Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Wednesday morning.
Montée Principale road rehabilitation fast-tracked to 2025/26
Montée Principale, a road stretching from Azilda nothward, is now slated to have its most-travelled section, from MR 35 north to MR 15, rehabilitated within the next couple of years. Originally scheduled for rehabilitation/resurfacing in 2027, Ward 4 Coun. Pauline Fortin introduced a successful motion during Monday’s operations committee meeting of city council to have it fast-tracked. “It’s patch over patch over patch,” she told Sudbury.com after the meeting, adding that it’s a well-travelled stretch of road many people use to access Gateway Casinos or as a shortcut between the two municipal roads. The road project will include Montée Principale’s full reconstruction from MR 35 to MR 15, including paved shoulders.
Cubs earn OT win to take 3-1 series lead on Voodoos
The Greater Sudbury Cubs are on the verge of claiming the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League title after taking an overtime win April 22 and going up 3-1 in their best-of-seven championship series against the Powassan Voodoos. The Cubs are now one game away from claiming the NOJHL crown, which they could do this Thursday, when the Voodoos come to town for Game 5, which will be played at the Gerry McCrory Countryside Sports Complex starting at 7:05 p.m. The game can be watched on FLOHockey.tv. “Powassan generated a number of quality chances to commence play, but a couple of big saves by Noah Metivier in the Greater Sudbury net kept it scoreless through the opening minutes in the match-up,” the league said in a release. And so it was Sudbury that drew first blood after Samuel Assinewai knocked down a clearing attempt and lasered a pass over to Hudson Chitaroni, who buried his 11th goal of the post-season at 12:36. Chitaroni leads the NOJHL in post-season scoring incidentally.
New top doc gets breakdown of health unit’s work in 2023
The Sudbury Board of Health was presented with its year-in-review document this week that showed the full depth and scope of public health programs and interactions that were carried out by the staff of Public Health Sudbury and Districts last year. Medical Officer of Health and CEO Dr. Mustafa Hirji said it was important to see how much work was being done. "I didn't have the privilege to be here in 2023 to see all the work, but it has been invaluable for me to see the work that's been put forward by the team and to really understand the true depth and excellence that has been done here," Hirji told the board. He said he was impressed by what he saw. Various division directors of the health unit provided outlines of work that had been done.
Priority pick Blonda commits to the Pack
The Sudbury Wolves say they are “thrilled” that their first round selection in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection, Luca Blonda, has committed to the team. Wolves’ scouts describe Blonda as an elite skater and “smart transitional defenceman,” who is able to move the puck up ice and pitch in offensively while still being reliable on the defense. “We are thrilled to have Luca commit to the Sudbury Wolves,” said Sudbury Wolves VP and General Manager Rob Papineau. “He is a dynamic player with excellent skating and is an outstanding, puck-moving, right-shot defenceman who we know our fans will absolutely love. We welcome Luca and his family to the Sudbury Wolves.” Blonda was picked 12th overall by the Wolves in this year’s OHL Priority Selection from the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 15’s. This past season, Luca earned 45 points with 15 goals and 30 assists through 55 games played, finishing the season with a plus/minus of 32.
Local workshop to develop needed stunt actors in the north
Northern Ontario Stunts is looking to develop stunt actors in the north so film productions can avoid repeatedly spending money hiring stunt people from Toronto for local projects. Even with the booming film industry in the north, most stunt actors hired are still from Toronto because of the skills and experience shortage in Northern Ontario. To address this, Northern Ontario Stunts is launching development camps in North Bay and Sudbury. Wayne Wells, a stunt coordinator from Toronto is hosting a stunt acting workshop in North Bay on May 4–5. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to dive into the world of stunt acting. organizers say. Participants can join for one or two full days for the Stunt Action Workshop in North Bay. It is perfect for aspiring actors or established performers looking to hone their skills in high-energy sequences. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, this workshop is designed to challenge and inspire you. Wells specializes in high-risk stunts like car crashes, falls, rigging, and fire burns. He is "committed to delivering safe, creative solutions to bring directors' dream sequences to life," according to his bio.
