Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your day on this Tuesday morning.
Video: Crane moves 25,000 kg Nelson Street pedestrian bridge
On June 20, the Nelson Street pedestrian bridge was lifted off its foundation by a huge 700-tonne crane and relocated. The bridge is slated to be replaced this year at a cost of around $3 million. Weighing 24,947 kg (55,000 lbs), the bridge is 52 metres long. Because of its size, weight, length and location, the contractor, GDB Constructeurs, used a Mammoet crane able to reach 35 metres and haul 25,000 kg for the job. The bridge has been a topic of discussion for years, and was part of the Elgin Greenway project proposed several years ago. At the time, it was contemplated to be renovated. Now, it’s facing a complete replacement.
GSPS cleared for crash that left woman injured
A Greater Sudbury Police officer is not at fault for a collision that sent a woman to hospital with injuries back in February. This is the conclusion of the Special Investigations Unit, which investigated the crash because the police cruiser had been involved in a brief chase with the truck that caused the accident that sent the woman to hospital. “On my assessment of the evidence, there are no reasonable grounds to believe that the SO (subject officer) committed a criminal offence in connection with the collision and the Complainant’s (the injured woman) injuries,” wrote SIU Director Joseph Martino in the report, which was released late in the day on June 21. The SIU mandate was invoked because of the time proximity between the police chase and the crash, raising the question of whether the chase itself led to the collision. While the incident that precipitated the report occurred near the end of February, SIU said internal investigative reports were not prepared until March 28, hence the delay in releasing the information.
Photos: Mabuhay! Celebrating with Sudbury’s Filipino community
The Filipino community of Greater Sudbury is probably much larger than you might think. When people began immigrating to Sudbury from the Philippines in the 1960s and 1970s, Dr. David Javier, the president of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Sudbury, said, there might have been 30 or 40 members of the community. Then, as Canada began encouraging more international students to choose this country for post-secondary education and began encouraging more immigration, the community has exploded in size and now numbers, conservatively, somewhere between 500 and 700 people, Javier estimates. A cardiologist by trade, Javier himself came to Canada in 2019. With such a large and strong community in the Nickel City, the Mabuhay Philippine Festival was born. “Mabuhay” is a common Filipino greeting.
Let’s eat! You’ll travel for these butter tarts
Finding a roadside fruit or veggie stand when you are travelling in the summer is like scoring a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. The town of Massey, west of Sudbury, offers a super sticky and sweet stand that should have you hitting the brakes, or even making a special trip up Highway 17. Tricia’s Baked Goods is located in a dressed up ice fishing hut on the highway, just east of Massey. Tricia’s is named for Tricia Brown, who is originally from Massey and spent more than a decade as an educational assistant. But in 2018, life changed for her and her family.
Ageism, social isolation harmful to seniors, board of health hears
Sudbury has made moves to become a more healthy-aging community. But ageism, one of the last seemingly socially acceptable forms of discrimination, can make life difficult for a lot of senior citizens. That comment was part of a formal presentation made to the Sudbury Board of Health this week. The presentation was made by public health nurse Laryssa Vares and health promoter Laura Cousineau, both with the health promotion and vaccine preventable diseases division of Public Health Sudbury and Districts. They said their presentation was timely since June is senior citizens month in Ontario. “Healthy aging encompasses many aspects of our agency including healthy communities, chronic disease and injury prevention, among others. Focus programming is currently led by great health promotion staff and aligns with our vision of healthier communities for all," said Vares. She added that in Canada's population, older adults make up the fastest growing demographic in Canada.
State of the Arts: Sudbury overflowing with talented authors
The literary scene in Sudbury is extensive and vibrant. With two publishing houses, numerous festivals showcasing poetry and prose and dozens of prize-winning authors, the region has no shortage of reading opportunities. Publishers are crucial to getting authors’ stories to their audiences. Latitude 46 emerged nine years ago when Scrivener Press closed after two decades of publishing Northern Ontario author’s works. Lawrence Steven was the publisher/editor, but moved south. His efforts left an impressive legacy of prize-winning books. He risked publishing small anthologies of local poetry, such as Our Lakes Shall Set Us Free, edited by Roger Nash. He helped make local history known with accounts depicting 100 of curling in A Social Draw by Paul Mandizuk. He believed our region should be known and celebrated, hence supported Come on Over: Northeastern Ontario A to Z, which he enlivened with cartoons and humorous anecdotes.
