July 2024 - Posts
The City of Timmins has teamed up with the Save Your Skin Foundation (SYSF) to offer free sunscreen throughout the summer at key locations in downtown Timmins and Gillies Lake. The initiative is a joint effort by SYSF, the Porcupine Health Unit, and the City’s Community Safety and Well-being Team to raise awareness about the danger of skin cancer and necessary prevention, including access to a recommended SPF 30 broad spectrum sunscreen.
“Applying sunscreen is an essential step in being sun safe,” says City of Timmins Community Programs Manager, Meagan Baranyk. “We want to make it even easier to incorporate into your healthy lifestyle. The initiative aligns with our shared safety and well-being priority to provide education and awareness around community safety and belongingness, including wellness. We’re helping to make sunscreen more accessible and to encourage residents to think about sun protection while they’re enjoying the summer.
The dispensers are automatic, touchless, and provide free, SPF 30 sunscreen for anyone who needs it. The dispensers contain Health Canada approved zinc oxide-based mineral sunscreen that is free from common allergens and ingredients like sodium lauryl sulphate. Find the sunscreen dispensers at Gilles Lake Beach while lifeguards are on duty, the Porcupine Health Unit on Pine St. S., and on Wednesday’s at the Downtown BIA Urban Market.
For more information, visit: saveyourskin.ca/sunscreen-dispensers
Amanda Dyer
On Thursday, July 25, 2024, Don Anderson Haulage will be hauling a Hydro One transformer from the Rail Siding on Hallnor Rd. to the transformer station on Brundy Ave. in Schumacher. The move will begin at 6:30 a.m. and take approximately six hours. The width of this load will occupy a two-lane road with limited shoulder area available.
Police will be escorting the load and assisting with traffic control along the route. Due to the height of the load, a number of utility trucks will also provide escort.
In addition, temporary road closures will be in effect on Aura Lake Rd. from Father Costello Dr. and Croatia Ave., and Croatia Ave. from Aura Lake Rd. to Boundary Ln. Travel and parking are prohibited between 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Temporary road closure signage will be in place.
Expect temporary traffic delays along Hwy. 101 E., Father Costello Dr., Aura Lake Rd., and Croatia Ave. while the load passes through town. Consider arranging an alternative route to avoid delays.
Amanda Dyer
City Council has approved $180,000 to extend the Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol Outreach Services until December 31, 2025. The cost will be added to the City’s taxation levy next year.
The City of Timmins and the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) co-funded the outreach pilot project last August to provide enhanced community outreach for urban Indigenous members experiencing homelessness. The outreach services administered by Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol have been crucial to connecting individuals with necessary services and support systems.
“I can say confidently that the pilot project started almost a year ago has been a success,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol offers an outreach service that is invaluable for individuals who need access to housing and well-being supports. They help fill a critical gap in service that is trauma-informed and culturally-appropriate.”
Since August 31, 2023, Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol has had 13,356 interactions with individuals. 1,203 referrals have been made for treatment services, social services, acute care, and community addiction and mental health programs. Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol has also proactively collected over 3,500 sharps, helping to reduce drug-related waste on city streets, laneways, and in public parks.
For more information on Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol services, visit: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/emergency_services/important_contact_numbers
Amanda Dyer
City Council has approved a municipal contribution to the ‘Physician Start-Up Grant’ in the amount of $20,000 per new physician recruit up to a maximum of $200,000 per year for the next three years. The funds will be added to the City’s 2025 municipal budget.
The decision comes after members of the Timmins Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee (TPRRC) made a compelling presentation to council last month on the current physician shortage in Timmins, and the potential shortage in the next five years. Timmins needs forty (40) physicians now and could need over eighty (80) physicians by 2029.
The presentation included a set of initiatives aimed at addressing the shortage, including the development of a ‘Physician Start-Up Grant’ to assist doctors with starting practice in Timmins. The intention is to match equal contributions from the Timmins and District Hospital, City of Timmins, and industry partners for up to 10 physicians per year. With both the hospital and municipal contributions confirmed, the TPRRC will now approach industry leaders to assist.
“There is the potential for tens of thousands of residents to be without direct access to a family physician or required specialist,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “We know there is already a large number of residents who are considered “unattached patients”. Ensuring that we have adequate access to healthcare is imperative. With the projected growth in the mining and mining service sectors alone, supporting sustainable health services is one way that our industry leaders can also support their current workforce and recruitment.”
