By Stew Kernan

One of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 calls Sudbury home.

Laurentian University president Dominic Giroux was named one of the country’s outstanding leaders under the age of 40.

Giroux is the youngest university president in Canada.

The 35 year old Giroux says it’s been a great couple of years for the university, but he is quick to share the credit with the board and faculty at L-U.

Giroux and the rest of the Top 40 were selected from around 11-hundred nominees.

Laurentian University President Dominic Giroux 

By Stew Kernan

Sudbury continues to celebrate Earth Day.

The rest of the world marked the day on April 22nd, but the 6th annual Earth Day Festival locally is being held today from 10am to 5pm at Tom Davies Square.

In the past the festival was held at Market Square, but has outgrown that space.

The festival has been revamped and is now bigger and better and includes live entertainment, an Eco Film Festival, food fair, workshops and 50 vendors.

The festival is hosted by Rethink Green.

By Stew Kernan

 **UPDATE** Charles “Bart” Deforges has returned home. 

Sudbury Police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing 50-year old man.

Charles “Bart” Deforges hasn’t been seen since he left a home in Capreol on foot yesterday afternoon.

He is 5-feet 7-inches tall, 125 pounds with a thin build and short brown hair and was last seen wearing a black jacket, blue jeans, black rubber boots and a ball cap.

Anyone with information on Deforges is asked to call Greater Sudbury Police at 705-675-9171.

Call Police at 705-675-9171 if you have seen Charles “Bart” Deforges.

By David Lacasse

Two local highschools did some improv to play out some emergency scenarios to kick-off Emergency Preparedness Week.

The week official begins on May 2nd until the 6th, and is recognized across the country with cities encouraging its residents to prepare themselves for emergency situations.

If an emergency occurs, residents need to be prepared to provide for themselves and their families for a minimum of 72 hours.

A kit filled with supplies such as food, water, clothing, medication, flashlight, crank radio and cash should be in a portable container and easy to find should residents need to evacuate quickly.

Today, Lockerby Composite School donated $2,700 to the Canadian Red Cross’ Japan Earthquake/Asia-Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.

By Angela Gemmill

Greater Sudbury Police have issued descriptions of two suspects who used a handgun to demand an undisclosed amount of money from the clerk at the Pioneer Gar bar in Val Caron early yesterday morning.

The two men were dressed in black clothing, one was over six feet tall while the second was between five-foot-four and five-foot-eight.

The taller suspect was was wearing a grey and white plaid jacket turned inside out along with a black hoodie with a small white emblem.

(The top two pictures are the taller suspect while the bottom picture is the shorter suspect)

By Angela Gemmill

Murray McLaughlin was one of the openers when the Northern Lights Festival Boreal started in 1971.

This summer his band, Lunch at Allen’s, will open the 40th annual music event.

Other top acts recently announced for the festival are Broken Social Scene and the Weakerthans along with numerous others.

NLFB Artistic Director, Paul Loewenberg, is looking forward to having NLFB back at the Bell Park amphitheatre after construction forced them out last year.

He says work on the venue will be finished by the time of the festival, but he’s hoping landscaping will be complete and the weather cooperates.

Organizers are looking for pictures and memories from festivals held over the past 40 years.

The poster advertising the current 3-day music event is a picture of hands holding a guitar with the names of every performer who has ever played at the festival written all over it.

The festival runs from July 8th to the 10th.

Further details and a complete list of the line-up can be found at www.nlfbsudbury.com.

(Broken Social Scene)

(The Weakerthans)

(Lunch at Allen’s -with Ian Thomas, Marc Jordan, Cindy Church and Murray McLaughlin)

NICKEL BELT Riding Candidates

LIBERAL Joe Cormier

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NDP Claude Gravelle

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GREEN PARTY Christine Guillot-Proulx

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CONSERVATIVE Lynn Reynolds

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SUDBURY Riding Candidates

LIBERAL Carol Hartman

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CONSERVATIVE Fred Slade

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NDP Glen Thibeault [audio:http://www.ezrocksudbury.com/images/media/richandgary/GLENTHIBEAULT.mp3
GREEN PART Fred Twilley [audio:http://www.ezrocksudbury.com/images/media/richandgary/FREDTWILLEY.mp3

By Angela Gemmill

After several days of rain the city says there were no reports of major flooding, however water levels are expected to continue to rise.

Low lying areas especially will be monitored by the Nickel District Conservation Authority, including the Vermillion River, Whitefish Lake, McCharles Lake, and portions of the Wahnapitae River in Wanup.

They warn anyone with property bordering a lake, river or creek to be prepared in the event of flooding.

By Angela Gemmill

City work crews are out seven days a week making sure our local streets are swept up before the May long weekend.

They’re asking motorists to avoid parking on those street that haven’t been cleared.

The clean-up creates a lot of noise and dust and parents are asked to keep children away from the mechanized sweepers.

Line painting will get underway once the debris is clear.

By Angela Gemmill

Five women and three men face charges after a Prostitution sweep Wednesday night involving several units of the Sudbury Police.

Most of the arrests were made in the Howie Drive, Morris Street and Elgin Street areas.

The suspects, will be offered post charge diversion through John or Jane School, prior to their May court date.

They are all charged with Communication for the Purpose of Prostitution.

The Greater Sudbury Police Community Response Unit, the Youth Branch, Senior Liaison Unit, Uniform division and the Break Enter and Robbery Unit were all involved.