Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
CEO in memo to staff on hospital finances: 'We are in trouble'
Health Sciences North has been living beyond its means since the fiscal year 2013-2014, resulting in a possible $10-million structural deficit, says its president and chief executive officer in a blog post to staff, volunteers and board members that was given to Sudbury.com. In an update to senior staff Wednesday, Giroux indicated HSN is in dire financial straits and said tough measures would have to be taken to address it. An earlier round of layoffs this year trimmed more than $800,000 from its budget with senior management layoffs. In January of this year, HSN’s board of directors approved a 2017-2018 budget with a deficit capped at $5.9 million. Cost-saving initiatives had been undertaken and Giroux said the hospital’s senior managers were confident they could meet that target. But on Feb. 20, senior vice-president and chief operating officer Joe Pilon and other senior administrators were informed by the finance department that the hospital actually had a revised base forecast deficit of $11.9 million as of Jan. 31. Find the full story here.
Canadian Nobel laureate says he considered Stephen Hawking a friend:
The man who won the 2015 Nobel Prize for Physics for the groundbreaking research he conducted at Sudbury Neutrino Observatory said he considered the late Stephen Hawking a friend. Art McDonald said he met Hawking, who passed away March 14 at the age of 76, about six times. That includes the British theoretical physicist's two visits, in 1998 and 2012, to the Sudbury underground research facility at Creighton Mine, now known as SNOLAB. “He was an inspirational person, someone that I had met on a number of occasions, and talked about a variety of things with him,” said McDonald, a professor emeritus of physics at Queen's University. “It's really sad to see that he's passed.”
Local festivals receive $400K in provincial funding:
Sudbury MPP Glenn Thibeault announced the province is investing more than $400,000 in 15 local festivals and events through the Celebrate Ontario program. "Festivals, fairs and events are important for our community in Sudbury." Thibeault said in a press release. "Not only do they help boost the local economy and attract tourists, it also brings our city together to share our culture." Recipients of funding include the Sudbury Santa Claus Parade, LOL Sudbury, La French Fest, Northern Lights Festival Boreal, Jazz Sudbury Festival, and YES Theatre Summer Festival. This year, the Ontario government is supporting 328 festivals and events across the province to help reach new audiences, offer new experiences and support jobs in their communities.
Provincial program aims to end cycle of poverty:
A three-year, $529,000 program in Sudbury funded by the province aims to help young people break the cycle of poverty. The Local Poverty Reduction Initiative is the local arm of a six year, $50 million provincial program targeted at young people at risk, women, single parents, visible minorities, seniors and First Nations communities. In Sudbury, the program started last September and will run until 2020. It offers after-school programs for 100 children at eight schools in high-need areas, beginning in Grade 4. The success of the program will be measured, in part, by looking at the students' scores on provincial testing (EQAO), contrasting their results in Grade 4 and Grade 6. The programs will be offered at the individual schools, with students able to take the school bus home afterward to ensure they can all participate. Parents don't have to agree to participate in the evaluation aspect of the program to enrol their children.
Atkins: urbanMetrics unflattering Kingsway report deserves consideration:
Laurentian Media president Michael Atkins offers his take on an urbanMetrics report that was presented by Tom Fortin on March 13. Atkins writes, "This report does not provide a new data set. This report is a commentary from a professional and well-regarded organization that has done business with some of the top development companies in this country. It has also done important work with municipalities. A reasonable person may not change their mind on this project as a result of the report. On the other hand, a reasonable person, given the startling critique of this decision from a creditable source, might want the city to slow down its unseemly race to approve it." Atkins' column can be found here.
Letter: Anti-casino proponent Tom Fortin apologizes for comments about MR35:
Anti-casino proponent Tom Fortin issued a letter on March 15, apologizing for comments he made during a March 13 press conference in regard to the four-laning of MR35. Fortin wrote, "In some of my statements I may have given the impression I do not support these important projects. Nothing could be further from the truth. Although I expressed concern that The Kingsway Entertainment District, as currently envisioned, may have impacts on these projects, it was definitely not my intention to discount the efforts of many hard-working volunteers in this community advocating for these projects. In fact, I fully support the initiatives. To the citizens of ward 3 and 4, the 17,000 people who use this highway everyday, and the advocates of the other large transformational projects, I apologize."
Egg hunts: Easter Bunny busy in Greater Sudbury this month:
If you want to take your child to an Easter egg hunt in Greater Sudbury this month, there's several different events to choose from. Darling Events Sudbury presents egg hunts at Confederation Secondary School in Val Caron and C.R. Judd Public School in Capreol from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 24. These events also include face painting, a mini petting zoo, games with prizes and a penny table. Cornerstone Community Church in Lively presents its Easter Egg Hunt Saturday, March 24 at 11 a.m. It is open to children two to 10 years old, and is available to the first 50 children that register. A hot dog lunch will follow. The Walden Lions Club Easter Egg Hunt takes place Saturday, March 31 at the Anderson Farm Museum in Lively. There's a 10 a.m. shotgun start, so don't be late. There's different areas set aside for various age groups.
Friday Weather:
Mainly sunny to end the work week. Today's high will be -3. Clear skies continuing into the evening, and the low is going to drop to -17. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
