Love the North

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Love the North

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Location: Sudbury, ON

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Love the North (LTN) is your hub for everything Northern Ontario — promoting and showcasing local businesses, nonprofits, and the next generation while addressing regional challenges and exploring real solutions for a stronger Northern Ontario.

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Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor

Sudbury mayoral candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli says many of the problems facing Greater Sudbury today did not appear overnight.

Her concern is what happens when difficult decisions are delayed for years, infrastructure is not maintained properly, and residents repeatedly raise concerns without feeling heard.

Rocca-Circelli argues that after amalgamation, many communities gradually lost influence over local decisions while taxes continued to rise and services declined. She says roads, underground infrastructure, municipal buildings and other assets were allowed to deteriorate until multiple problems began demanding attention at the same time.

That is the consequence of **kicking the can down the road**.

A repair that could have been addressed years ago becomes a major reconstruction. Deferred maintenance becomes borrowing. A resident concern that could have been solved early becomes frustration and distrust.

And when people feel they have raised the same issue for years without a meaningful response, they eventually stop believing City Hall is listening.

Rocca-Circelli says Greater Sudbury needs stronger ways for individual communities and wards to identify their priorities and have a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their roads, parks, infrastructure and services.

**Ignoring a problem does not make it cheaper. Ignoring residents does not make the problem disappear.**

Her message is that leadership has to deal with problems before they become crises — and residents need to know their concerns are actually reaching the people making the decisions.

#Sudbury #MirandaRoccaCircelli #SudburyElection #CityHall #Infrastructure #Accountability #ResidentsFirst #CommunityVoice #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261008-sudbury-ward-11-shawn-ouimet

Ward 11 candidate Shawn Ouimet says Greater Sudbury has an accountability problem when taxpayer money can seemingly “show up” after not being clearly identified before.

During the interview, Ouimet points to recent examples where he says the City identified amounts of roughly $18 million and $22 million that had not previously been accounted for in the way residents would expect. His question is simple: **how does that happen, and who explains it?**

Ouimet compares it to private business. If a company suddenly discovered tens of millions of dollars sitting somewhere that management did not know about, there would immediately be questions about accounting controls, reporting and responsibility.

He argues taxpayers deserve the same standard.

This is public money — collected from homeowners, workers, retirees and businesses with the expectation that it will be tracked carefully and spent for the benefit of the community.

Ouimet says mistakes can happen, but when large amounts are identified after the fact, residents deserve more than a shrug.

**Where was the money? Why was it not clearly accounted for earlier? Who was responsible for tracking it? What controls have changed so it does not happen again?**

He also questions whether City departments are getting enough value from every dollar they spend and says accountability should mean more than simply approving a budget.

Ouimet’s broader point is that taxpayers should be able to follow the money from the moment it enters City Hall until the moment it is spent.

**When millions of taxpayer dollars suddenly appear, the most important thing that should appear with them is an explanation.**

#Sudbury #ShawnOuimet #Ward11 #TaxpayerDollars #Accountability #CityHall #MunicipalSpending #PropertyTaxes #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261009-sudbury-ward-11-amy-voz

Ward 11 candidate Amy Voz says one of the ways to build a stronger city is to start with the people who are struggling the most.

Her view is that homelessness, addiction, mental health and housing instability are not isolated problems. When people are stuck in crisis, the pressure eventually spreads through the entire community — into policing, emergency services, healthcare, neighbourhood safety and municipal spending.

Voz says the starting point should be helping the most vulnerable residents stabilize.

That can mean access to detox when someone is ready, transitional housing after detox, mental-health and addiction supports, and help overcoming barriers such as bad credit, criminal records or unstable employment.

Her argument is that if someone is trying to rebuild their life but cannot find housing or support, the system can push them right back into crisis.

**Start at the bottom. Help the people in the weakest position first. Then build upward from there.**

Voz believes that healthier outcomes for the most vulnerable can ultimately reduce pressure on the rest of the system and help create a healthier community overall.

It is not about ignoring everyone else.

It is about recognizing that when the foundation is failing, the problems above it become more expensive and more difficult to manage.

**Strengthen the people who need the most help, and you strengthen the community around them.**

#Sudbury #Ward11 #AmyVoz #Homelessness #MentalHealth #AddictionRecovery #Housing #CommunitySupport #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261009-sudbury-ward-rajotte-on-youth

Ward 7 candidate David Rajotte says organized sports can be one of the best things for young people — but for many families, the cost is becoming a barrier.

During the interview, Rajotte talks about how expensive some sports have become, especially hockey. Registration fees are only part of it. Families can also face costs for equipment, travel, tournaments and everything else that comes with putting a child into organized sports.

His concern is that if participation depends too heavily on how much money a family has, some kids are going to be left out.

Rajotte says there should be **more local assistance available to help children participate**, especially when parents simply cannot afford the full cost.

For him, this is bigger than sports.

Organized activities can give kids structure, friendships, mentors, confidence and something positive to look forward to. Rajotte also connects youth involvement with reducing boredom, vandalism and other problems that can grow when young people have nowhere to go and nothing meaningful to do.

