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Articles by Claude Sharma
This man without a home is advocating for North Bay’s homeless population
NORTH BAY — When Shane Moyer found himself back on the street after being evicted on September 18, it didn’t take long for him to make his voice heard. Determined to get shelter space for himself and his friends, Moyer started camping out in front of North Bay’s city hall — and 10 others joined him. Mark King, city councillor and chair of the District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board, met with Moyer and the group to discuss their options.
Searching for Timmins’s heart of gold
Timmins is known as the “city with a heart of gold.” And for good reason: the precious metal has shaped the city from its very beginnings. The Porcupine Gold Rush, which started in 1909 and involved legendary prospectors Benny Hollinger, Jack Wilson, and Sandy McIntyre, brought thousands of miners to northern Ontario; in 1912, the settlement was named after Noah Timmins, the president of Hollinger Mines. Since the end of 2017, the mines of Timmins have produced 74 million ounces of gold.
Lessons in love from Sudbury’s very own love doctor
SUDBURY — “Do we love romantically in order to be happy? Or do we love in any sense primarily to be happy ourselves?” These are just some of the questions that Jason Lepojärvi, also known as “Dr. Love,” poses to his students during class on Monday. Lepojärvi, an assistant professor at Thornloe University (a federated school of Laurentian University in Sudbury), is teaching a course called Ideas of Love II. This week’s lectures, appropriately enough, deal with romantic love.
How Saint-Firmin Monestime made history as Canada’s first Black mayor
He was a political trailblazer with a storied and eventful life — but few outside northern Ontario have heard of Saint-Firmin Monestime, who, in 1964, became Canada’s first Black mayor. Political turmoil and unforeseen circumstances combined to bring him from his native Haiti to the town that he later called home: Mattawa, 70 kilometres east of North Bay. Born in Cap-Haïtien in December 1909, Monestime grew up during the United States occupation.
Sault Ste. Marie is short on workers - and thinks it may know where to find some
When JD Aero got up and running in Sault Ste. Marie in 2007, it had just three employees. Two of them were the company’s founders, Julian Chin and Don McNabb. Since then, the company, which provides aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul services, has taken off. Its clients include WestJet, Porter Airlines, Horizon Air, and the government of Canada, and it now has 130 people on the payroll. “We have so much work; we are always at max capacity,” says Chin.
How one small Ontario town is trying to persuade people to move up north
Michel Arseneault’s third term as mayor of Smooth Rock Falls may be his most important one yet. Small communities like his don’t usually make national headlines. But in 2006, Smooth Rock Falls, 100 kilometres north of Timmins, did. That’s because the Tembec pulp mill — then its biggest employer — shuttered, leaving 229 people out of work.
Meet one of Ontario’s most elusive residents: The white moose
SUDBURY — One afternoon in October 1990, Jane Armstrong and her sister set off paddling down a creek on Groundhog Lake, intending to trap some beavers. Along the way, they spotted a trio of moose on the shore. There was nothing unusual about that — moose are common in the area. What was unusual was that the cow and two calves were white.
Holy Mackinaw: Leafs play-by-play legend Joe Bowen on his storied career
SUDBURY — He’s long been recognized for his encyclopedic knowledge of the game and his high-spirited calls — “Holy Mackinaw!” has become part of the Canadian lexicon — and now Joe Bowen, longtime play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Maple Leafs, is officially getting his due: on November 12, the Sudbury native was inducted into the media wing of the Hockey Hall of Fame. The 67-year-old Foster Hewitt Memorial Award winner has no plans to retire any time soon.
Rebranding the north: Why Ontario cities are overhauling their image
SUDBURY — A fresh logo, a catchy new slogan, a full rebrand — can any of these things turn around a city’s fortunes? Confronted by declining populations and economic uncertainty, leaders in northeastern Ontario are betting on it. Timmins started telling a new "brand story" about itself in 2013, Greater Sudbury spent $75,000 to recast itself as “Canada’s resourceful city” in 2014, and Sault Ste.
How one retired Ontario teacher is helping keep the memory of the World Wars alive
NORTH BAY — John Hetherington was only eight years old on November 11, 1970. Holding his grandfather’s hand, he watched as scores of veterans from the World Wars and the Korean War marched toward Memorial Gardens on Chippewa Street, in North Bay, for the annual Remembrance Day ceremony.
How e-voting’s big night went wrong in Ontario
On Monday evening, hours before the polls were scheduled to close in Ontario’s province-wide local elections, residents of 48 municipalities, from Ignace to Innisfil, faced service disruptions while trying to vote electronically. Problems included log-in issues, slow service, and time-out messages that popped up after voters had already cast their ballots. Some cities’ telephone-voting services also ran into technical difficulties.
