By Matt Harris

Retail stores are allowed to be open tomorrow even though it’s Canada Day.

When Canada Day falls on a Sunday the Federal Holidays Act supersedes provincial regulations, moving the stat holiday to Monday July 2nd.

Constable Bert Lapalme of the Greater Sudbury Police says stores have a choice whether or not to open Sunday, but they must close their doors on Monday.

The regulation allows convenience stores, restaurants, and gas stations to remain open on a holiday.

By Matt Harris

A 14 year old boy has gone missing in the city and police are asking for the public’s help.

Richard Rouleau is 5’5″, with a slim build, and short brown hair.

He is said to frequent the Flour Mill and Downtown areas, and was last seen Thursday afternoon wearing a black hoodie with blue shoes.

Anyone who may know of Rouleau’s whereabouts is asked to contact police.

By Matt Harris

Union Gas will be visiting homes today to restore service after a gas leak yesterday.

Emergency crews evacuated residents on Robinson Drive after an 8 inch main was punctured.

Union Gas shut off three main valves to stop the leak… affecting service to nearly 300 homes.

A city bus was brought in to evacuate the residents who live within an area of 100 meters of the leak.

(Greater Sudbury’s Emergency Operations Centre at the Lionel E. Lalonde Centre in Azilda)

By Angela Gemmill

Is the City of Greater Sudbury prepared in the event of an emergency like what happened in Elliot Lake?

Numerous calls have come into the city from residents and media wondering about Sudbury’s response plan in unpredictable situations.

The Emergency Management team invited local media to tour its Operations Centre in Azilda this morning to help reassure the community.

Community Emergency Management Coordinator, Lynn Fortin, says the “All Hazards Plan” lists what steps must happen when crisis strikes.

An “All Hazards Plan” is focused on what could happen in any municipality at any time, so no matter what the situation the same procedure is followed every time.

When an emergency happens members of Greater Sudbury Police, Greater Sudbury Fire Services, EMS, public works, health officials and other departments and agencies could be involved in the response, including businesses (Vale, Xstrata) which may somehow be involved in the crisis.

Emergency Response Officer, Carolyn Salem explains the Mobile Command Unit is fully equipped to go to the scene of an emergency to send information back to the Operations Centre and other functions.

There are just two members of the Emergency Response team (Fortin & Salem).

When they’re not dealing with an emergency they are responsible for planning, public education, training, exercises and risk assessment.

When crisis strikes all the key players are brought together to ensure there is a coordinated efficient response to an emergency.

Fortin explains that any community emergency is handled by the community, only calling in help from outside if needed.

A State of Emergency declaration can only be signed by a community’s Mayor, who would come to that conclusion with the help and guidance of the emergency management team.

A State of Emergency allows municipalities more freedom to spend money to help rectify the crisis and also connects them with the province’s Emergency Operations Centre which can provide access to more resources and additional support.

Fortin says although the city is fully prepared there is no way to predict when an emergency will happen or how it will play out so they city may not have  every answer to every question.

She encourages businesses and individuals to have an emergency response plan in place and go over it regularly to understands what would happen in the event of an unpredictable situation.

(Emergency Response Officer Carolyn Salem inside the Mobile Command Unit)

(Mobile Command Centre/Unit, which would be set up near the scene of any emergency)

By Angela Gemmill

Hockey Night In Canada’s Play On is in Sudbury this weekend getting residents in on some street hockey action.

Canada’s largest 4-on-4 street hockey festival stops in 19 communities and this is the first year the tournament is in Northern Ontario.

Tomorrow and Sunday Elgin Street, between Larch and Durham Streets will be transformed into a festival atmosphere while the teams play four-on-four street hockey.

Play On National Program Manager, Brandon Pickard hopes for as many as 50 local teams.

The top four mens’ teams and the top two womens’ teams will move on to the championships in Niagara Falls in September.

The Play On crew has been traveling across the country holding these tournaments and Sudbury is their final stop.

Pickard invites residents to the festival to watch the games, especially the Celebrity match which features former and current Sudbury Wolves players and several local celebrities.

Admission is free.

The tournament raises money for the international non-profit group “Right To Play”, which  delivers sports to children in under-developed countries.

www.playon.ca

There are calls for a public inquiry after a four-day effort to find victims in the partially collapsed Algo Mall in Elliot Lake, ended with the removal of two bodies.

New Democrat M-P-P Mike Mantha, who represents the riding, says an inquiry is needed to get to the bottom of the tragedy.

The coroner’s office is conducting an investigation with the help of the OPP.

A lawyer for the mall owners says they have already received notice of a class action lawsuit.

There are also concerns for the economy within the town since the mall housed many retail stores, a hotel, government service offices and a library.

The mall cave-in has meant 250 people are now out of work.

Help is expected to come from the province and the local chamber of commerce.

By Angela Gemmill

Its life in prison for 52-year old Charles Sinobert, with no chance of parole for 17 years.

That was the sentence handed down by a Sudbury Superior Court Judge yesterday stemming from the murder of 44-year old Wanda Talyor, Sinobert’s girlfriend at the time.

She was found stabbed in her Ontario Street apartment October 14, 2010.

Sinobert was found guilty of second degree murder in April.

By Stew Kernan

The United Way Sudbury and Nipissing Districts is stepping up to help the people of Elliot Lake.

The Board of Directors has offered financial assistance in the amount of $10,000 to United Way Sault Ste. Marie.

Executive Director Michael Cullen says they’re also asking that their corporate partners, friends, agencies and donors to consider making a contribution.

All such donations will be earmarked to the Community Assistance Trust program for Elliot Lake.

By Stew Kernan

Sudbury Wolves fans can start planning their lives for the fall and winter.

The Ontario Hockey League released it’s 2012-2013 schedule today.

The local juniors play four pre-season games starting in the Soo on September 6th before hosting the Kitchener Rangers the next night.

The Wolves open their 68 game regular season at home vs the Oshawa Generals on Friday September 21st.

Check the link for the entire Wolves schedule.

http://www.sudburywolves.com/article/2012-13-home-schedule-announced

By Angela Gemmill

A 22-year-old man is charged with Blowing Over 80 after a collision last week.

Greater Sudbury Police say a car went into the ditch last Thursday evening on Radar Road, just east of Skead Road.

The driver failed a roadside screening and then blew over the legal limit at police headquarters.

Gian Carlos Gagliardi is charged.

He was issued a 90-day license suspension and had his car impounded for seven days.