He also believes Greater Sudbury should make better use of community centres and arenas that already exist, including offering more affordable activities beyond traditional organized sports.

**A child’s opportunity to play, participate and belong should not depend entirely on the size of their parents’ wallet.**

Rajotte’s message is that investing in youth now can pay off later by helping build stronger kids and stronger communities.

#Sudbury #Ward7 #DavidRajotte #YouthSports #OrganizedSports #Hockey #Affordability #YouthPrograms #CommunitySupport #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261012-sudbury-ward-natalie-tessier-on

Sudbury property taxes are high — but Ward 8 candidate Natalie Tessier says the issue is not just City Hall spending.

She argues that part of the pressure comes from higher levels of government pushing responsibilities and infrastructure costs down onto municipalities without enough funding following them.

During the interview, Tessier points to provincial funding formulas she believes leave Greater Sudbury carrying too much of the burden. The host describes this as a form of **“stealth downloading”** — the responsibility moves downward, but taxpayers still end up paying for it through municipal taxes.

Infrastructure is a major example.

Greater Sudbury has aging roads, water and sewer systems, while heavy mining and industrial traffic also puts added pressure on local infrastructure.

Tessier says Sudbury needs to push the province harder for a fairer share of infrastructure funding and argues that Northern communities producing critical minerals should not be left struggling to pay for the roads and services that help support that economy.

At the same time, she says City Council still has a responsibility to scrutinize every budget, ask difficult questions and make sure residents are getting real value for their tax dollars.

That leaves a fair question for taxpayers:

**Who is running this place — and is everyone treating the public purse like it has no bottom?**

Before another tax increase lands on residents, taxpayers deserve to know whether City Hall is spending wisely and whether the province and federal government are paying their fair share.

#Sudbury #NatalieTessier #Ward8 #PropertyTaxes #TaxpayerDollars #Infrastructure #CityHall #NorthernOntario #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-farm-to-table-in-northern

Brianna from Radical Gardens in Timmins says something that really defines their whole operation:

**“Firstly, we are farmers. Secondly, we own a restaurant.”**

Radical Gardens operates its own organic farm and grows all of its own mushrooms — including oyster, king oyster, shiitake, enoki and lion’s mane. Their indoor mushroom room is only about 12 feet by 12 feet with 12-foot ceilings, but Brianna says it can produce roughly 200 pounds of mushrooms per week.

Those mushrooms do not just go straight into restaurant dishes.

At the beginning of the farmers’ market season, Brianna says they ramp production up because local customers are waiting for fresh mushrooms. They sell at the farmers’ market, use mushrooms throughout the restaurant, and also preserve part of the harvest by dehydrating them and turning them into powders and seasonings for use later in the year.

That is what farm-to-table looks like when the farm truly comes first.

You grow what works in your climate.
You bring it directly to the farmers’ market.
You use it in your restaurant.
You preserve what you can.
And you waste as little as possible.

For Brianna, farming in Northern Ontario is not easy. The growing season is short, winters are extreme, and energy and transportation costs can be high. But that is exactly why supporting local growers matters.

**Every time someone buys from a Northern Ontario farmer, more of that food system stays local — from the farm, to the market, to the kitchen, to the plate.**

Farming first means knowing where your food came from, knowing who grew it, and keeping that connection alive in the community.

#RadicalGardens #FarmersMarket #OrganicMushrooms #FarmToTable #FarmingFirst #SupportLocalFarmers #Timmins #NorthernOntario #LocalFood #FoodSecurity #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/251210-trades-automotive

There is still an outdated idea that the skilled trades are somehow a “second choice” — something for people who were not smart enough for university or could not succeed in another career.

That could not be further from reality.

Modern trades demand intelligence, problem-solving, discipline and constant learning.

A technician working on a modern vehicle is dealing with computers, sensors, electrical systems, diagnostics, software, fuel systems, emissions equipment and mechanical components that all have to work together.

The same is true across the trades.

Electricians work with complex systems and safety standards. HVAC technicians diagnose heating and cooling systems. Welders work to exact tolerances. Plumbers solve problems that can affect an entire building. Heavy-duty mechanics keep equipment worth hundreds of thousands — sometimes millions — of dollars operating.

**These are not jobs for “dumb people.” They are highly skilled careers that require people who can think, diagnose, adapt and work with their hands.**

And as technology advances, the trades are not disappearing.

They are becoming more technical.

AI may help diagnose a problem. A computer can provide information. But somebody still has to understand that information, go to the machine, determine what is actually wrong and physically repair it.

You cannot download a new wheel bearing.

You cannot ask AI to climb onto a roof and repair a furnace.

You cannot automate away every electrician, mechanic, plumber, carpenter or welder.

For young people trying to decide what comes next, the trades should never be viewed as a fallback.

