David Helwig
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Articles by David Helwig
Sault's new city council to hold first meeting next week
Five freshly elected members will join Sault Ste. Marie City Council next week as the new council holds its inaugural meeting. A brief agenda for the meeting released on Friday says Keith Boissoneau will conduct a smudging ceremony and Grace McBride will lead the singing of the national anthem. Mayor Matthew Shoemaker is expected to deliver an inaugural address, with comments from the 10 ward councillors. The meeting will be livestreamed on SooToday starting at 5 p.m on Monday.
Outgoing Coun. Sonny Spina looks back at last four years
With an inaugural meeting of Sault Ste. Marie's new city council set for Monday night, outgoing councillor Sonny Spina says the four other incumbent councillors who are leaving with him have positioned us for good years to come. "I really, truly believe that this council has had a term that will set up the future of Sault Ste. Marie for a lot of success," Spina told the final meeting of the outgoing council this week.
'Who is going to stop me?' asks Angela Caputo, former city councillor
Angela Caputo, patriarchy-smashing defender of childhood literacy, diversity, heated sidewalks and a precocious heart-stealing toddler named Leo Gayle, was talking this week about her four-year term as Ward 3 councillor. "Four years ago, I promised to model a better future for our children, and I'm proud to have done that," Caputo said at the final meeting of the pre-election city council on Monday night. "To the women here in Sault Ste.
Vezeau-Allen wants councillors to stop running to the integrity commissioner
Outgoing Ward 2 Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen wants city councillors to trust each other more and ease off on complaints to the Sault's integrity commissioner. In a speech prepared for Monday night's city council meeting, the former councillor said she noticed a definite change in mood between her first and second terms of office. "We never had anything in the first four years where I sat on council in dealing with the integrity commissioner," Vezeau-Allen said.
Vezeau-Allen wants councillors to stop running to the integrity commissioner
Outgoing Ward 2 Coun. Lisa Vezeau-Allen wants city councillors to trust each other more and ease off on complaints to the Sault's integrity commissioner. In a speech prepared for Monday night's city council meeting, the former councillor said she noticed a definite change in mood between her first and second terms of office. "We never had anything in the first four years where I sat on council in dealing with the integrity commissioner," Vezeau-Allen said.
Hollingsworth decries Sault's lack of provincial representation
Last night was the final city council meeting for five of the Sault's 10 ward councillors. Ward 1 Coun. Sandra Hollingsworth and Ward 2's Lisa Vezeau-Allen both stepped down at the end of their current terms and didn't seek re-election this year. Couns. Sonny Spina, Ron Zagordo and Angela Caputo lost in last month's election. Last night, Mayor Matthew Shoemaker gave the outgoing councillors a chance to make some final remarks. Ward 1 Coun.
New rowhouses planned at far end of Wallace Terrace
Four million dollars worth of building permits issued for new townhouses at 1100 Wallace Terrace were among 129 permits worth $9.8 million issued last month. That total compares to 141 permits worth $13.1 million during the same month last year. Year-to-date, the City of Sault Ste. Marie has approved 1,030 building permits worth $136.7 million, compared to 1,067 permits with a construction value of $208.8 million during the first 2025.
Mayor says goodbye to half his city council
Tonight was the last meeting of the current Sault Ste. Marie City Council. And Mayor Matthew Shoemaker addressed all five of the outgoing councillors: Sandra Hollingsworth, Sonny Spina, Lisa Vezeau-Allen, Angela Caputo and Ron Zagordo. The following is the full text of the mayor's remarks. Well, seeing as this is the last council meeting of this term, I want to take a few moments to acknowledge the folks who will not be returning to our next council meeting.
City council agrees on new name for Foster Drive
The short bit of waterfront roadway leading to Sault Ste. Marie's city hall is no longer named after Homer Foster. City council voted tonight to rename the controversial road as Merrifield Way, honouring William Merrifield, an Algoma Central Railroad employee who was awarded the Victoria Cross for exceptional bravery during the First World War. Mayor Matthew Shoemaker alluded to the road's namesake - Homer Foster - but didn't specifically name him at tonight's city council meeting.
