Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your day.
City accused of not following its own rules when it comes to new arena:
The city isn't following its main planning document when it comes to the Kingsway Entertainment District, says the managing director of the Downtown Village Development Corporation. In a letter to Sudbury.com, Susan Thompson took issue with Section 19 of the Official Plan, which requires major projects to be financially sustainable. Thompson's letter comes a few days before the Jan. 22 public hearing on rezoning the Kingsway site to permit the $100-million arena and a proposed $60-million casino. The meeting is the first of two public hearings before the rezoning of the arena and an Official Plan amendment for the casino are voted on by the planning committee. Full story here.
Temporary injection sites a tool to prevent overdoses, but not a solution to opioid use:
The province is currently accepting applications for what they're calling "temporary overdose prevention sites" in Sudbury. These would be safe injection sites for intravenous drug users located, temporarily, with health care organizations or groups, or community-based organizations that support harm reduction and work with people who use drugs, and the government is looking for groups that fall into those categories to apply. These temporary sites would operate for between three and six months based on need, and funding would be provided by either the Ministry of Health of the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN). Drug users would then benefit from supervised injections, harm-reduction supplies, including disposal of used supplies, and naloxone, a medication used to block the effects of opioids, especially in instances of overdose. More on this story here.
Judge delays decision in case of 2014 deaths of workers at Lockerby Mine:
It will take at least another month before the families of two men killed in a 2014 fall of ground at Lockerby Mine to find out if the mining company is found guilty of charges laid by the Ministry of Labour. Justice David Stone had originally planned to have a decision by 2 p.m. on Jan. 18; however, under the encouragement of Ministry of Labour prosecutor David McCaskill, Stone will take more time to come to his conclusion. “Maybe I bit off more than I could chew in trying to arrive at an answer by 2 (p.m.),” Stone told the court as he wrestled with his decision. “I recognize the need to not jump at answers and give it calm and sober consideration.” After another hour of deliberation, Stone returned and advised the court that he was adjourning the matter over until Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. in Courtroom C of the Ontario Court of Justice.
New name in public health: Health unit rebrands, unveils new strategic plan:
Getting out of the shadows and into the public eye will be a major focus for the newly re-branded Public Health Sudbury and Districts. Formerly known as the Sudbury and District Health Unit, the organization unveiled their new moniker on Jan. 18 while approving their 2018-2022 strategic plan. The core values and goals of the organization remain unchanged, but a larger focus will now be put on cementing the visual identity of Public Health Sudbury and Districts in an effort to help the public better understand what it is the organization does. Read more here.
Sudbury boys have a shot at direct path to finals:
The voice of experience is paying huge dividends for the Curl Sudbury junior curling quartet of Tanner Horgan, Jacob Horgan, Nicholas Bissonnette and Maxime Blais, participating in the 2018 New Holland Canadian Juniors in Shawinigan this week. It's a voice that has reminded Horgan and his cohorts to relish the moment, perhaps more than in the past. And for a team that enters their fifth straight appearance at nationals with silver and bronze medal performances already in their pockets, that is not always an easy task. The boys hold a 7-0 record and wins over upcoming opponents from Nova Scotia and Quebec could give the boys a bye directly to the finals.
Mambo Italiano en français: Humour and creativity challenge veneer of "normalcy" in upcoming TNO Play:
What happens when a young Franco-Italian man comes out to his conservative, Montreal-based family? At Théâtre du Nouvel Ontario's 38th community production, Mambo Italiano, comedy ensues. Steve Gallucio's Fellini-style comedy (translated by Michel Tremblay) follows Angelo, whose parents have discovered is in love with another man. "The entire show is him coming out to his parents and then reckoning with family and cultural pressures on what it means to be gay," says Alex Tétrault. "Angelo is a complicated individual." TNO's community production is directed by first-timer Ryan Demers, who starred in "Rearview," a TNO-Sudbury Theatre Centre co-production. Check out an inside look at the play in this video.
Small Things needs cat food donations:
Small Things, a local cat rescue that focuses on rehoming adult cats from local animal shelters, is looking for cat food donations. “If you have an open bag that your kitty doesn't like or have some extra food around, our kitties would like that very much,” Small Things said on its Facebook page. “They aren't picky!!! We would like to see the food cupboard full again though!
Thank you in advance!!!” If you're looking to adopt a new friend, check out the cats for adoption on Small Things' Facebook page.
Friday weather:
Mainly cloudy out there today with a 60 per cent chance of flurries in the morning and early in the afternoon. Risk of freezing rain in the morning and afternoon. Today's high is -2. More of the same this evening with some flurries and risk of freezing rain. Temperature steady near -1. For current weather conditions, short-term and long-term forecasts visit Sudbury.com's weather page at www.sudbury.com/weather.