**A skilled trade can provide a respected career, valuable expertise and a skill that the real world will continue to need.**

#SkilledTrades #Automotive #Trades #Mechanics #Electricians #HVAC #Welding #Careers #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260914-when-pets-become-inconvenient-growing

Jill from PetSave says one of the hardest realities in animal rescue is how quickly some pets become disposable when a person’s life changes.

A new baby arrives. Someone moves. A relationship ends. The dog gets too big. The animal develops behaviour problems. Veterinary bills increase. The family becomes busier. Suddenly, the pet that was once wanted is being surrendered — or worse, abandoned.

Jill’s concern is that too many people get a pet without thinking about what that commitment could look like five, ten, or fifteen years down the road.

Puppies grow up. Cats live for many years. Animals get sick. They need training, exercise, food, veterinary care, patience, and time.

And life changes.

The problem is that rescue groups are left dealing with the consequences when people decide they can no longer make the animal fit into their lives.

**A pet should not become disposable simply because it becomes inconvenient.**

Jill stresses that choosing an animal means choosing the responsibility that comes with it — including the difficult years, unexpected expenses, behaviour challenges, moves, children, and changes in lifestyle.

There are legitimate circumstances where someone truly cannot keep an animal. But abandoning a pet or casually giving it away should never be the first solution.

Her message is simple:

**Before bringing an animal home, ask yourself whether you are prepared to care for it for its entire life — not just while it is easy.**

#PetSave #PetDumping #AnimalRescue #ResponsiblePetOwnership #PetsAreFamily #PetSurrender #AnimalWelfare #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-sudbury-ward-christel-brandle-says

Ward 2 candidate Christel Brandle says being a councillor should mean more than taking a complaint, passing it along to City staff, and considering the job finished.

For Brandle, representation means **staying with the problem until residents get an answer and, wherever possible, a solution.**

She describes the councillor’s role as being the voice — or “mouthpiece” — for the people in the ward. When residents raise concerns about roads, infrastructure, City projects, services or spending, she believes their elected representative should keep asking questions and following up rather than accepting the first response they receive.

That becomes especially important when a problem crosses several City departments or when residents have already tried repeatedly to get help.

Brandle points to situations such as Anderson Drive, where a project originally expected to take roughly two years stretched much longer amid repeated delays and infrastructure issues. For her, situations like that demonstrate why elected officials need to keep pressing for answers instead of allowing a problem to disappear into the system.

Her approach is straightforward:

**If the first answer does not solve the problem, keep working. Ask another question. Talk to another department. Find out what is holding things up and continue until there is a clear path forward.**

Brandle says residents elect councillors to represent them when the system is not working — not simply to tell them why something cannot be done.

**The job is not finished when the complaint is received. The job is finished when every reasonable avenue has been explored and residents know what can actually be done.**

#Sudbury #Ward2 #ChristelBrandle #CityHall #Accountability #CommunityRepresentation #Infrastructure #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston says one of the frustrations facing police and residents is what he describes as a **justice system that is not producing meaningful consequences.**

Johnston argues that police officers can arrest someone, take them through the process, and then see that same person released back into the community shortly afterward. In his view, that creates a vicious cycle where officers repeatedly deal with the same problems while residents become more frustrated with crime and public safety.

His point is that this should not automatically be blamed on police.

Johnston says officers are doing the job they are expected to do, but the broader justice system determines what happens after the arrest. When people are repeatedly arrested and quickly released, he argues that police can begin to feel like they are doing the same work over and over without solving the underlying problem.

He connects that frustration to the wider pressures already facing policing, including officer burnout and PTSD.

At the same time, Johnston does not argue that every social problem should simply result in more arrests. Throughout the interview, he also talks about addiction, mental health, homelessness and trauma as issues requiring treatment and support.

**His argument is that there has to be a balance: support and treatment for people who need help, but accountability when crimes are committed.**

For Johnston, improving public safety means looking at the entire chain — policing, courts, mental-health services, addiction treatment and rehabilitation — rather than expecting police alone to solve everything.

#Sudbury #BobJohnston #JusticeSystem #CommunitySafety #Policing #Crime #MentalHealth #Addiction #SudburyElection #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

$Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-when-forest-goes-quiet-what Troy says that when an area has been sprayed, forestry companies may put up only small, flimsy signs to notify people entering the bush. In his view, that is not enough when hunters, berry pickers, Indigenous harvesters and other people may rely on those forests for food. He also says he has seen another problem firsthand: signs can be moved. According to Troy, some hunters have moved spray signs into areas that were never actually sprayed in order to discourage other people from hunting there. That means someone entering the bush may not know whether a sign is marking the correct location. That creates a bigger issue around public notice. If people are trying to avoid recently sprayed areas when hunting moose or picking blueberries, they need reliable information about exactly where spraying took place. Troy says the public should not have to rely on a small sign nailed up somewhere in the bush and hope it has not been moved, damaged or knocked down. **If a forestry treatment is important enough to warn the public about, the warning system should be clear, durable and easy to verify.** His broader message is that Northern Ontarians need better access to information about where spraying occurs, especially when those same forests are being used for hunting, fishing, berry picking and traditional harvesting. \#NorthernOntario #Forestry #Glyphosate #StopTheSpray #ForestManagement #PublicSafety #TraditionalHarvesting #Timmins #LoveTheNorth$

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261011-sudbury-ward-12-matteo-raso

Housing is central to his platform, but he also points out that many people living in shelters or on the street are dealing with mental-health challenges that make it much harder to regain stability.