Why northern Ontario politics has a gender-parity problem
The last two provincial elections saw significant increases in the number of women running for office — and this year, both the NDP and the Greens fielded more female candidates than male. But gender parity has proven more elusive at the local level: just 27 per cent of candidates registered to run in the 2018 municipal elections are women, according to a preliminary estimate from the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (whose membership, notably, excludes Toronto).
Why so many students in the north aren’t going to college or university
SUDBURY — Paige Genier recently wrapped up a summer job as a lifeguard, and she’s now taking the next plunge in life. In late August, the 18-year-old moved more than 700 kilometres from her hometown of Cochrane, population 5,300, to study human kinetics at the University of Ottawa. “I wanted to get the full city experience,” says Genier, who has lived her entire life in the same house, about an hour’s drive north of Timmins. Genier’s family had the resources to facilitate her move.
Why an immersive Ojibwe language program is taking students bowling
SUDBURY — The Ojibwe phrase shkintam gijitoong kina gwiganaandaming literally translates as “when you knock them down when you first try.” But when you’re bowling, it simply means “strike.” On a recent Wednesday afternoon at the Alley Katz in Lively, a community in Greater Sudbury, Sarah MacLeod-Beaver and nine other students are bowling in Ojibwe as part of an intensive two-week immersion course in Anishinaabemowin, also known as Ojibwe.
Why First Nations are assuming responsibility for child-welfare cases
SUDBURY — Jason and Tabitha’s children have been out of the house for years, but their nest is no longer empty — last fall, they took in two of their school-age grandchildren because their daughter was unable to raise them. “We have noticed issues for years,” Tabitha says. “The kids have gone through so much neglect.” Jason and Tabitha (for privacy reasons, TVO.org has changed their names) live in Sudbury; the children were placed in their care through Nogdawindamin Family and Community Services.
Why an Ontario university is turning a former residential school into a museum
SAULT STE. MARIE — In 1947, police officers took Shirley Roach, then eight years old, from her home at the First Nations community of Garden River, near Sault Ste. Marie, to Shingwauk Indian Residential School, a few kilometres away. Roach, now 80, doesn’t remember being told why she’d been taken there. She does recall the imposing brown doors, and entering them for the first time, petrified, with her brother Marvin.
Will northeastern Ontario finally get a children’s hospital?
SUDBURY — For northeastern Ontarians, frequent trips to the southern parts of the province are often just a part of life. But when Tina Senior, of Sudbury, and her 15-month-old son, Alexander, travel to Toronto — roughly eight times a year — it’s a matter of life or death. Alexander was born with agenesis of the corpus callosum, a rare congenital disorder characterized by the total or partial absence of the white matter that connects the hemispheres of the brain.
The stars come out to shine at Ontario’s dark-sky preserves
TEHKUMMAH — Wrapped in a soft blanket, Harpreet Whar is shivering. Yet the cool air doesn’t bother her, and neither do the mosquitoes — because she’s truly witnessing the stars for the first time. The luminous points don’t just appear; they pop and glow. “It’s breathtaking. I can see maybe three stars at the most where I’m from,” says Whar, who’s visiting the dark-sky preserve at Gordon’s Park on Manitoulin Island.
How one Ontario town is tackling racism
TIMMINS — There are three new flags flying outside the municipal building on Timmins’ busy Algonquin Boulevard East. Hoisted last Thursday — National Indigenous Peoples Day — they honour Mattagami First Nation, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and the Métis Nation of Ontario. The flags will remain on display permanently. They’re meant to signal that Timmins is working to improve relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people — and to move on from a difficult start to 2018.
At this Ontario farm, Canadian veterans are taking control over their own healing
HAGAR — The army was Eric Coupal’s life, and leaving it wasn’t his choice. Coupal is a retired paratrooper who signed up as a reservist at the age of 16. He served seven tours overseas, in Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Sri Lanka. He suffered a number of combat injuries during his two-decade career, including head trauma when his light armoured vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan. Yet it was an incident closer to home that ended Coupal’s army career.
Sudbury's bribery trial was a crisis for the Ontario government - but local voters may not care
SUDBURY — Over the last four years, a series of unusual events have made the riding of Sudbury an interesting one to watch, and not just for locals: headlines about behind-the-scenes politics — and a resulting trial — have reached across the province. Sudbury has the third-largest population of northern Ontario’s 13 ridings. It has been Liberal red for the past 23 years, minus a brief (but consequential) interruption by the NDP.
Meet Mushkegowuk-James Bay, one of Ontario’s newest and most unusual ridings
SUDBURY — Last year, the Far North Electoral Boundaries Commission made recommendations to create more ridings in northern Ontario. The idea was to improve representation for those who live in remote communities, notably Indigenous and francophone people. Thus were born two new ridings. Kiiwetenoong, a massive domain north of Kenora—Rainy River, is now the largest riding in the province.
