The Mid-North Monitor
Local cat rescue paving the way with compassionate care
Nickel City Cats, based in Sudbury, has been working hard with their small network of volunteers to provide quality care to stray and feral cats and kittens across the northeast. It all started in early February 2024 when Donna Charron took the plunge...
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Blind River to the `Ice' rescue
The Espanola Recreation Complex is a bustling place no matter what time of year but in early January, the indoor ice rink is a popular place to be on these very cold winter days. Home rink of the Espanola Paper Kings Jr. “A” hockey team, and...
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Public Health is reporting an increase in strep infections
Public Health Sudbury & Districts (PHSD) is reporting an increase in Group A Streptococcus (GAS). Christina Baier, a manager in Public Health's Health Protection Division explains, “Strep bacteria are widespread and even live on our skin typically...
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Local residents consulted about future of the former Domtar Mill
On Tuesday, Dec. 16, BMI Group opened up the newly named Bioveld North Inc. facility to upwards of 50 individuals, invited to share their vision of the future of the former pulp and paper mill. They were also invited to take part in a tour of the...
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Lions bingo helps our veterans
Once again, the Espanola Lions Club has donated all the proceeds from their `Poppy Bingo' to the Legions in Espanola and Massey. On hand to receive the Espanola portion was Bill Noon, Legion president. The `Poppy' money is used to help veterans in many...
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Espanola council awards GIP Paving with phase 5 contract
Espanola Council awarded GIP Interpaving the contract for phase five of the Connecting Link project on the south end of the Town of Espanola. This phase, from Foucault to Kei Will Drives, will not include water and sewer infrastructure, as those...
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Espanola says 'no' to battery storage site
Espanola council heard a presentation by Simon Rowland, the CEO of Renewable Power Partners, an energy company that is proposing a stationary shipping container battery site in the town. The site would be located on the north end of town, west of...
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Battistelli stepping down as CEO of the Espanola hospital
On Tuesday, Nov. 25 the Espanola Regional Hospital and Health Centre announced that chief executive officer Jane Battistelli will be stepping down and a new CEO taking up the position. Her official bio on the hospital website mentions that she has held...
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Road toll supporting North Shore Search & Rescue
Not the most optimal weather for a day outdoors but then again, these folks are a hardy crew which they have proven many times over the years. North Shore Search & Rescue members were out on Highway 6 in Espanola for their annual NSSAR road toll...
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Indigenous Veterans Day celebrated on Nov. 8 at Espanola Legion
As part of Veterans Week which runs from Nov. 5 until the 11, Indigenous veterans are specifically acknowledged on Nov. 8 for their service and the unique challenges they faced upon returning home. Known as Anishinabe Zhimaaginishi Giizhigad this day...
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RECORD NUMBERS VISIT MASSEY HAUNTED TRAIL
For two weekends just before Halloween, the town of Massey was a very scary place to be for both young and old, but especially as the sun went down at the Massey Fairgrounds. Friday and Saturday, Oct.17-18 and Friday and Saturday, Oct.2425 from 6 p.m....
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BMI GROUP ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF DOMTAR MILL NOW COMPLETED
On Oct. 17, BMI Group officially completed its purchase of the former Espanola pulp and paper mill. In a follow-up press release the company said, “the site will now operate as Bioveld North Inc., a complement to Bioveld Niagara Energy Innovation and...
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EHS students’ timber framing ‘real world experience’
The first weekend of October saw some great weather in the high 20C’s with lots of sunshine, a great day to be outdoors at a farm setting. For some Espanola High School construction students, this weekend outing with teacher, Gabriel Keresztesi and...
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ESPANOLA MINOR HOCKEY KICKS OFF A NEW SEASON
An event was held at the Recreation Complex on the weekend of Sept. 20 to celebrate a new season of Minor Hockey. The players were able to meet their coaches and have an on-ice practice as well as other activities for the youths. Outdoor activities...
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A day for Truth and Reconciliation
Local schools, the Town of Espanola and Noojmowin Teg Health Centre came together on Tuesday, Sept. 30, to honour and remember the Indigenous children all over Canada who were forced to go to Indian Residential Schools, over many decades, enduring...
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Leclair family overwhelmed by Espanola's generosity
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, Gerry Massicotte and the Espanola Golf and Country Club held a fundraiser for a local family, whose three-yearold boy has been battling cancer for the past 10 months. Little Gino Leclair was diagnosed with pleuropulmonary...