That is why Raso supports continuing to provide **mental-health care inside homeless shelters.**

He acknowledges that mental-health care is primarily a provincial responsibility, which limits what a municipality can do on its own. But he says Sudbury has already stepped beyond what cities would normally be expected to provide by supporting mental-health services within shelters — and he believes that should continue.

The idea is important because simply giving someone a bed for the night does not necessarily address what put them into crisis.

A person may also need counselling, addiction treatment, help managing medication, assistance navigating government programs, or someone who can connect them with longer-term care.

Without that support, someone can move through a shelter and still face the exact same problems when they leave.

Raso’s broader focus is to create a path from **shelter to transitional housing to permanent affordable housing**, while recognizing that mental-health support may be necessary throughout that process.

**A shelter can provide temporary safety. Mental-health workers can help provide the support needed to move forward.**

For Raso, the City cannot solve every part of the mental-health and addiction crisis on its own — but it can make sure people entering the shelter system are connected with support instead of simply being given a place to sleep.

#Sudbury #MatteoRaso #Ward12 #MentalHealth #Homelessness #Housing #AddictionRecovery #CommunitySupport #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261005-animal-welfare-in-ontario-jill

Jill from PetSave says one of the biggest problems in Ontario’s animal-welfare system is that decisions are being made by people who may not fully understand what is happening on the front lines.

Her point is simple:

**You cannot make good decisions if you do not first understand the problem.**

Jill says there is a major disconnect between government policy and the day-to-day reality faced by rescue groups, veterinarians, animal-welfare officers and people dealing with cruelty, hoarding, overpopulation and abandoned animals.

She argues that someone working in an office can look at policies, budgets and statistics, but that does not necessarily show what happens when an officer confiscates animals and suddenly has nowhere to put them, or when a rescue is already overflowing and is still being asked to take more.

That is why Jill is calling for the people who actually know the animal world to be brought together.

Rescue organizations. Veterinarians. Animal-welfare officers. Provincial representatives. Policy makers.

Put them around the same table and ask:

What is actually failing?
Where are the gaps?
What resources are missing?
Why are complaints falling through the cracks?
And what would actually make the system work better?

Jill says front-line workers often see the problem long before government does because they are the ones dealing with the consequences every day.

**Before Ontario creates more rules, changes more policies, or spends more taxpayer dollars, Jill says government needs to understand what is really happening.**

Good decisions start with good information — and that means listening to the people doing the work.

#PetSave #AnimalWelfare #AnimalRescue #FrontLineWorkers #Accountability #Ontario #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #TaxpayerDollars #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261009-sudbury-ward-rajotte-on-youth

What happens when a $200 million arena project potentially becomes a $500 million expense? And who will ultimately be responsible for paying it?

Ward 7 candidate David Rajotte joins Love the North to discuss rising property taxes, deteriorating services, youth programs, and the long-term financial future of Greater Sudbury.

One of the biggest concerns raised is the downtown Events Centre.

During the interview, Rajotte estimates the project could eventually reach $500 million — a projection discussed in the podcast, not a confirmed final cost.

His concern? Future generations could be left paying for today's decisions through municipal debt, interest, higher taxes, and reduced funding for other priorities.

Rajotte believes Sudbury needs a replacement arena but questions whether alternative locations and private partnerships received enough consideration.

The conversation also explores:

• Rising property taxes and future budget pressures

• Repeated road repairs that cost taxpayers more over time

• Rural residents paying substantial taxes while receiving limited services

• Affordable youth programs using existing community facilities

• Homelessness, addiction, and better use of publicly owned buildings

• Attracting new businesses and expanding Sudbury's economy

Rajotte challenges the idea that a zero-percent tax increase necessarily saves residents money when essential repairs and expenses are simply deferred.

The bigger question: Are we building a stronger Sudbury for future generations, or leaving them the bill?

Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself.

Love the North — Your Community. Your Voice. Your Future.

#LoveTheNorth #Sudbury #Ward7 #DavidRajotte #EventsCentre #TaxpayerDollars #PropertyTaxes #SudburyElection2026

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261001-detox-without-gimmicks-how-body

What happens when the chemicals sprayed on our food are powerful enough to kill insects and spiders? Should we be concerned about what repeated exposure could mean for our own health?

In this eye-opening Love the North podcast, Dr. Josie Poulin and pharmacist Rachelle explore everyday chemical exposure, pesticides, plastics, and how our bodies naturally eliminate potentially harmful substances.

One particularly revealing story involves locally grown raspberries.

