Roberta Bondar Pavilion will be the site for a number of Canada Day activities today. Festivities begin at 2:00 p.m. with the singing of the national anthem. A variety of musical acts, food, beverages and other attractions make this an event to enjoy. There will be entertainment provided by Polka Dot Door’s Cindy Cook, children’s magician Jake Differ, and music group Wild Turkeys, among others. Other attractions on the day include face painting, balloon animals, children’s crafts and a colouring contest with fireworks at dusk. The day concludes with fireworks at dusk.

The Sault Ste. Marie Canal and Fort St. Joseph National Historic Sites are free to visit today in celebration of Canada’s 144th birthday. At the Sault Canal, visitors can watch boats pass through the recreational lock or take a tour. A scavenger hunt is set for Fort St. Joseph — you can also visit the fur trade encampment and display. There will also be a demonstration by Metis Nation of Ontario senator Ruth Wagner on how to make hand-crafted violins. The Fort St. Joseph site will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. today. The canal will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. tonight, with tours starting at 10:00 a.m.

Never refusing a patient into his practice, personally going out on transport and accepting out-of-town transfers. These were just a few of the comments from those who nominated this year’s Doctor William Hutchinson Award winner, longtime pediatrician Dr. Kwok-Lock Lam. The award was given out at the Sault Area Hospital Annual General Meeting earlier this week and is given to the person recognized for distinguished contributions to health care in Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma. Lam came to Sault Ste. Marie after studying at McMaster University in Hamilton and says pediatrics was the ‘right thing to do at the time’. Lam says pediatrics is in good hands at the hospital right now, but expressed concern about the expensive ‘have stethoscope, will travel’ model of care. He says it will be up to the politicians to come up with a better way to serve out-of-town patients in their own communities, but adds having the Northern Ontario School of Medicine will help a great deal.

There are five new members of the Sault Area Hospital board. The new members that were announced at the hospital’s Annual General Meeting this week are Reg St. Amour, Gregory Peres, Frank Sarlo Junior, Debbie Romani and Donna Hilsinger. In the meantime, board chair Elaine Pitcher will remain for one more year, while Jamie Melville becomes the 1st Vice-Chair and Treasurer. Hospital President and CEO Ron Gagnon will remain Secretary of the Board.

The iCare awards are coming to the Sault Area Hospital. The awards will be a recognition of the work done by hospital physicians, staff and volunteers who best demonstrate the hospital’s values. The first iCare awards will be given out in 2012 — more information will be released in the fall.

The International Lake Superior Board of Control is out with its lake level numbers for the month of June. Lake Superior is currently at its chart datum level, but remains 28 centimetres below its long term average for this time of year. Superior levels rose 10 centimetres during June — they usually rise by 7 centimetres. Lakes Michigan-Huron levels are 26 centimetres above their chart datum levels and are about 31 centimetres below their long-term average for the beginning of July. Michigan-Huron levels went up by 8 centimetres last month — they usually rise by 5 centimetres in June. Lake Superior is 2 centimetres higher than at at this time last year, while Michigan-Huron is also 2 centimetres higher than it was at the beginning of July 2010.

The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board has announced its Grade 10 Literacy Test results. Students in the Academic level had a 96 percent success rate — higher than the 95 percent provincial average. 53 percent of Applied level students passed the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test in March, compared to the provincial average of 55 percent. When it came to gender, 84 percent of females passed the OSSLT in March 2011, compared to 73 percent of males. Overall, the catholic board achieved a 79 percent success rate — the provincial average was 83 percent. The board continues to lag behind the provincial success rate by an average of 5 percent since March 2006, when it beat the provincial average.

The Lake State Laker hockey schedule for the coming season has been released and the various ticket packages go on sale tomorrow. The 18 game home schedule includes visits by Michigan State, Notre Dame, Miami and Ohio State. Michigan won’t be making its way to the Sault this year. The Lakers will be participating in the Vermont tournament during the Christmas break.

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Ashley Lynn Kreiser of Brimley will serve a minimum of eight years in prison and possibly as much as 15 years after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter inconnection with the motor vehicle accident that claimed the life of Sault, Michigan residents Dave Strickland and his daughter Lisa Aikens in May of last year. Kreiser admitted to crossing the center line on Lakeshore Drive and hitting the oncoming motorcycle.

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OPP news release…

(PARRY SOUND, ON)- The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be visible to motorists and boaters in their travels this Canada Day long weekend as part of the ongoing effort to promote public safety and security throughout Ontario.

ON THE ROADS
The “Big Four”

The OPP continues to target those who put the wellbeing of others at risk by operating motor vehicles in violation of provincial and federal legislation.

The public is reminded that arriving safely at your destination is no “accident”. Motor Vehicle Collisions (MVC) happen for a reason and motorists should take the necessary steps and make the right choices to arrive alive.

These choices include:

“Operating a motor vehicle in a sober state

“Wearing seatbelts properly and at all times while in motion

“Obeying the posted speed limits and following at a safe distance

“Using only hands-free communication devices while operating a motor vehicle

“There are far too many drivers choosing to drink and drive on our roads in Ontario,” said OPP North East Region Traffic Inspector Mark Andrews. “Motorists are encouraged to call 911 if they suspect someone is impaired by alcohol, drug, or even fatigue”.

Inspector Andrews also warned of the importance of seatbelts, speed, and cell phones. “Seatbelts save lives. It’s that simple. Speed kills. It’s that simple as well. Our Distracted Driving Campaign slogan speaks for itself, Phone in One Hand – Ticket in the Other”.

ON THE WATER
Life Jackets Save Lives

A similar message goes out to those on the waterways this Canada Day weekend. Safe boating means smart boating, and smart boating includes:

“Ensuring ALL persons, operators and passengers alike, wear an approved Personal Floatation Device (PFD)

“Operating vessels in a sober state

“Obtaining and carrying a Pleasure Craft Operator Card

“Respecting rules and regulations that promote safe boating

“None of the 12 boaters who died on the water last year were wearing life jackets, and so far this year, two out of three people who died in boating accidents weren’t either”, advised Inspector Andrews.

“There’s no reason not to wear it,” Andrews said. “It will keep you alive.”

Andrews said it is a good idea to take new life-jackets for test swims, to make sure they fit properly. “Jump in the water and figure out how it feels,” he said.

ON THE TRAILS
Ride Safe

Recreational activities this long weekend will undoubtedly include motorists and cyclists utilizing the thousands of kilometers of All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and cycling trails in Ontario.

The OPP will be conducting patrols to ensure everyone’s safety. Sober operation of ATV’s, wearing of helmets, and responsible driving behaviour are the order of the day.

CANADA DAY WEEKEND 2010 STATISTICS
The Numbers Are In

There were over 1800 calls for service to the North East Region OPP during last year’s Canada Day weekend. OPP investigated numerous preventable collisions over the course of the weekend.

Some of the total numbers throughout the region were:

“2 persons injured and 1 property damage involving ATV’s

“1 person injured involving a vessel

“22 persons injured as a result of MVC’s

“54 property damage MVC’s

“5 fatalities in MVC’s

“These numbers need not be repeated”, advised Inspector Andrews. “Our members will be out there doing their part. We look to the public to make those choices that will contribute to an enjoyable and safe Canada Day Weekend”.