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Annual Mud Run Highlights Success of Boogie Mountain Summer Programming
With grass-stained pants, wet shirts, and mud-filled shoes, dozens of participants took part in a test of sheer endurance at Boogie Mountain Ski Hill on Sunday, Sept. 14. Those who braced the five-kilometre run and obstacle course were awarded with a...
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GINO LECLAIR'S BRAVE CANCER JOURNEY
Gino LeClair is a very brave young boy, who has faced an uphill battle against one of the worst diseases anyone can endure. He was only two and a half years old when he was diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma. This disease is defined by the...
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LOCAL HERO 7-YEAR-OLD ELIJAH HENNESSEY
Seven-year-old Elijah Caden Hennessey, was born to Jessie Hennessey and Thomas Wallace of Elliot Lake on Nov. 23, 2017, but sadly passed away on July 31, 2025 at Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids). Within a couple of months of being born...
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Espanola High student helps beautify Black Creek Park
When Espanola High School student Collin Riebel decided to volunteer his 40 hours of service to doing repairs and any necessary sprucing up of the Game and Fish Black Creek Park and Sno-Shoe Trail, Dennis Lendrum, maintenance overseer, did not realize...
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A BLUE JAY OR A BUZZARD?
A Blue Jay will sometimes look a little strange as it starts molting, sometimes twice a year. For people not realizing that birds do molt, it can be a strange sight and interpreted as a sick bird. Birds typically go through the molting process in...
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THE MASSEY FAIR, A MEMORY TRIGGER WARNING, AND A GOOD ONE
As one grows older in years, many memories somehow get lost or deleted in a mindful of an overstuffed vault of incidents and matters from the past. Reminiscences are sometimes removed with the passage of time, and then there are those recollections...
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Northern Ford event celebrates local NASCAR tribute car
It was a sunny morning on Tuesday, Aug. 5 and an even sunnier one for Pat Parker, owner of a tribute Shell Pennzoil Ford and a longtime racing fan. A small event was held at the Northern Ford dealership to celebrate the car's driver, Joey Logano, and...
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HOMETOWN SECRETS
Have you ever gotten tired of the same old tourist attractions and wanted to have a genuine smalltown experience? Travel off the beaten path to find the best kept secrets around. It all starts in Espanola, after you've enjoyed all the town has to...
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VISITING ESPANOLA THIS SUMMER? HERE ARE 10 THINGS TO KNOW
Nestled near Sudbury’s doorstep, smack dab in the LaCloche Foothills of the North Shore lies Espanola. Our vibrant community, home to just more than 5,000 residents, is home to more than meets the eye. From having worldclass recreation, vibrant local...
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ESPANOLA'S GRANT LEWIS; A TIRELESS VOLUNTEER IN OUR COMMUNITY
There are many volunteers in the community of Espanola and the surrounding areas. Small towns seem to produce those kind of people who love to give their time to help others. From the all-volunteer service clubs such as the Lions Club or all-volunteer...
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ESPANOLA'S CANADA DAY CELEBRATIONS FULL OF FAMILY FUN
It's Canada Day up the Espanola way! There are few times in Espanola where the community lights up with activity and celebration more-so than July 1, with several organizations hosting family events, performances and games for all ages. For their...
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Leah Emiry celebrated by CSCN as an inspirational leader
Ecole secondaire catholique La Renaissance has some outstanding graduating students, including Leah Emiry. Emiry who has just completed Grade 12 at the Espanola French language school has been singled out by Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon as an...
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EHS HOSTED ONTARIO CAREER LAB
Espanola High School hosted the Ontario Career Lab on Wednesday, June 11. Thirteen local `career coaches,' consisting of entrepreneurs, professionals, municipal staff and tradespeople, had round-table discussions with Grade 9 and 10 students. Coaches...
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Espanola Regional Hospital Foundation receives generous donation
On Tuesday, June 3, the Espanola Regional Hospital Auxiliary donated the generous sum of $47,000 to the Espanola Regional Hospital Foundation in support of cardiac monitoring equipment. According to a press release from the Foundation, “This...
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End of an era; Espanola Legion’s last living WWII veteran, Orio Talevi passes on
Born June 24, 1922 in Espanola, to parents Ilario (Larry) Diotalevi and Erminia Tonelli, Orio was given his name by his father who worked as a miner. The name Orio means ‘golden’ in Italian. In the early 1900s Diotalevi and his future wife emigrated to...
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Public Health looks at effects of white supremacy and racism on Indigenous health
The Thursday, May 15, Sudbury Board of Health meeting included a presentation on the effects of white supremacy and racism on Indigenous health and the steps that are being taken to unlearn these harmful traits. Sarah Rice, manager, Indigenous Public...