While picking wild raspberries near Sudbury, Rachelle noticed spiders and other insects living among the fruit. But when she visited a farm where raspberries were sprayed, she noticed something very different — not a single insect.

That raises an important question: If chemicals can harm tiny living organisms, what effects might they have on humans over years of exposure?

Not every chemical is dangerous, and risks depend on the substance, concentration, and duration of exposure. However, certain pesticides and environmental contaminants can affect human health, including hormone regulation and neurological function.

The discussion explores:

• Pesticides and their potential effects on human health
• Chemicals in plastics and food packaging
• Hormone-disrupting substances in everyday products
• How the liver and kidneys naturally process waste
• Why reducing exposure matters more than expensive detox products
• Choosing locally grown foods and reducing unnecessary chemicals

Sudbury's history of industrial pollution also provides a powerful lesson: reducing pollution at its source can allow ecosystems to recover.

The message? Better health may begin with reducing unnecessary exposure, not buying another detox supplement.

#LoveTheNorth #Detox #Pesticides #HealthyLiving #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #ChemicalExposure #WomensHealth #EatLocal

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

Nine rats in one backyard. Hundreds of complaints and comments. More than 100 residents attend a public meeting. Yet questions remain about the City's response.**

A growing rat infestation in Greater Sudbury has residents frustrated and demanding action.

Ward 11 Councillor **Bill Leduc** reveals that after receiving complaints from residents, he contacted City staff to investigate problem areas but says he received no response. He also claims the City's CAO initially dismissed concerns about the infestation when he raised the issue.

Minnow Lake resident **Sasha McBride** decided to take matters into her own hands after witnessing nine rats in her backyard.

Her efforts generated:

- 206 Facebook comments
- 158 community survey responses
- A map identifying reported rat activity
- A public meeting attended by approximately 100 residents

Despite the turnout, Sasha describes recommendations focused largely on residents cleaning their properties, using green bins, and reporting problems through 311.

But what about the City's responsibility?

Who is addressing overgrown public property, parks, pathways, drainage areas, and other potential breeding grounds?

Why did residents have to organize their own meeting to bring attention to the problem?

And why was the City's formal report scheduled for 2027 when residents needed action before winter?

Local pest-control professionals explain how quickly rats reproduce, the potential health risks, and what can be done to control the infestation.

The bigger question: When residents raise legitimate concerns affecting their neighbourhoods, should they have to fight this hard to be heard?

Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself.

#LoveTheNorth #Sudbury #MinnowLake #RatInfestation #CityHall #BillLeduc #E2PestControl #CommunitySafety #GreaterSudbury

Full Podcast: ...

**Full Podcast:**
https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor

When City Hall spends millions of taxpayer dollars, who's making sure that money is being spent responsibly?

Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli joins Love the North to discuss municipal spending, transparency, and accountability at City Hall.

Central to her platform is restoring the **Office of the Auditor General** to provide independent oversight of municipal spending, policies, and decisions.

Rocca-Circelli argues that taxpayers deserve to know where their money goes, why it's being spent, and what measurable results they're getting in return.

**When major projects exceed budgets, infrastructure deteriorates, and property taxes rise, who answers to the taxpayer?**

The conversation explores:

- **Independent Oversight:** Restoring the Auditor General to scrutinize municipal spending.
- **Financial Accountability:** Reviewing budgets, identifying waste, and questioning major expenditures.
- **Zero-Based Budgeting:** Reassessing spending priorities instead of automatically carrying expenses forward.
- **Events Centre:** Examining the financial commitments behind major municipal projects.
- **Community Empowerment:** Giving wards more influence over local infrastructure priorities.
- **Transparency:** Making financial information and decision-making more accessible to residents.

Her message focuses on ensuring taxpayer dollars are managed responsibly and City Hall remains answerable to the people funding it.

**The big question: Shouldn't every taxpayer have the right to know exactly how their money is spent and what they're getting for it?**

Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself.

**Love the North — Your Community. Your Voice. Your Future.**

#LoveTheNorth #Sudbury #MirandaRoccaCircelli #SudburyElection2026 #TaxpayerAccountability #AuditorGeneral #PropertyTaxes #CityHall #NorthernOntario

**Full Podcast:** ...

**Full Podcast:**
https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261001-sudbury-ward-borg-on-roads

What if Sudbury could rethink its Events Centre project while reducing the financial burden on taxpayers?

Ward 9 candidate **James Borg** joins Love the North with an alternative vision for Sudbury's future.

Instead of building the arena downtown, Borg proposes transforming the downtown Events Centre site into a multi-level facility housing **police and fire services, commercial businesses, and parking**.

His alternative? Build a larger, potentially 16,000-seat arena at the **Kingsway Entertainment District (KED)**, with room for future development and expansion.

But the biggest difference is **how the arena would be financed**.

Borg wants to open the project to **private investors**, including successful Northern Ontario entrepreneurs, mining industry investors, and potentially Wolves owner Dario Zulich.

The goal? Reduce or potentially eliminate direct taxpayer funding by creating an investment opportunity where private investors share in the ownership and potential returns.

