Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Former MP, Sudbury mayor John Rodriguez has died:
After a long bout with a respiratory illness, John Rodriguez, former Nickel Belt MP and mayor of Greater Sudbury, died Wednesday morning at his home, with his family by his side. Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas said Rodriguez gave her great advice and help when she broke into politics in 2007. At the time, he had just been elected mayor. Some residents in her riding still have the old campaign signs from decades ago when he was MP, she said, and still remember him fondly. Read the full story here.
Northern Lights Festival Boréal starts today:
One of the best musical weekends of the entire year is finally here. Northern Lights Festival Boréal starts today and runs to Sunday in beautiful Bell Park. And with headliners like Yukon Blonde, A Tribe Called Red, Whitehorse, Andy Schauf and living legend Buffy Sainte-Marie, music lovers and festival-goers are in for a treat. Thursday evening — yup, the festival has added a day this year — features a full lineup of Aboriginal musicians culminating in a performance by Sainte-Marie, the Academy Award-winning veteran of the music business. Check out the festival lineup and more here.
City grappling with taking on cost of orthodontic care for kids on social assistance:
Members of the city's community services committee will hear next week there's a big shortfall in funding what's being called “discretionary benefits” for the city's most vulnerable residents.The problem is the province has tightened rules surrounding which benefits it will fund for recipients of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program benefits. That will leave a $350,000 hole in the budget for this year. While the province pays most of the benefits, the programs are administered by the municipality. Find the full story here
Cops and kids heading to Whitewater Lake for some fishing:
Children of all ages are getting their fishing gear ready for the Kids, Cops and Canadian Tire Fishing Event hosted by the Greater Sudbury Police Service on Friday, July 7. The participants will be fishing on Whitewater Lake in Azilda, setting out from Whitewater Park at 9 a.m. Members of the GSPS, the OPP and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry will be on hand to ensure everyone has a fun and safe day.
Sudbury cyclist heading to Summer Games:
There will be at least one Sudburian competing at the Canada Summer Games in early August in Winnipeg. Cyclist Emily Marcolini confirmed her spot on the team, just days after securing a bronze medal in the Time Trial event at the 2017 Global Relay Canadian Road Championships in Ottawa/Gatineau. Find more on this story here.
Keeping the tradition going: Italian Festival kicks off today:
It's a milestone stone week for the Società Caruso as they host their 45th annual Italian Festival starting this Thursday, July 6 at the Caruso Club. The festival kicks (and punches) off with some live pro wrestling Thursday evening featuring Sudbury's own proud Italian bruiser, Mark "Tornado" Bartolucci. The official opening ceremony will be held on Friday, as Mayor Brian Bigger will make an official proclamation of Italia Days, followed by the opening of the regions of Italy food fair, a long-standing tradition at Italian Fest. Find more on this year's festival, including performance and event schedules here.
Thursday weather:
More warm weather on the way today, but there's a chance we could see some rain. A mix of sun and cloud to start the day with a 40 per cent chance of showers this afternoon. Today's high will reach 27 and feel like 32 with the humidity. Mainly cloudy this evening with chances of showers and a thunderstorm. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