Former Sudbury priest who led Canadian Anglican church announces retirement
SAULT STE. MARIE — Anne Germond, who briefly served as spiritual leader of Canada's 1.1 million Anglicans, has announced she'll retire next year as archbishop of Algoma and metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario. Rev. Germond was appointed interim primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in September 2024. She continued in that role until June 2025, while continuing to serve as metropolitan and bishop of Algoma and Moosonee.
Councillors want to tweak mayor's idea for re-naming Foster Drive
In a last-hour addition to the agenda for tonight's city council meeting, Ward 4 Coun. Stephan Kinach and outgoing Ward 3 Coun. Angela Caputo are suggesting changing Mayor Matthew Shoemaker's proposed new name for Foster Drive. As SooToday reported over the weekend, the mayor wants Foster Drive to be re-named Merrifield VC, MM Way. But Kinach and Caputo are proposing it be re-naned Merrifield Way, removing the confusing abbreviations and comma.
Archbishop Anne announces retirement plans
Anne Germond, who briefly served as spiritual leader of Canada's 1.1 million Anglicans, has announced she'll retire next year as archbishop of Algoma and metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario. Rev. Germond was appointed interim primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in September 2024. She continued in that role until June 2025, while continuing to serve as metropolitan and bishop of Algoma and Moosonee.
Archbishop Anne announces retirement plans
Anne Germond, who briefly served as spiritual leader of Canada's 1.1 million Anglicans, has announced she'll retire next year as archbishop of Algoma and metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ontario. Rev. Germond was appointed interim primate of the Anglican Church of Canada in September 2024. She continued in that role until June 2025, while continuing to serve as metropolitan and bishop of Algoma and Moosonee.
Mayor wants to rename Foster Drive
The Ronald A. Irwin Civic Centre at 99 Foster Drive may soon have a new street address. The proposal to rename Foster Drive will also apply to the big Ontario government building (Roberta Bondar Place) at 70 Foster Drive and to Montana's BBQ and Bar at 89 Foster. The last meeting of Sault Ste. Marie's outgoing city council will be on Monday, and councillors will be asked to vote on a resolution to rename Foster Drive as Merrifield VC, MM Way. The resolution was drafted by Mayor Matthew Shoemaker.
Sault's steel mill stands on guard for Canada
Prime Minister Mark Carney used a screen shot of a SooToday article yesterday to inform his social media readers about Algoma Steel's involvement in a $182-million deal to supply steel for six Canadian icebreakers. "Securing Canada's Arctic – with Canadian workers and Canadian steel," Carney declared. Sault Ste. Marie's 125-year-old steelmaker is indeed becoming a key player in Carney's plan to assert Canada's sovereignty over its Arctic region.
WestJet will offer second summer of direct flights from Sault to Calgary
Alberta is still part of Canada, apparently, and its relationship with Ontario may be strengthened by a second summer of seasonal direct flights between Sault Ste. Marie and Calgary. This year, WestJet started offering non-stop summer service twice a week on a 737 from Sault Ste. Marie Airport to Calgary International Airport.
Queen Street remains closed at East
Curb and sidewalk installation are continuing on Sault Ste. Marie's $6-million East Street reconstruction, but the Queen-East intersection remains closed. "Construction operations continue to focus on the Queen Street intersection and include connections with the sewers and watermain that run east-west along Queen Street," says Dan Bertolo from Tulloch Engineering.
Algoma Steel hopes for insurance payout from turbine failure
After accepting a $145 million insurance settlement earlier this year for the 2024 collapse of support infrastructure at Algoma Steel, the Sault steelmaker is now hoping for another payout after an unplanned electrical outage that halted steelmaking for 12 days. "Look, the the outage at Lake Superior was unplanned," Michael Moraca, Algoma's chief financial officer, told a meeting of stock analysts and institutional investors. "We had a premature failure of one of our turbines.
Steel mill expects to bounce back before year's end
After more than two years of financial distress, Algoma Steel Group Inc. is predicting a strong rebound by the end of this year. The last time the Sault steelmaker posted a net profit was for the quarter ended June 30, 2024. That was a paltry $4 million.