The discussion also tackles Sudbury's deteriorating roads, rising costs, rural services, infrastructure priorities, and accountability at City Hall.

**The big question:** Should taxpayers finance a downtown arena, or should Sudbury explore private investment at the KED while repurposing the downtown site for essential emergency services?

Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself!

**Love the North — Your Community. Your Voice. Your Future.**

#LoveTheNorth #Sudbury #Ward9 #JamesBorg #SudburyElection2026 #KED #EventsCentre #PrivateInvestment #TaxpayerDollars #NorthernOntario

**Full Podcast:** ...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261009-sudbury-ward-11-amy-voz

Ward 11 candidate Amy Voz raises a question Northern Ontarians have asked for generations:

**Sudbury is incredibly resource rich — so why does it sometimes feel like so much of the wealth created here leaves the North?**

Voz points to Sudbury’s long history of mining and the enormous economic value that has been generated from nickel, minerals and other resources extracted from the region.

Yet residents are still dealing with aging infrastructure, deteriorating roads, water and sewer problems, and municipal budgets struggling to keep up.

For Voz, that disconnect deserves a much closer look.
She says Sudbury has spent generations helping drive the economy far beyond Northern Ontario. Our mines, workers, roads and infrastructure support industries and supply chains that benefit the province, the country and the world.

Her question is whether enough of the economic benefit created here is ultimately coming back to help maintain the communities where that wealth originates.
Voz argues that Greater Sudbury should be pushing provincial and federal governments harder for infrastructure investment and a stronger return for the North.

**If billions of dollars in resources are leaving Northern Ontario, Northern communities should not be left struggling to repair the roads and infrastructure that help make that economy possible.**

Her message is not that Sudbury should keep everything generated here. It is that a resource-producing region should have the infrastructure, services and investment necessary to remain strong for the people who live here.

#Sudbury #AmyVoz #Ward11 #NorthernOntario #Mining #ResourceEconomy #Infrastructure #Roads #CityHall #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261004-sudbury-ward-shawn-rossi-on

Ward 8 candidate Shawn Rossi says some of the best ideas for fixing City problems do not come from managers, consultants, or people sitting in offices.

They come from the **front-line workers who deal with the problems every single day.**

Rossi says many of his ideas have come from listening to people who actually do the work — the employees, contractors, patients, residents, and tradespeople who see firsthand where a system breaks down.

His argument is simple: if the same pothole keeps failing, ask the people repairing it why. If a permit process keeps frustrating residents, ask the staff handling those applications where the bottleneck is. If a bylaw creates the same problem over and over, talk to the people enforcing it and the residents living with it.

Those workers often already know what is wrong.

The problem, Rossi says, is that their knowledge does not always move up through the system. Instead, people can fall back on the answer: **“That’s the way we’ve always done it.”**

Rossi argues that elected officials should be listening to the people closest to the problem, researching better approaches, and then pushing for changes when a process clearly is not working.

**The person doing the job every day often sees the solution long before someone looking at the issue from an office does.**

For Rossi, better government starts by listening from the ground up — not always directing from the top down.

#Sudbury #Ward8 #ShawnRossi #FrontLineWorkers #CityHall #Accountability #MunicipalGovernment #BetterGovernment #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261008-sudbury-ward-11-shawn-ouimette

Ward 11 candidate Shawn Ouimette says he supports keeping the Event Centre downtown — but he believes the City chose the wrong location.

His preferred site was the area around the **Frontenac Hotel, Pizza Pizza and the parking lot beside the downtown mall**, where he says the arena could have been built directly adjacent to the mall and connected into it.

Ouimette says that kind of location could have helped solve two problems at once.

First, it would have created a major year-round attraction directly beside the mall. Hockey games, concerts and other events would bring thousands of people into the area, giving restaurants, stores and other businesses a built-in stream of potential customers.

Second, he says it could have helped breathe new life into a downtown mall that many residents remember as once being packed with stores like Eaton’s and Zellers.

Ouimette also talks about combining the old Frontenac with a new hotel development, creating a larger entertainment district around the arena instead of hoping businesses arrive afterward.

His argument is that **an arena should not sit in isolation. It should be connected to the businesses, parking, restaurants and commercial space around it.**

He compares the concept to larger venues where arenas are integrated into surrounding shopping and entertainment areas, allowing people to eat, shop and gather before and after events.

For Ouimette, that would have given Sudbury a stronger opportunity to use the arena as a tool for downtown revitalization — not simply as another building downtown.

#Sudbury #ShawnOuimette #Ward11 #EventCentre #DowntownSudbury #Arena #DowntownMall #EconomicDevelopment #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/251210-trades-automotive

Skilled trades are not becoming less important because of AI — in many ways, they may become even more valuable.

Artificial intelligence can help diagnose problems, organize information, or assist with planning. But at the end of the day, **AI is not going to walk into your driveway and change a tire, replace a wheel bearing, repair a furnace, wire a panel, or weld a broken component.**

That still takes a trained person with real hands-on skill.

