Good morning, Greater Sudbury! Here are a few stories to start your Canada Day long weekend.
Ministry of Labour now facing criminal charges in mining death
In 2006, Raymond Campeau was fatally injured at Podolsky Mine in Capreol. Since that time, his widow, Faye Campeau — who now goes by Fay Smith in court documents, and will be referred to as Smith here — has been in and out of the courts in an attempt to hold both the mine’s owner and the Ministry of Labour accountable. In 2021, a judge awarded Smith more than $2 million in civil damages from the province, but months later that judgment was set aside, and Smith ended up agreeing to a settlement. But in March 2024, she filed a motion to set aside that settlement, with Smith claiming in court documents that she felt she was “forced” by the Crown and her own counsel, Stephen Moreau, into signing the settlement “under duress.”
Lactalis reopens Sudbury dairy facility for plant-based beverages
Lactalis, one of Canada's leading dairy brands, has held the official reopening June 28 of its Sudbury plant on Palm Dairy Road, which is now the new Canadian production centre for the company's plant-based beverage brand, called Enjoy! The Sudbury facility, which was previously a distribution and production centre for Lactalis fluid milk products (formerly Parmalat), shut down in September of 2022 to allow for the conversion of the facility for the production and distribution of Lactalis premium plant-based products. The company was the recipient of a $1.4 million grant from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation last November as the province of Ontario provided funding to boost agriculture initiatives across the North. At the time of the shutdown of the Sudbury milk plant two years ago, the company said it was responding to a drop in the demand for fluid milk and an uptick in the demand for plant-based beverages.
City names public sites after Vagnini and Montpellier
The late city council members Michael Vagnini (Ward 2) and Gerry Montpellier (Ward 3) are having public sites named after them.vDuring this week’s city council meeting, the city’s elected officials unanimously approved renaming the community hall located within the T.M. Davies Community Centre and Arena the Michael Vagnini Community Hall, and the Whitson River Trail the Gerry Montpellier Trail. “I think it’s the right thing to do to recognize the longstanding contributions of both of these individuals,” Mayor Paul Lefebvre said after tabling a motion to rename the sites, adding that they were both “very passionate” about their communities. Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti added that the Whitson River Trail’s renaming is a particularly nice touch, as Montpellier was passionate about that trail in particular. Lefebvre said the sites were chosen in collaboration with the late city council members’ families and that their families would also be consulted regarding next steps, including whether there will be ceremonies to formally rename the public sites. Plaques will be installed at both sites. Both Vagnini and Montpellier died earlier this year. Click here for an article on Montpellier’s funeral, and here for an article on Vagnini’s funeral.
Watch out for bison on Hwy. 64! Herd escapes Lavigne farm
If you're driving on Highway 64 in the Lavigne area, you should exercise extra caution. Nipissing West OPP said June 27 that after a fence was damaged from a fallen tree, about 50 bison wandered off the secure property to the surrounding area. This isn't the first time the OPP have had to warn motorists of escaped bison in the region. That happened in 2022 as well, when eight bison wandered off of a ranch in Crystal Falls, near Sturgeon Falls.
GSPS board enlists recruitment firm to help find a new chief
The search for a new chief of police is ongoing, with Greater Sudbury Police Service board selecting the recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson to aid in their search. “The team from Odgers will be conducting consultation sessions with internal and external stakeholders,” according to a media release issued by the board. “Following the consultation period, the Chief of Police job posting will be posted through Odgers Berndtson the week of July 15. The posting will be live for a month and will be a national search. Following the posting period, Odgers will present the Board with short-listed candidates and interviews will follow.” The board’s goal is to have a chief of police selected by the end of September. In the meantime, Deputy Chiefs Sara Cunningham and Natalie Hiltz will serve in the chief’s place. Chief Paul Pedersen resigned to take the position of executive director for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, and June 22 was his last day with GSPS. Sudbury.com requested an interview with Pedersen regarding his departure, but he declined.
Sudbury Wolves name Humboldt’s Scott Barney as head coach
The Sudbury Wolves have named Scott Barney as their new head coach. “We are very happy to name Scott Barney as our next head coach,” said Wolves VP and General Manager Rob Papineau, in a press release. “He has had tremendous success as both a player and as a coach. His record of development over the past six seasons has been outstanding. He is a young coach who brings great knowledge, communication skills and the demonstrated ability to teach junior age players. “His ability to do what he did in Humboldt was truly impressive and inspiring. We are excited for our players and fans to get the opportunity to get to know Barney and his commitment to Sudbury and the team." Barney, an alumnus of the OHL, played four seasons with the Peterborough Petes after being selected in the first round, ninth overall during the 1995 OHL priority selection. Through his first season with the Petes, they reached the Memorial Cup and won the OHL championship. In Barney’s final season in the OHL, he was named captain of the Petes. Barney was drafted 29th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 1997 NHL draft. He missed his first three seasons due to a back injury but went on to play 27 NHL games which was the start to a long pro career in North America, Europe and Asia. In September of 2018, Barney accepted his first coaching job in Humboldt to help rebuild the team following the tragic accident. In January of 2019 Barney was promoted to head coach of the Broncos and has been with the hockey club for the past six seasons.
Wordstock Sudbury gives early preview of its ‘kick-ass’ 11th edition
To give attendees a head-start on all the books they need to read in advance (and what better time than the summer?), the Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival held its launch press conference this week, four months ahead of the Nov. 1-3 event. “We make an early announcement so people can start reading some of the books that we'll be bringing the authors in for,” said festival director Heather Campbell. Among the Canadian authors who will be travelling to Sudbury for the 11th edition of Wordstock will be Emily Austin, Drew Hayden Taylor, Fareh Malik, Ariel Gordon and Hollay Ghadery. Regional authors taking part in the annual English-language literary festival will be Kim Fahner, Melanie Marttila and Danielle Daniel. “We have another fantastic program that features award-winning authors, both local and those travelling to be with us,” said Campbell. “With so many new books and talented authors, it can be quite the challenge to narrow down into 15 or so sessions over three days.” Campbell said she’s always excited when she puts together the final lineup, because she sends out invitations, and she doesn’t know “who’s going to end up saying yes.”
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