Algoma Steel continues to fine-tune its operational performance
Algoma Steel Group Inc. is continuing to trim its operating losses. But as expected, the hemorrhaging continues in third-quarter fiscal results released Wednesday night. Consolidated loss from operations during the three-month period ended Sept. 30 was $94.5 million, compared to a $134.2 million loss from operations in the second quarter and a staggering $651.5 million lost in third quarter of last year.
Rowswell still ticking after Shoemaker licking
Joel Rowswell got 726 more votes than Matthew Shoemaker collected during his successful 2022 mayoral campaign. But that wasn't enough to beat the 12,360 votes Shoemaker received Monday, clinching a second term as Sault Ste. Marie's mayor. The son of the late Mayor John Rowswell appeared gobsmacked when he lost an election that most polls predicted he'd win. Rowswell expressed little interest in visiting Shoemaker's victory party, but he appeared undaunted by his defeat.
Should we revive the Downtown Association?
If the polls are correct and Joel Rowswell is chosen as Sault Ste. Marie's mayor on Monday, big changes may be in store for the way our downtown is managed. "I've spoken to many Downtown Association previous members," Rowswell told a Sault Ste. Marie Labour Council candidates debate on Oct. 7. "Certainly, I would consider bringing it back," the son of the late Mayor John Rowswell said. "It should have never been disbanded in the first place.
Tenaris makes $4M addition to mill
Tenaris Algoma Tubes Inc. has been granted a building permit for a $4-million addition to its existibg mill at 547 Wallace Terrace in Sault Ste. Marie. It was the highest-value permit among 120 permits worth $12.6 million issued by the city in September. That compared to the same number of permits worth $16.8 million during the same month last year. The new addition will be to Tenaris's #3 Bay and is intended to enhance storage capacity and improve process flow efficiency. Tenaris's Sault Ste.
Carney, Ford inject $5 billion into 'ground zero' of tariff war
Sault MP Terry Sheehan is crediting the leadership of Prime Minister Mark Carney after today's announcement of $5.2 billion in new federal and provincial funding for Canadian steel companies. "We are at ground zero in this trade war, and today's announcement gives us more ammunition to continue to punch back because (U.S. President Donald) Trump set out to destroy the steel industry, including our steel industry, and we're not going to let him do that," Sheehan told SooToday.
Julius Caesar, world domination and Sault property taxes
In George Bernard Shaw's 1898 play, , Julius Caesar ordered: "Send out the assessors!" "Is it possible that Caesar, the conqueror of the world, has time to occupy himself with such a trifle as our taxes?" he was asked. "My friend, taxes are the chief business of a conqueror of the world," Caesar replied. Taxes may well be an important concern for world conquerers. And also for wannabe municipal mayors.
East St. road work focuses on Queen St. intersection
The East Street reconstruction project continues, with an emphasis on east-west sewer and watermain connections at the Queen Street intersection. "The second phase of watermain has been commissioned," says Dan Bertolo from Tulloch engineering. "Residents and businesses south of Queen Street have been connected to the new watermain and the temporary supply is being dismantled," Bertolo said in his weekly progress update. "Curb and sidewalk installation is underway.
Shoemaker endorses The Preacher (kinda!)
Not all questions asked at last night's mayoral debate were serious. Solemn discussions about municipal politics at the Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre were broken by some "fun" questions. Of five candidates for mayor of Sault Ste.
Shoemaker endorses The Preacher (kinda!)
Not all questions asked at last night's mayoral debate were serious. Solemn discussions about municipal politics at the Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre were broken by some "fun" questions. Of five candidates for mayor of Sault Ste.
Rowswell comes out swinging
Joel Rowswell took the gloves off at a Wednesday-night candidates meeting, adopting a bolder, more pugilistic stance than he's previously used in the Sault's mayoral race. "I've lived here most of my life, and I've never seen a city like this, ever," Rowswell told a meeting organized by Sault Ste. Marie and District Labour Council. "I have heard it all. People want change. People are saying enough is enough. We've had it," he said.