The automotive trade is a perfect example. Modern vehicles are becoming more complicated, with electronics, sensors, computers and advanced diagnostics, but somebody still has to physically inspect the vehicle, take it apart, repair it properly, and make sure it is safe to drive.

The same is true for electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC technicians, heavy-equipment mechanics and other trades.

Technology may change how the work is done, but it does not eliminate the need for people who know how to actually do it.

**You can automate information. You cannot automate every real-world repair.**

That is why getting more young people into the skilled trades matters so much.

These are careers built around solving real problems people will continue to have every day.

Cars will break. Homes will need heat. Pipes will leak. Equipment will fail.

And when that happens, somebody with a real trade will still have to show up and fix it.

#SkilledTrades #AutomotiveTrades #Mechanic #AI #Apprenticeship #TradesCareers #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260914-when-pets-become-inconvenient-growing

Jill from PetSave talks about one of the reasons animals are sometimes surrendered: **a baby is coming, and suddenly the family pet is seen as a problem.**

Her message is that bringing a child into the family should not automatically mean the dog or cat has to leave.

Pets are a commitment. They may have been part of the home for years before the baby arrives, and surrendering them simply because life is changing can be incredibly stressful for the animal and adds even more pressure to already overcrowded rescues.

Jill’s point is that families need to plan ahead.

That can mean preparing the pet for new routines, setting boundaries, introducing baby equipment early, working on training, supervising interactions, and making sure the animal still gets exercise, attention and structure once the baby arrives.

There may be legitimate situations where safety becomes a serious concern, and every family has to make responsible decisions. But inconvenience alone should not be the reason an animal loses its home.

**A pet should not become disposable because life changes.**

When someone adopts an animal, the commitment includes the difficult transitions too — moving, having children, changing jobs, getting older, or dealing with new responsibilities.

For Jill, pets are family for life.

#PetSave #PetsAreFamily #ResponsiblePetOwnership #NewBaby #AnimalRescue #DogTraining #PetSurrender #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-northern-ontario-food-bank-crisis

Natalie from the Sudbury Food Bank says one of the biggest opportunities right now is not just collecting more food — it is **using partnerships to make better use of the food already coming in.**

She explains that the Sudbury Food Bank has secured a grant to expand its kitchen operation so more donated and rescued food can be turned into ready-made meals for people in need.

That means food that might once have gone to livestock or compost can sometimes be repurposed instead.

Natalie gives a simple example: cases of overripe bananas do not necessarily have to leave the human food system. With the right kitchen, staff and volunteers, those bananas can become banana bread and go back out through food-bank partners.

The bigger idea is partnership.

The Food Bank already works with grocery stores, community agencies, larger food-bank networks and local businesses. Now Natalie wants to deepen those relationships by inviting businesses and organizations to come in, tour the operation, make a contribution, and then actually roll up their sleeves and help prepare food.

That turns a donation into something more.

It becomes team building, volunteering, community education and direct help for people who are struggling.

**The goal is not just to ask for money. It is to build year-round relationships that help stretch every donation further and get more food onto people’s tables.**

With demand rising across Northern Ontario, food banks increasingly depend on communities working together — businesses, volunteers, grocery stores, donors and partner agencies all doing a piece of the work.

#SudburyFoodBank #FoodInsecurity #CommunitySupport #Partnerships #Volunteering #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #FoodRescue #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

**Full Podcast:** https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260920-sudbury-ward-10-derek-young

People helping neighbours. Organizations connecting vulnerable residents with care. Local businesses investing in the community. There is good happening in downtown Sudbury, and those stories deserve to be heard.

Ward 10 candidate Derek Young highlights the work of organizations such as the Go-Give Project and the Canadian Mental Health Association. He shares stories of people accessing treatment, rebuilding their lives and reconnecting with family—showing what compassionate support can make possible.

Derek also discusses improvements such as the Elgin Greenway and the importance of helping independent businesses through construction disruptions. His vision connects cleaner streets and public safety with opportunities for people to gain skills, find work and move forward.

Behind every positive change are people putting in the effort. Supporting downtown businesses, recognizing frontline workers and celebrating progress can help build a downtown that more residents feel proud to visit.

**Full Podcast:**...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261008-sudbury-ward-11-shawn-ouimette

When the city buys goods and services, how does it make sure taxpayers aren’t paying more than they should?

In this Love the North interview, Ward 11 candidate Shawn Ouimette recounts an experience working for a printer company. He says a printer normally sold for $20,000 was priced at $24,000 for the city—just below what he recalls as the competitive bidding threshold at the time. According to his account, the city purchased two, adding $8,000 to the bill compared with the company’s usual selling price.

His story raises a broader question: how often are municipal purchases checked against market prices, even when they fall below the threshold for competitive bidding?

Shawn proposes lowering that threshold to require competition on more purchases. The discussion explores how stronger price comparisons and spending oversight could help taxpayers get more value from the money they already contribute.

Every unnecessary dollar spent is a dollar unavailable for roads, sidewalks and other services residents rely on.

