Good morning, Greater Sudbury.
Here are some stories to start your weekend.
NEO Kids project 'goes from Stage 0 to Stage 1':
The effort to build a permanent pediatric facility at Health Sciences North “went from Stage 0 to Stage 1” Friday, when the province announced a $500,000 planning grant to move the project forward. The long-term goal is to build a $49 million NEO Kids facility by expanding the hospital building and bring all the programs under one roof. Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins made the announcement at HSN on Friday, saying the planning grant marks the official start of the project. Full story here.
'We are heartbroken and lost': Sudbury mourns loss of young Noah Borgogelli:
On Jan, 18, at 10:15 a.m., Noah Borgogelli took his last breath in the loving arms of his mom, Julie Major. Not even five years old, little Noah's battle with acute myeloid leukemia ended. His story has had a tremendous impact on the community. His family's story captivated Greater Sudbury. In 2015, Sudbury.com told you how Noah was finally healthy enough to come home for Christmas, even as his cancer battle continued. Then, some 18 months later, the news broke that little Noah's fight against leukemia wasn't going to be won. His family was hoping the community could help Noah's dad, Anthony, take some time off work to spend what little time Noah had left with his family. Sudbury responded and a fishing derby raised the funds. The city's support for the family continued and students from the Grade 7 and 8 classes at St. Benedict's sent Noah Christmas cards. More on this story here.
NDP vows sweeping inquiry into long-term care system:
Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says it's time for the Ontario government to take a long, hard look at the province's long-term care system. Horwath was in Sudbury on Jan. 19 and was joined by Nickel Belt MPP France Gélinas and Sudbury NDP candidate Jamie West for a sit down with Linda Adler and Helga Leblanc, who shared their story about Adler's inlaws and Leblanc's parents. The couple, Gottfriend and Hildegard, have been separated for nearly six months while Hildegard waits for a space to open at Finlandia Village. Gottfried (91) and Hildegard (88) have been married for 67 years and Gottfriend was entered into long-term care at Finlandia last September. Hildegard, however, is still on a waiting list and has been bumped down in favour of crisis patients. Find the full story here.
Man arrested in connection to snowblower thefts:
Police have arrested a 31-year-old man in connection with the theft of a snowblower. Whether there’s any connection between him and the rash of 27 snowblower thefts across the city, GSPS hasn’t said. On Jan. 18, members of the GSPS Break Enter and Robbery (BEAR) Unit were investigating the rash of snowblower thefts across the city. At around 7:20 p.m., they were on Spruce Street in the city’s West End when they came across a 31-year-old man who was wanted on outstanding warrants for possession of stolen property and theft. He also happened to be standing beside a snowblower that, on further investigation, turned out not to belong to him, police allege. The man, who police haven’t named, is charged with breaking and entering, as well as two counts of possession of property obtained by crime. As a result of the investigation, police also uncovered a Craftsman snowblower.
Sudbury man accused of molestation fails to convince judge to dismiss case:
Nice try, but no. A man accused of molesting two underage girls lost a court battle in Sudbury this month when a judge ruled proceedings against him can continue despite delays in bringing the case to trial. A publication ban is in place on the trial to ensure the victims can't be identified. The man was charged in February 2016 with sexual assault and sexual interference against the two girls, but his case won't go to trial until May of this year. A recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling placed a 30-month time limit for cases to be heard in the Superior Court of Justice – between charges being laid and the end of the trial. An 18-month limit is in place for cases heard in the Ontario Court of Justice.
Sudbury to retain an 'integrity commish' to probe complaints about city council:
If Greater Sudbury wants to hire an integrity commissioner, it should be on a contract basis rather than hiring one full-time, says a report headed to city council next week. Currently, the Ontario Ombudsman's office acts as the city's integrity commissioner, the report said, and any ethics complaints are sent there. Councillors would have to reconsider that decision, made in 2015, by a two-thirds majority in order to hire someone else to do the job. The reason to do that is that the ombudsman “has declined involvement in inquiries relating to council member conduct in favour of municipalities appointing or otherwise retaining the services of an Integrity Commissioner,” a staff report on the plan says. And the Municipal Act has been amended to require municipalities to appoint an integrity commissioner by March 2019.
The Soapbox: Breastfeeding is not an issue of public decency:
Danika Dégagné writes that women are too often shamed for feeding their babies in public and therefore they feel the need to hide in bathroom stalls to feed their babies or fumble to cover themselves while they have a fussy hungry infant. The shame and hassle of feeding discourages breastfeeding women from going out into the public with their babies since they normally have to feed every two to three hours. Read more here.
