Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
Sudbury.com’s 12 Days of Kindness begins today!
Join us as we surprise a new deserving family, person or organization with an act of kindness every weekday morning leading up to Christmas. On the first day of kindness, we visit a family whose 12-year-old daughter is scheduled for brain surgery next week. For obvious reasons, Hailey Gauthier said she wasn't looking forward to Christmas this year but thanks to some generous sponsors, we were able to lift her spirits and help lighten the family's financial load. Watch the video here.
Landry-Altmann reserves comment on conflict of interest allegations:
Ward 12 Coun. Joscelyne Landry-Altmann is declining comment for now on a court action accusing her of a conflict of interest in voting on the decision to build the $100 million arena/events centre on The Kingsway. Laundry-Atlmann said at Wednesday's city budget meeting that she hasn't had a chance to read the accusations, but may comment once she has and the budget process has been completed. A prominent opponent of The Kingsway arena filed the court documents Dec. 4, accusing Laundry-Altmann of having a financial interest the decision to locate the arena on The Kingsway, made in June of this year. Andre Dumais, who resigned from the chamber of commerce earlier this year so he could campaign against moving the arena out of downtown Sudbury, launched the proceedings in Sudbury. He says Landry-Altmann was in a pecuniary conflict of interest when she took part in the decision to locate the arena on The Kingsway. Find the full story here.
Budget deficits drain city's reserve funds:
If not for a record $1 million fine imposed on Vale and received by the city, Greater Sudbury's operating deficit in 2017 would have presented a real problem, says a Sudbury city councillor. At Tuesday's budget meeting, Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan said he was alarmed by the fact the city has had to draw on reserves the past two years to make up the shortfall. This year's deficit would have been $3.45 million if not for the fine money from Vale. Full story can be found here.
A call to end violence against women:
The Sudbury YWCA held a vigil on Dec. 6 to commemorate the 14 young women who were murdered in the Montreal massacre, and all women killed by violence. The vigil was attended by a few dozen women, and was opened with drumming and songs by the N'Swakamok women's drum group. Those in attendance observed a moment of silence and most shared a few words as to why the vigil was of importance to them. "Violence against women is the largest and most persistent human rights violation in the world," said YWCA Sudbury executive director Marlene Gorman. "Over 50 per cent of Canadian women experience an incident at some point in their lives."
Vale earns Corporate Citizen Award:
Vale has received an Ontario Business Achievement Award (OBAA) from the Ontario Chamber of Commerce in the category of Corporate Citizenship. “We are so thrilled to be recognized by the Ontario Chamber of Commerce with this award,” said Angie Robson, manager of corporate and Aboriginal affairs for Vale’s Ontario Operations, in a Dec. 5 news release. “It’s wonderful to be acknowledged for the community relationships and investments Vale is making near our operations in Sudbury and Port Colborne.” The OBAA Corporate Citizen Award recognizes a large business that demonstrates a sustained and long-term commitment to investing in the community in which it operates. The Ontario Business Achievement Awards (OBAA) are the most recognized industry awards in the province with a single focus on celebrating business success. This year’s awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, Nov. 29 in Toronto.
20 minutes, one blank canvas: Round 2 of Sudbury Art Battle:
Sudbury artists are entering the ring for round two of the Sudbury Art Battle in the evening of Dec. 7 at the Cambrian College Student Centre. This event is the second battle of five that will take place over the next several months before the final winner is determined, and who will go onto compete in the national Art Battle competition in 2018. Each painter receives a canvas, brush, a palette, two mixing plates, cleaning towels and one water container. They have 20 minutes to take their canvases from blank to beautiful. Check out photos from the first Art Battle here.
Grab some handmade Christmas gifts at the Makers North market:
Makers North co-founders, Tracy and Julieanne, are inviting the community to their last event of 2017. The pop-up will be Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. in the new atrium located in Laurentian University’s Parker Building. Organized by two self-proclaimed “Lovers of the North”, Julieanne and Tracy from Makers North plan to transform the LU atrium into a marketplace filled with uniquely handcrafted goods and tasty treats. Community members are invited to browse through an impressive array of 20 Northern Ontario sellers, including Envy Jewels from North Bay, Sudbury’s own Old Soul Soap Company and Manitoulin Crate Company from the Island.
Thursday weather:
The sun will be shining today but it's going to be chilly out there. Thursday's high is going to be -8. Chances for some snow flurries this evening. Low will be steady at around -9 overnight. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
