Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
City puts off decision on location for convention centre, art gallery/library:
After a lengthy debate, city council delayed a decision Wednesday on where to build the city's next big project: the art gallery/library and the convention centre. A staff report on the project recommended all three projects go on land currently occupied by the Sudbury Arena on Elgin Street. The report recommended demolishing the arena to build the $63 million facility. The Greater Sudbury Convention and Performance Centre – previously referred to as the Synergy Centre – would have 19,500 square feet of space to rent, including a 950-seat hall for concerts and 13,000 square feet for conventions. Ian Wood, the city's director of economic development, said council directed staff in June to go through a site-selection process, and the criteria was approved in September. Wood said the recommendation to completely tear down the old arena isn't set in stone. “We got ahead of ourselves a little bit,” Wood said. “We know the arena as it stands now can't be used for these projects. Some demolition will be required. The only question is how much and how it will be done.” Find more on this story here.
Believe it or not, Sudbury is among the safest places to drive: Study:
Sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction, especially if what's driving that truth is the fact Hanmer has been named the community with the lowest collision frequency rate in all of Canada, according to the Allstate Canada Safe Driving Study. Three communities in Greater City cracked the top 10 spots on the Safe Driving Study. Hanmer came in at No. 1 with a collision claims frequency rate of 3.65 per cent, a jump of 10 spots on the list since 2015. Chelmsford was ranked No. 3, with a collision claims frequency rate of 3.65 per cent, on par with its 2015 ranking. It seems Garson put the brakes on its unsafe driving habits, recording the most significant decrease in its collision rate at 4.14 per cent and ranking No. 8 on the list. In 2015, Garson claimed the 76th spot at 6.58 per cent, meaning a decrease of 37 per cent in the collision claim frequency since 2015. Find the full story here.
Gélinas to Liberals: Protect our front-line health care workers:
NDP Health critic MPP France Gélinas demanded on Nov. 23 that the Liberal government start protecting front-line health care workers in hospitals who have been facing increasing levels of violence in the workplace. Gélinas says that these increasing levels of violence against health care workers is largely due to Liberal government budget freezes that have led to an overcrowding crisis in Ontario hospitals. “I wrote to the premier in July 2015, asking this government to take action to protect workers in our health care system. But two-and-a-half years later, we see that this premier continues to let health care workers, patients and their families down,” said Gélinas. The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions released a poll showing that violence against health care workers is getting worse, not better. Two out of every three frontline health care workers report being physically assaulted in the last year, where 83 per cent were verbally abused, and nearly half of the health care workers surveyed were sexually harassed or assaulted.
Help build a Mountain of Mittens in Sudbury:
Have a pair of mittens or a toque that's still in good shape, but you don't wear any more? If so, All Nations Church is looking for you. All Nations Church is collecting mittens, toques and scarves for its Mountain of Mittens campaign, which aims to give kids in Sudbury a helping hand by providing warmth on cold winter days. The official launch of Mountain of Mittens happens Friday night at Sudbury Arena when the Sudbury Wolves face off against the Peterborough Petes, said campaign co-ordinator Ken Wilson. Fans will be be able to buy a pair of children's mittens for $3, then toss them on the ice during intermission to help build the Mountain of Mittens. More on this story here.
Infant Food Bank needs help providing for city's most vulnerable:
The Infant Food Bank supplies baby food, bottles, formula, diapers, wipes and clothing to its clients, and the need for its services has never been greater, said its executive director. The Infant Food Bank on Lasalle Boulevard currently has a list of more than 800 clients that access its services, with more than 3,7000 client visits this year alone, said Dedee Flietstra. There are a number of reasons for the increase in clients, she said. It's dependent on what's happening in the community, and strikes and business closures always bring in more clients. Another reason is the increase in public awareness through such initiatives as the All We Need For Christmas campaign, which launched Nov. 23 at the Holiday Inn on Regent Street. In its ninth year, the All We Need For Christmas campaign has helped thousands of infants and struggling families by providing those basic needs. Read the full story here.
Northern Ontario man is living out his dreams. This one involved a wheelchair-mounted crossbow:
A tattoo emblazoned Eddy Lefrançois' arm boldly announces his expiration date: 04.97 (April 1997). It is a declaration of defiance of the odds and a determination that embodies the passion for life and true grit that has secured Mr. Lafrançois the title of “longest standing survivor of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gerhig’s Disease).” This deer hunt season saw Mr. Lafrançois check off a seemingly impossible bucket list item (for someone who has been robbed of 90 percent of his motor ability) of bagging a whitetail deer. Find out how he did it here.
Spirit of giving: Give back this holiday season with these local charities:
The last few months of the year, from Thanksgiving to the holidays, tend to inspire even those who give regularly to dig a little deeper. Reflecting on your own good fortune, the delight of a season spent with family and friends, brings out the need to give everyone else the happiness you enjoy. Whether you donate yourself, or through a group effort with your community or employer, there are many charities in Sudbury looking for aid this Christmas. Check out what local charities you can help this season here.
Friday weather:
It's going to warm up out there, but there's a chance of freezing rain today. Friday's high will get up to 8 with a risk of freezing rain in the morning. Cloudy this evening with a 60 per cent chance of showers and the low dropping to zero. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