Sault man fights to block rural estate residential subdivisions
Sault Ste. Marie's foray into rural estate residential subdivisions might take until the cows come home. Back in May, city councillors agreed to approve some rural estate development in a "controlled and limited manner." Now, a local agronomist is moving to block low-density housing developments on larger rural lots served by private wells and septic systems.
Cost of March Street's big fish project jumps
The City of Sault Ste. Marie has approved an additional $66,345 in engineering fees to support installation of improvements in the March Street parkette. The centrepiece of that downtown improvement project will be a giant stainless steel whitefish sculpture, replacing what's now the March Street stage. The $125,000 fish will be large enough to walk under or through. It's being installed under an agreement between the city and Garden River First Nation.
What Sault mayoral candidates think about data centres
At a meet-and-greet this past week, Sault Ste. Marie's five mayoral candidates were asked whether they would support hyperscale data centres being built here. The folkowing are their responses, mildly edited to remove redundancies. Matthew Toffelmire "This is a very good question. Having a background in computers and technology, I already know quite a bit about this topic, and what I can share easily is these hyperscale data centers.
What Sault mayoral candidates think about data centres
At a meet-and-greet this past week, Sault Ste. Marie's five mayoral candidates were asked whether they would support hyperscale data centres being built here. The following are their responses, mildly edited to remove redundancies. Matthew Toffelmire "This is a very good question. Having a background in computers and technology, I already know quite a bit about this topic, and what I can share easily is these hyperscale data centres.
'Dang, these dudes are winning me over. I like 'em,' says The Preacher
They covered the waterfront. They talked about road conditions and taxes. They discoursed about steel. And they spouted what they believed were their qualifications to lead the people of Baawating, an ancient gathering place around the convulsive rapids of the St. Marys River. Five wannabe mayors met for the first time this week at the Sault's James L. McIntyre Centennial Library. Selva Rasaiah, Matthew Shoemaker, Joel Rowswell, Matthew Toffelmire and Josh McNally Technically, it wasn't a debate.
Should Doug Ford and Mark Carney help us move our snow?
City councillors learned this week the Sault's overspending on snow and ice removal this year is expected to be as high as $3.3 million. "Winter control activities remain overspent for the first two quarters of 2026," said Steve Facey, the city's chief financial officer and treasurer, in a report to Mayor Matthew Shoemaker and council.
Coun. Kinach admonished after election 'gerrymandering' suggestion
Ward 4 Coun. Stephan Kinach caught some heat from city council colleagues this week after suggesting a last-minute decision to add a new polling station might be taken as municipal election "gerrymandering." Mayor Matthew Shoemaker, Ward 3 Coun.
Sault expected to go on $225M post-election spending spree: credit analyst
If you're hoping our soon-to-be-elected city council will slash spending, you might be disappointed. The world's largest credit-rating agency is predicting the City of Sault Ste. Marie will spend $225 million on capital projects from this year until 2028. "Over the next several years, the city will continue to invest in key capital projects, notably the West End Water Plant upgrade and the biosolids management facility," says the latest review of the Sault's creditworthiness by S&P Global Ratings.
City council wants review of downtown police presence
Is the 17-month-old downtown substation of Sault Ste. Marie Police Service doing what it was intended to do? City council voted tonight to ask Police Chief Brent Duguay to investigate the effectiveness of the new Division 2 building at 180 Brock Street in preventing downtown crime, and determine whether the operation needs to be tweaked. Chief Duguay is being asked to report back to city council early next year.
Algoma Farmers’ Market will stay where it is
Under a new agreement with the city, Algoma Farmers’ Market will remain in the same place it’s occupied for the past 31 years. The existing agreement under which the market has operated since 2016 at Roberta Bondar Park will expire at the end of October. It’s expected to be renewed at next week’s city council meeting. The new agreement allows the market to stay where it is until Oct. 31, 2032 with an option to renew for an additional five years if both parties agree.