The north wants in: The pride - and grievances - that fuel the Northern Ontario Party
SUDBURY — Most people who have a young family to raise wouldn’t give up a third of their salary, a healthy benefits package, and other perks of a job at a crown agency for a slender chance at a seat in the legislature. But Trevor Holliday has done just that.
Northern Ontario’s homeless dog problem
MANITOULIN ISLAND — Walking the streets of Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory — also known as Wikwemikong, or “Wiky” for short — it’s easy to spot historic buildings, the unique landscape of eastern Manitoulin, and the scenic Georgian Bay. It’s also impossible not to notice dogs roaming in packs across the land. The community of about 3,000 people suffers from an overpopulation of dogs, and residents say the problem was even worse a few years ago.
How Indigenous girls are building confidence through hockey
SUDBURY — If you’re seen emerging from a hockey arena when the clock flirts with midnight, there’s a good chance you’re either a beer-leaguer or a professional. Lexi Pine doesn’t fall under either category. She’s 12 years old, and hits the ice with her girls’ peewee minor hockey team until 11 p.m. on weekdays. “By the time I get home, shower, and go to bed, it is midnight. I have school early the next morning too,” says Lexi, who attends Eastview Public School in Sault Ste.
Helping Espanola seniors is rewarding work
A woman in the Sudbury area who's been working hard for years in the social services sector is being recognized as a “Champion of Change.” The province's North East LHIN is saluting Donna Stewart for her work in providing mental health support for residents in social housing units. For more than two decades, Stewart has been in the social services sector and currently oversees several programs regarding social housing.
Sudbury program getting girls active
Keeping girls and young women active and healthy is the goal of a program known as FitSpirit and it's having an impact on students in Sudbury. Sudbury's Nina Kucheran is sharing her story about her journey as a decorated swimmer with elementary and high school students. “I'm so thankful for the opportunity to motivate people on a cause that is just so close to my heart." said Kucheran.
Changes are coming to Novice hockey
Big changes are on the way for youth hockey in Ontario, changes already in place in some parts of the country. They involve youngsters at the novice level, who will play half their season in a half-ice format. The initiative is meant to help improve the skill level of those involved. The novice level hockey players in the Sudbury area currently play on a full ice rink in a typical game of hockey, but next year, they will start the season using half the ice.
What is physical literacy and why is it important?
A group in northern Ontario, known as Active Sudbury, is continuing its push to promote what it calls “physical literacy.” With some new provincial funding, the group is taking the next step to enhance its cause in the community. From kicking a ball, to throwing one, and being taught how to run without injury, students at Churchill Public School in Sudbury recently learned about physical literacy. "The more of these skills I have, the more of these activities I have access to.
Sudbury hospice expansion fundraising continues
Sudbury's Maison McCulloch Hospice is continuing its fundraising campaign for an important expansion of the facility. Organizers say there is a clearly-shown need for added end of life care in the city and today saw another push in a multi-million dollar plan to add more room and more beds. It's called the "Stand by Me” campaign. The fundraiser has been going on for one year and the focus is on expanding the current building. Leo Therrien is the Executive Director of the Maison McCulloch Hospice.
Northern Masters Curling Bonspiel underway in Sudbury
In Sudbury, the Northern Masters Curling Bonspiel is well underway at the Idylwylde Country Club. The tournament is a big draw, with teams traveling long distances to return year after year. The five sheets at the Idylwylde will see some of the best "older" curlers in the north this week, with the 17th edition of the annual competition. "We have a total of 26 teams this year and 11 of those are from outside the Sudbury area." said event organizer Patrick Thompson.
Growing a stronger food system in Greater Sudbury
Pulling together and growing a stronger food system in Greater Sudbury is the plan for a number of different groups in the city. They came together Wednesday to discuss the future of food in a unique setting,a fast-moving forum known as “four-minute foodies.” Seven presenters shared their strategies on how to promote and enhance the food system in Greater Sudbury.
Sudbury group use Facebook to find goalies for hockey games
Playing recreational hockey is a passion for many people all over Northern Ontario, but there are times when the games might not be as much fun, because there aren't two goalies. It's a uniquely-Canadian problem, but a group in Sudbury has developed a solution to save the day. Don Kent spends his lunch hour getting in some exercise by playing some hockey. He is part of a group known as the "Sudbury Goaltenders Union," that has its own Facebook page.
Sudbury high school students focus on mental health
Youth mental health has people from high schools in Sudbury talking. A recent survey revealed that a majority of students deal with significant stress and an event was held in Sudbury on Thursday to see what can be done about issue.