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ESPANOLA LEGION HAS NEW EXECUTIVE
The newly elected executive of Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 39 in Espanola, will take office June 1. Those present to commemorate the occasion included incoming president Bill Noon, immediate past president Gary MacPherson (not shown), 2nd vice...
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BIO Group bringing clean-technology company into Espanola mill
With the purchase of the Domtar mill set to be finalized by the end of May 2025, BIO Group is looking to partner with CHAR Technologies Inc. as part of their proposed bio-hub complex at the site. The strategic partnership agreement between the two...
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Espanola celebrates uniqueness
Flag raised at town hall for Community Living Month Community Living Espanola officially kicked off the start of Community Living Month on Thursday, May 1 with the raising of their flag at the Espanola Town Office. They were joined by council members,...
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BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING COVERS HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE COMMUNITY
The April 17 Sudbury Board of Health meeting covered four key areas of health for the communities that fall under the auspices of Public Health Sudbury & Districts: Indigenous health, outbreaks and vaccine preventable diseases, oral health, and...
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Saved by the BEEP!
It has been a difficult start to 2025 for fighting fires in Ontario. According to the Ontario Fire Marshal (OFM), from Jan. 1 to Feb. 7, there have been 14 fatalities in just six weeks caused by fire. In December 2024, a devastating fire took the home...
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OSPREYS RETURN TO ESPANOLA
Spring in Espanola brings the excitement of the return the famous an osprey couple. As they leave separately in the fall, we await their separate arrival in April. The male and female migrate separately to different locations but always return to the...
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Espanola Council Report
There was much debate surrounding how to fill a vacancy at the council table during Espanola's most recent regular meeting April 8. Per the Ontario Municipal Act, if a sitting councillor resigns or is disqualified from holding office, council must...
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La Renaissance students explore Portugal
During March Break, a joint group of students from Espanola's Ecole secondaire La Renaissance and Sault Ste. Marie's Ecole secondaire Notre-Dame-du- Sault had a wonderful time exploring Portugal. According to a press release from Conseil scolaire...
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Zone H3 commander installed
President of the Royal Canadian Legion Espanola Branch 39, Gary MacPherson, was elected to be the new Zone H3 Commander on March 15 at the Legion Zone Convention. The convention was held at Legion Branch 39 and was attended by representatives from 10...
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OTTER CONSIDERED PERFECT PREDATOR
Spring is a sure thing when you see the otters popping out onto the ice with a fish on. These cute semi-aquatic mammals with bone crushing teeth enjoy fish, crayfish and frogs, but will eat anything. They can hold their breath for up to eight minutes....
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REAL ESTATE MARKET IN ESPANOLA DOING WELL
Although doom and gloom has been a long-held prediction for the Town of Espanola if the local pulp and paper mill shut down, that scenario did not come to fruition. In fact, there appears to have been little to no impact. Monica Gallagher, broker for...
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ESPANOLA REGIONAL HOSPITAL AND HEALTH CENTRE HOLDING STRONG FOR THE FUTURE
The Espanola Regional Hospital and Health Centre is a 70-bed facility, serving a population of approximately 15,000 people. Jane Battistelli is the chief executive officer of the ERHHC. She serves as the administrator of the Espanola Nursing Home as...
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Welcome to our new series - How Canada Wins: A blueprint for a prosperous nation
Our intention in developing the series of stories you are about to read is simple: We believe in Canada, and in Canadians, and we believe in a shared, prosperous future for the people and communities who comprise this country. We believe it is a great...
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Local youngster organizes food drive for Espanola Helping Hand Food Bank
Nine-year-old Aivah St. Amour is the driving force behind the Hopping for Hunger Food Drive, taking place from mid-February to March 31. The food collected during the six-week period will be delivered to the Espanola Helping Hand Food Bank (EHHFB)...
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Espanola taxes to rise 4.99%
Espanola council approved the town's $17 million budget for 2025 at the Feb. 11 regular meeting. Included is the provision for the town to take on a maximum of $1.1 million of debt to complete phase four of the Connecting Link project, which re-vamps...
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Pinworm infections circulating in the Espanola community
On Monday, Feb. 3, a letter was sent by the Sacred Heart Catholic School, to parents in the community to alert them that there could be the spread of intestinal parasites. Pinworms are a very common parasite usually found among children aged five to...
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Manitoulin OPP respond to collision on Highway 17
The Manitoulin OPP responded to a two-vehicle collision on Highway 17 in the Township of Nairn-Hyman. On Jan. 28, at approximately 5:30 p.m., the Manitoulin OPP received a call for a head-on collision between a pickup truck and a commercial motor...