'Conservative' path urged if Sault opens doors to data centres
Sault city councillors will re-open a political powder keg next week as they continue struggling with the data-centre issue. At its last meeting on Aug. 31, council agreed to "direct staff to prepare an interim control bylaw to be brought forward at the Sept. 21, 2026 council meeting, imposing a moratorium on the submission, acceptance, and approval of applications for data centres within the city of Sault Ste.
City negotiates to extend East Street completion date
The reconstruction of East Steet is taking longer than expected, and city officials disclosed Wednesday that they are talking to the contractor about a later completion date. “The date in the contract for substantial completion is Nov. 30, 2026,” Maggie McAuley, the city’s manager of design and construction engineering, says in a response prepared for SooToday.
Queen Street downtown intersection is closed indefinitely
There’s discouraging news today for downtown businesses struggling to stay open because of road work. ”The Queen and East Street intersection is fully closed for the foreseeable future,” says Dan Bertolo from Tulloch Engineering. “Informational signage as well as detour and traffic signs are posted,” Bertolo says in his weekly update on the East Street reconstruction.
Building permit issued for Yates Avenue data centre
Construction is getting underway on a Yates Avenue industrial lot bought by Protexxa and Missanabie Cree Business LP to build a five-megawatt cybersecurity and data centre. The City of Sault Ste. Marie granted a building permit last month for a $1-million storage and shop space at 162 Yates Ave.
New Shoppers Drug Mart planned for Trunk Road
Sault Ste. Marie is about to get another Shoppers Drug Mart location. The city’s building staff report a building permit was issued in August for a $3.25-million building shell at 523 Trunk Rd. That price doesn’t include any additional costs for interior tenant fit-up. The Sault’s newest drug store will be in the rapidly growing commercial district where Trunk Road intersects with South Market Street.
Honking big fare increases predicted for taxis, rideshares
Taxi fares in Sault Ste. Marie have been the same for the past quarter century. But local users of vehicles for hire are about to see that change. "User fees, which have remained unchanged for the past 25 years, will need to increase by 30 per cent to 400 per cent in most cases to offset administrative costs," city solicitor Jeffrey King and deputy city clerk Madison Zuppa warn in report prepared for last week's city council meeting.
One more time, city considers future of Pointe des Chenes
The seasonal weekend Sault Transit bus to Pointe des Chenes ended on Labour Day, but city officials are trying once again to enhance the former trailer park's waterfront recreational value. "I think it's a great piece of property," says Ward 5 Coun. Matthew Scott. "There's a great opportunity out there. Take a look. Put your thoughts forward," Scott said at last week's city council meeting. "I've heard from a lot of people who are interested.
Watermain disconnections to start next week on Queen Street
In the week ahead, some Queen Street businesses will have water cut off near the East Street reconstruction. "Watermain isolation in the Queen Street intersection will begin next week," says Dan Bertolo from Tulloch Engineering. "Service outage notices will be sent to those impacted," Bertolo says in his weekly update on the project. "Construction operations are similar to previous weeks as we move northward with the project.
City agrees to bring back the Lawson Avenue bus stop
Residents of Manitou Park will soon have a bus stop in their neighbourhood. A resolution to reinstate the Lawson Avenue bus route was introduced at this week's city council meeting, but it wasn't acted on after Tom Vair, the city's chief administrative officer, announced a decision had already been reached. "We do have good news on this item," Vair said.
Algoma resumes production and shipping of steel
In a Sept. 2 statement, Algoma Steel announced it fired up its electric arc furnace over the weekend and resumed steel production after an unplanned outage on Aug. 17. While a turbine at Algoma's Lake Superior Power facility remains out of service, the company said it was able to resume production on Saturday under an arrangement with Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator. SooToday has reached out to Algoma Steel and Hydro One for more information.
Algoma Steel resumes production and shipping of steel
In a Wednesday-morning statement, Algoma Steel announced it fired up its electric arc furnace over the weekend and resumed steel production after an unplanned outage on Aug. 17. While a turbine at Algoma's Lake Superior Power facility remains out of service, the company said it was able to resume production on Saturday under an arrangement with Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator. The following is from this morning's announcement: Algoma Steel Group Inc.
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