By Stew Kernan

The future looks bright at the Sudbury Regional Hospital.

That was the theme of a speech given at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon today by hospital CEO Dr. Denis-Richard Roy.

He says while having the new one-site facility in full operation is a milestone…it’s just the beginning with more teaching and research on the way.

Dr. Roy says he looks forward to strengthening ties with the School of Medicine, Laurentian University as well as Cambrian College and College Boreal.

Dr. Roy says they also have a golden opportunity to encourage lifestyle changes to help people make the link between current habits and their illness.

By Angela Gemmill

There will not be a strike by another 300 workers at Vale Inco in Sudbury.

Members of Local 2020 voted 84.5 per cent in favour of the new three year contract with the mining giant.

The new deal includes a two percent wage increase over the first two years and another two-and-a-half in the final year.

The office, technical and professional employees ratified the deal despite a recommendation from the bargaining team that it be rejected.

The current agreement expires at midnight tonight.

Vale Inco has been in a labour dispute with its three thousand production and maintenance workers (Local 6500) since mid July.

By Angela Gemmill 

Obesity has become a major health concern across the country…here in Sudbury 63 per cent of the population is either overweight or obese.

The Heart & Stroke Foundation recently created the Healthy Weight Action Plan, an online structured program which is similar to meeting with a weight loss counsellor over 12 sessions.

Dr Sean Wharton calls it a lifestyle change that goes beyond short term goals.

He says success is not always measured by what’s on the scale.

Director of Research at the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Dr Marco Di Buono, says success comes with lifestyle changes not quick fixes.

The free personalized plan provides support for users to adopt healthier eating habits.

www.heartandstroke.on.ca

By Angela Gemmill

It’s empty and silent at the St Joseph’s Health Centre on Paris Street.

The former hospital site is now closed and anyone requiring care must go to the new Sudbury Regional Hospital on Ramsey Lake Road.

All services have been moved to the one-site facility down the road.

Anyone with appointments scheduled at St Joe’s should report to the one-site.

By Stew Kernan

Highway 17 between Wahnapitae and Kukagami Lake Road was reduced to just one lane of traffic for a couple of hours this afternoon because of a bush fire.

Water bombers were brought in to help fight the fire.

By Stew Kernan

Bad-faith bargaining allegations against Vale Inco are expected to be heard beginning in early May.

The Ontario Labour Relations Board is expected to make that announcement later this week.

United Steelworkers lawyer Brian Shell says he hopes the board can resolve some of the roadblocks to ending the almost  nine-month strike.

The union has accused Vale of not putting enough effort into resolving the strike. 

By Stew Kernan

Sudbury’s M-P has introduced a private members bill in Parliament to create a national autism strategy.

Glenn Thibeault says it would help provide relief to those living with autism and their families.

Thibeault says autism doesn’t discriminate based on geography…what’s needed is the necessary funding for treatment.

Thibeault and his NDP colleague M-P Peter Stoffer, who seconded the bill, held an autism awareness event on Parliament Hill this afternoon.

Other M-P’s, Senators and their staff were given the opportunity to learn more about the different types of autism and meet members of the steering committee of the Canadian Autism Spectrum Disorder Alliance.

By Stew Kernan 

Community support continues to pour in for the victims of Friday’s fire in Copper Cliff.

Father Terry Fournier at St. Stanislaus Church says the response has been overwhelming.

Donations of furnishings, clothing, bedding, kitchen ware and toys have all come in over a short period of time.

Father Terry says they’re no longer taking donations at the church, but they’re putting together a list of furniture and appliances.

If you can make such a donation call 682-4683.

Some of the victims have already been in to the church to pick up a few things.

By Stew Kernan

Police have re-opened the portion of Valley View Road in Blezard Valley that was shut down because of a single vehicle collision early this morning.

Not much information has been released on what happened, but the 18-year old driver remains in hospital in serious condition while his 19-year old passenger sustained minor injuries.

The investigation continues.

Police reopened the road just before 10am this morning.

By Angela Gemmill 

Twelve churches around Sudbury have joined forces to ask a higher power for help in ending the ongoing labour dispute at Vale Inco.

A special day of public prayer is going on today in the foyer at Tom Davies Square with an open invitation for anyone in the city to stop in.

One of the Coordinators, All Nations Pastor Jeremy Mahood says this is the first time so many local churches have banded together and he hopes to see more chances in the future.

He says there are times when we don’t always know what to do so the local leaders in faith chose to publicly invite God to bring reconciliation and restoration to the current stalemate.

There are prayer stations set up around the foyer with information on certain issues involved in the labour dispute.

Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal, Independent, Free Methodist and United Church are all involved, but anyone of any faith is invited to stop in for five minutes, an hour or the whole day.

The event runs until eight tonight with a concluding ceremony.

(Local Faith Leaders at the opening of Day of Prayer)