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Espanola getting funding for the Espanola Senior Citizens Club
On Tuesday, Jan. 14, the Ontario government announced that it is investing $3.7 million in 316 existing Seniors Active Living Centre Programs across the province. On the government website there is a list of organizations that received funding to...
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ESPANOLA COUNCIL REPORT
PUBLIC HEARING Council approved a rezoning application for 551 Centre Street approving it for use as a distribution warehouse. The location was previously used for this purpose without objection. The owner of the property intends to maintain the...
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Lions Club supports Espanola Skating Club
It's time… time for what? Time is the interesting theme for this year's skating carnival. Come on out and see this dedicated group of children and volunteers, and maybe a few dads and hockey players, skate to the theme of `It's Time. Guaranteed to be a...
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A memorable meeting
Shortly after Christmas, Lisa Richer and her husband Choo, went out for a little road trip and ended up in Red Deer Village. The village just west of Whitefish Falls, is aptly named as deer sightings are quite common and Lisa was hoping to get some...
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La Renaissance holding open house event mid-January
There are eight secondary schools under the direction of Conseil scolaire catholique Nouvelon which will be holding open houses from Jan. 13 to Jan. 22, 2025. These French-language Catholic secondary schools include Ecole secondaire du Sacre-Coeur and...
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CRAFTING WARMTH AND KINDNESS
There is a special woman in Webbwood, who at 93, is still going strong. Over the past couple of decades, Shirley Mousseau has crafted thousands of pairs of mittens to keep children warm during the cold winter months. Although Mousseau has experienced...
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Espanola Council Report
Espanola council approved increases to the town's water and sewer rates at its Dec. 10 regular meeting. The rates were adjusted in July and will go up again next month due to “significant increases” in the cost of operating the water and sewer...
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La Renaissance students participate in Pilgrimage of Hope
On Monday, Nov. 18, the staff and students from Ecole secondaire catholique La Renaissance participated in the Pilgrimage of Hope. This annual event is described in a press release, as “a local walk to raise awareness among youths on the importance of...
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Espanola council report
Espanola council approved the severance of a lot on Elizabeth Street which will be the site of 10 new rental units. Of the 10 apartments, three would be gearedto-income, with rents at approximately 17% below market value, or roughly $700 per...
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Good people and good times found at the local Elks Lodge #346 in Espanola
The Espanola Elks Lodge hosted a small informal dinner and meeting for members on Wednesday, Nov. 13 in honour of a visit from Grand Exalted Ruler Myles Reid and his wife Annie of Echo Bay Elks Lodge No.535. After the incredible effort this community...
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Espanola council report
Manager of environmental services and special projects Joel Yusko came before council at the Nov. 12 regular meeting to ask for approval to submit a grant application to commence phase five repairs of Highway 6. A 360-metre section of the highway on...
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Spartan MOVEMBER Campaign
The month of November has become a special month to celebrate men's health through various campaigns across Canada. Best known for raising awareness for men's health, in particular prostate health, the movement has grown to include men's mental health...
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EPL, EVOLVING WITH THE TIMES
Public libraries have changed significantly over the past 50 years. They are now vibrant spaces alive with the sounds of children playing, knitting needles clicking, laughter, conversations and an abundance of technology. The Espanola Public Library...
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Wall of Fame Inductees, 2024
Espanola selected three recipients for the Wall of Fame, 2024. They include Armand Bourguignon, Dennis Lendrum and Dr. Tamra Jones. The ceremony took place at the 25th anniversary gala of the Espanola Recreation Complex on Oct. 17. The committee had to...
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COVID-19 back in Espanola Long-Term Care
On Friday, Oct. 11 Public Health Sudbury & Districts declared a COVID-19 outbreak at the Espanola Nursing Home. As of Monday, Oct. 14, there were active cases in both the north and south wing of the facility. Hospitals, nursing homes and group homes...
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Second Annual Foundation Classic raises $49,264
On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Espanola Regional Hospital Foundation send out a press release announcing the results of the Second Annual Foundation Classic to support the purchase of a new cardiac monitoring system. On Sept. 14, the foundation partnered...
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Breast cancer awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and it is an internationally recognized campaign to raise funds for, and to increase awareness of, the disease. It is estimated by the Canadian Cancer Society that in 2024 more than 30,000 women will be...
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Espanola first female Lion president proud of club's giving spirit
The Espanola Lions Club is an organization known for its efforts to fund raise and support the community; it was that generosity and commitment to service that first inspired Elly Charette, its current president, to volunteer. Charette and her husband...
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