A boy’s positivity inspires Espanola’s junior hockey team
They cheer for them through good times and bad. In the town of Espanola, an hour west of Sudbury, the local Junior “A” hockey team, the Express, is going through a tough season. They've won just one game all year. However, the players are getting inspiration from their littlest fan, who just beat childhood cancer and continues to cheer for the team.
A piece of history sits in the Domtar mill in Espanola
It's a map, painted on one of the walls by a prisoner of war who was held there during World War II. The name isn't fancy, but the story behind it is full of history. It's called the "Map Room" and it's located in an enclosed area at the Domtar Pulp and Paper Mill, about an hour west of Sudbury. "So the map was done to scale, you can see the scale here." said Sarah Lachance of Domtar.
Sudbury mining conference focuses on new technology
A new mining conference in Sudbury is all about looking toward the future. Industry leaders and vendors met Thursday to discuss how digital transformation is changing the game. Some of the brightest minds in mining met in Sudbury to talk “shop” and more specifically, the future of the evolving industry and what it means for the people working in it. "It's changing at an exponential rate, with the rapid advancement of the processing speed of computers.
Violence in schools is taking a toll on teachers
There are alarming new statistics out regarding violence in Ontario elementary school classrooms. Among them is the fact that almost 40 percent of elementary teachers from the English boards in Ontario have suffered mental stress, injury or illness as a result of violence in schools. It's all in a new report from the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario that says, these days, violence in the classroom is more the norm than the exception.
Sudbury university student identified as future Olympian
While the Winter Olympics are coming up next month in South Korea, a university student in Sudbury is busy preparing for a possible trip to a future Summer Olympics in rowing. Charles Alexander only took up the sport a couple of years ago. The second-year Outdoor Leadership student from Fergus, Ontario, trains 3 times a day, 6 days a week. He stands 6 feet, 8 inches tall, and he never thought rowing would be such an important part of his life. "I had zero intention of rowing whatsoever.
First Nation communities want to take care of their own
First Nation communities near Sudbury, North Bay and Parry Sound are one step closer to taking over their own child welfare cases. The province is currently responsible for them, but that's about to change soon. Several northern First Nation communities are in the process of managing their own child care agency. A conference was held on Tuesday where “Taking care of their own children" was the message.
Sudbury man finds success in Para-Nordic skiing
The Winter Olympics Games begin in a few weeks in South Korea and will be followed by the Paralympics. Collin Cameron, from Sudbury, is heading to Germany to compete at a world cup Para-Nordic skiing event prior to the competition in South Korea, and his rise to the top in his sport has been pretty quick. "Just getting the opportunity to represent Canada, against the rest of the world, travelling to these different countries, it's definitely a pretty cool experience." said Cameron.
Police report rise in theft of poppy boxes in Sudbury
As Royal Canadian Legion members get ready for Remembrance Day, many of them are upset by a sad trend. Police say poppy boxes across Sudbury are being stolen from businesses. Charley Skelly has been a legion member for close to three decades. "When something like this happens, it kind of deflates everybody." says Skelly. He says money raised from the poppy campaign stays local and is held in trust and goes to veterans in need, as well as their spouses and their kids.
'Mom, we are being shot at'
Many people are still in shock over the deadly massacre at a Las Vegas music festival on Sunday and that includes a family from the Greater Sudbury area. Kimberly Naponse, her husband and two children were on their annual family vacation. What started out as a perfect evening at a concert by council music star James Aldean, turned into a horrific nightmare. "The screaming, the sirens going off (it was) just unbelievable," said Kimberly.
TSB recommendations for train track safety
It was March of 2015 when 39 cars of a CN train carrying crude oil derailed, causing explosions, fire and spilling 2.6 million litres of petroleum into the Makami River near Gogama. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada released the findings of its investigations Thursday in Sudbury. It says deteriorating rail conditions were just part of the problem. "We identified some systemic issues with CN’s training of its staff.” said Kathy Fox of the TSB.
Long sought after progress in Elliot Lake
People in Elliot Lake say they are still in a state of healing after the Algo Centre Mall collapsed five years ago, but the city took a big step forward on Thursday with the grand opening of a new public library It was an emotional and happy day for people, as Elliot Lakers now have a new library. "With the collapse of the mall back in 2012, we are looking at five years.
'We are locked in and being robbed', home owners say their backyards slipping away
Some neighbours in Greater Sudbury are fed up with what is happening to their backyards. Their land is sinking in - and the property owners told CTV more needs to be done by the city. Five home owners on Melbourne Street in new Sudbury are watching their backyards disappear because of soil erosion. Charlene Aikia said her backyard continues to erode and it's not stopping. It worries her on a number of levels; including her property value.
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