Amanda Dyer
Vacancy rates, inflationary pressures, affordability, and projected growth in the mining and mining service sectors have made adequate housing a critical challenge for City Council. Over the past several months, work has been done to identify barriers to sustainable housing and strategies to stimulate housing growth in Timmins. City Council has now given the green light on a Housing Action Plan that will begin to put strategy into action.
The City’s Housing Action Plan builds on the Timmins Economic Development Corporation’s (TEDC) Community Housing Taskforce Recommendations to Council report, presented last September. The plan recommends eight city-led actions to address the current and future housing needs of Timmins. Recommendations include intensification and park rationalization studies, adjustments to the current zoning bylaw, and developing a Housing Community Improvement Program (CIP) to encourage the creation of new residential units. The plan supports a range of housing options through subdivision development, infill and regeneration, and purpose-built housing.
“Housing was identified as a key priority of Council,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “We know that in order to take advantage of the opportunities in mining and related industries, we need to grow our skilled labour force. According to the Far Northeast Training Board, there is a projected growth of 3,629 positions by 2029. We need to start addressing the housing challenges now to help support recruitment, development, and economic growth.”
The Housing Action Plan is a key planning tool for the upcoming 2025 budget, and will be used to advocate for provincial funding for housing initiatives at this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference coming up in August.
“We have a clear plan on how we can move forward on our housing priority,” adds Mayor Boileau. “It’s important that the province sees that we’re focused on sustainable solutions that will build up our housing supply and support future growth.”
City of Timmins Housing Action Plan 2024: https://bit.ly/4bHuGOi
Amanda Dyer
Vacancy rates, inflationary pressures, affordability, and projected growth in the mining and mining service sectors have made adequate housing a critical challenge for City Council. Over the past several months, work has been done to identify barriers to sustainable housing and strategies to stimulate housing growth in Timmins. City Council has now given the green light on a Housing Action Plan that will begin to put strategy into action.
The City’s Housing Action Plan builds on the Timmins Economic Development Corporation’s (TEDC) Community Housing Taskforce Recommendations to Council report, presented last September. The plan recommends eight city-led actions to address the current and future housing needs of Timmins. Recommendations include intensification and park rationalization studies, adjustments to the current zoning bylaw, and developing a Housing Community Improvement Program (CIP) to encourage the creation of new residential units. The plan supports a range of housing options through subdivision development, infill and regeneration, and purpose-built housing.
“Housing was identified as a key priority of Council,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “We know that in order to take advantage of the opportunities in mining and related industries, we need to grow our skilled labour force. According to the Far Northeast Training Board, there is a projected growth of 3,629 positions by 2029. We need to start addressing the housing challenges now to help support recruitment, development, and economic growth.”
The Housing Action Plan is a key planning tool for the upcoming 2025 budget, and will be used to advocate for provincial funding for housing initiatives at this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Conference coming up in August.
“We have a clear plan on how we can move forward on our housing priority,” adds Mayor Boileau. “It’s important that the province sees that we’re focused on sustainable solutions that will build up our housing supply and support future growth.”
City of Timmins Housing Action Plan 2024: https://bit.ly/4bHuGOi
Amanda Dyer
City Council has approved a municipal contribution to the ‘Physician Start-Up Grant’ in the amount of $20,000 per new physician recruit up to a maximum of $200,000 per year for the next three years. The funds will be added to the City’s 2025 municipal budget.
The decision comes after members of the Timmins Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee (TPRRC) made a compelling presentation to council last month on the current physician shortage in Timmins, and the potential shortage in the next five years. Timmins needs forty (40) physicians now and could need over eighty (80) physicians by 2029.
The presentation included a set of initiatives aimed at addressing the shortage, including the development of a ‘Physician Start-Up Grant’ to assist doctors with starting practice in Timmins. The intention is to match equal contributions from the Timmins and District Hospital, City of Timmins, and industry partners for up to 10 physicians per year. With both the hospital and municipal contributions confirmed, the TPRRC will now approach industry leaders to assist.
