said it believes the potential of worsening problem gambling with a larger, more central casino is not the risk. They also believe the payments from the province the city receives for hosting a casino aren't work the cost to the community. In the letter, the group urges Sudbury physicians to contribute to the GoFundMe campaign initiated by a group led by Tom Fortin of CasinoFreeSudbury.com to help fund the efforts to stop the project.
Typical early-spring weather Tuesday before a return of snow Wednesday
Tuesday brings fairly typical early-spring weather to the Nickel City. Unfortunately, the snow is expected to return starting Wednesday. It will be mainly cloudy with a high of 3 C during the daytime Tuesday, while at night it's expected to be cloudy with a low of -5 C.