“There is the potential for tens of thousands of residents to be without direct access to a family physician or required specialist,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “We know there is already a large number of residents who are considered “unattached patients”. Ensuring that we have adequate access to healthcare is imperative. With the projected growth in the mining and mining service sectors alone, supporting sustainable health services is one way that our industry leaders can also support their current workforce and recruitment.”
Amanda Dyer
City Council has approved $180,000 to extend the Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol Outreach Services until December 31, 2025. The cost will be added to the City’s taxation levy next year.
The City of Timmins and the Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) co-funded the outreach pilot project last August to provide enhanced community outreach for urban Indigenous members experiencing homelessness. The outreach services administered by Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol have been crucial to connecting individuals with necessary services and support systems.
“I can say confidently that the pilot project started almost a year ago has been a success,” says Mayor Michelle Boileau. “Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol offers an outreach service that is invaluable for individuals who need access to housing and well-being supports. They help fill a critical gap in service that is trauma-informed and culturally-appropriate.”
Since August 31, 2023, Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol has had 13,356 interactions with individuals. 1,203 referrals have been made for treatment services, social services, acute care, and community addiction and mental health programs. Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol has also proactively collected over 3,500 sharps, helping to reduce drug-related waste on city streets, laneways, and in public parks.
For more information on Mushkegowuk Fire Keeper Patrol services, visit: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/emergency_services/important_contact_numbers
Amanda Dyer
City Council celebrated ten athletes from École secondaire catholique Thériault at Tuesday night’s council meeting, highlighting their gold and silver medal wins in OFSAA track and field, cross-country running, and Nordic skiing competitions.
The Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) is a not-for-profit organization and registered charity that hosts 45 provincial high school championships across 21 sports, plus programs and services that enhance school sports in the province.
The following students were nominated by their high school coaches Joel Ruel, Sabrina Sullivan, and teacher Neil Bangs for a Heart of Gold Recognition Award under sports achievement:
Kiana Charest
• OFSAA Gold Medalist in Novice Girls 1500 meters (Track & Field)
• OFSAA Silver Medalist in Novice Girls 800 meters (Track & Field)
• OFSAA Silver Medalist in Novice Girls 3000 meters (Track & Field)
• OFSAA Gold Medalist in Junior Girls 5 km - High School Division (Nordic Skiing)
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls 5 km Race (Nordic Skiing)
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls Sprint Relay (Nordic Skiing)
• OFSAA Team Gold Medalists in Novice Girls (Cross-Country Running)
Anthony Minarik
• OFSSA Silver Medalist in 130+KG division (Wrestling)
Chantal Kukulka
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls 5 km Race (Nordic Skiing)
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls Sprint Relay (Nordic Skiing)
• OFSAA Silver Medalist in the Junior Girls 5km Open Division (Nordic Skiing)
Nicole Kukulka
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls 5 km Race (Nordic Skiing)
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls Sprint Relay (Nordic Skiing)
Jillian Daguerre
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls 5 km Race (Nordic Skiing)
• OFSAA Gold Medalists in the Junior Girls Sprint Relay (Nordic Skiing)
Isabelle Rivard
• OFSAA Team Gold Medalists in Novice Girls (Cross-Country Running)
Maia Kinsella
• OFSAA Team Gold Medalists in Novice Girls (Cross-Country Running)
Sydney Picard
• OFSAA Team Gold Medalists in Novice Girls (Cross-Country Running)
Lyla Presseault
• OFSAA Team Gold Medalists in Novice Girls (Cross-Country Running)
Brooklyn Molnar
• OFSAA Team Gold Medalists in Novice Girls (Cross-Country Running)
Achievement in Sports recognizes performance at the highest competition available to that sport, at the local, regional, provincial, national, or international level. Each student has displayed competitive excellence in their sport, developing sportsmanship, perseverance, and providing inspiration to other youth.
Recipients of the Heart of Gold Recognition Program are recognized once a month during a regular meeting of council. Residents are encouraged to nominate someone they know who has made a positive impact on the community or achieved outstanding accomplishment in the following categories:
• Volunteer and Community Service
• Youth Community and Civic Engagement
• Achievement in Sports
• Achievement in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics)
For the nomination form and program eligibility, visit: https://www.timmins.ca/our_services/city_hall/mayor_and_council/heart_of_gold_civic_recognition_program
Amanda Dyer
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