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-farm-to-table-in-northern

Brianna from Radical Gardens says supporting local farmers is about more than buying vegetables — it is about keeping food production alive in Northern Ontario and teaching the next generation that **where food comes from actually matters.**

In the podcast, she talks about how Radical Gardens works with other local farmers instead of trying to grow everything themselves. That creates a stronger local food network, gives different farms a chance to specialize, and keeps more food dollars circulating within the region.

She also stresses the importance of getting children involved early.

When kids taste a fresh carrot, see vegetables growing, visit a farm, or take part in programs like the Big Crunch, food becomes more than something that comes from a grocery-store shelf.

They begin to understand that somebody had to grow it.

That connection can shape the choices they make later in life. Brianna says some of the kids who were exposed to local food when they were younger are now shopping at farmers’ markets, gardening, and paying more attention to what they eat.

**If children grow up understanding the difference between food that travelled thousands of kilometres and food grown close to home, they are more likely to value the farmers producing it.**

Supporting farmers also helps protect local food security.

The stronger the local farming community becomes, the less Northern Ontario has to depend entirely on long-distance supply chains for everything we eat.

**Teach kids that food has a source, support the people growing it, and you help build a stronger food system for the next generation.**

#FarmToTable #RadicalGardens #LocalFarmers #FoodSecurity #KidsAndFood #LocalFood #NorthernAgriculture #Timmins #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-sudbury-ward-christel-brandle-says

Ward 2 candidate Christel Brandle says Greater Sudbury appears to operate with a serious double standard when it comes to construction and development.

If a homeowner wants to build a house, addition or major project, the City expects the paperwork first.

Plans have to be submitted. Permits have to be approved. Setbacks, infrastructure, services and building requirements have to be reviewed before construction can move forward.

Brandle’s question is simple:

**Why does it seem like City projects do not always face the same level of scrutiny before work begins?**

In the interview, she points to major municipal projects where final plans, costs or project details have still been questioned even after work has moved ahead. She contrasts that with the requirements placed on ordinary residents, who are expected to have everything properly documented before they put a shovel in the ground.

Brandle calls that a double standard.

Her concern is that taxpayers are expected to follow every rule when they build, while City Hall can appear to have much more flexibility when its own projects are involved.

She also points to Anderson Drive, where she says a two-year City project has stretched into four years with repeated stoppages involving utility and infrastructure issues under the City’s watch.

**If residents have to prove their plans are complete before construction starts, Brandle says City Hall should be held to at least the same standard.**

Her message is about accountability: the rules should apply consistently, especially when public money is involved.

#Sudbury #Ward2 #ChristelBrandle #CityHall #DoubleStandard #Accountability #BuildingPermits #TaxpayerDollars #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260910-sudbury-ward-eric-benoit-on

Ward 2 Councillor Eric Benoit says nobody likes seeing property taxes go up, but the challenge for Council is separating the costs it can control from the ones it cannot.

Benoit says his benchmark has been inflation. If the overall cost of goods and services is rising by 3%, for example, his goal is to keep the municipal tax increase below that level whenever possible.

He says Council has been able to make changes, restructure spending and control some internal costs. But other major expenses are much harder to adjust.

Benoit points to outside boards and services such as police and fire, where budgets can be influenced by collective agreements, staffing requirements and other obligations that Council cannot simply cut without consequences.

That creates a difficult balancing act.

Residents want lower taxes, but they also expect roads to be repaired, snow cleared, infrastructure maintained, emergency services available and community facilities kept operating.

Benoit’s position is that holding taxes flat sounds good, but if costs continue rising, something eventually has to give.

His goal is therefore not to pretend increases can always be avoided, but to keep the portion City Council can control growing more slowly than inflation while continuing to provide the services residents depend on.

#Sudbury #EricBenoit #Ward2 #PropertyTaxes #Inflation #CityBudget #CityHall #TaxpayerDollars #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261004-sudbury-ward-shawn-rossi-on

Ward 8 candidate Shawn Rossi says Sudbury has a serious opioid and addiction problem — and he argues that the city cannot solve homelessness or downtown disorder without dealing with that underlying reality.

Drawing on his healthcare background, Rossi says mental illness and drug addiction are two of the biggest factors driving homelessness. His point is that many people living on the street are not there because they simply chose that life — they are often trapped by addiction, mental-health issues, or both.

Rossi also points to Sudbury’s historically high opioid use and argues that the scale of the problem should force the community to look much harder at treatment and recovery.

His concern is that moving people, issuing tickets, or simply concentrating them in one building does not fix the root cause.

He supports the idea of a **day hospital** where people could access addiction treatment, mental-health care and other services without requiring overnight hospitalization. Rossi says municipal leaders may not control provincial healthcare funding, but they can still push the province and advocate for the services Sudbury needs.

**His message is that if Sudbury is one of the communities struggling heavily with opioid use, then treatment has to become part of the solution — not an afterthought.**

You cannot fix homelessness by only addressing where people sleep.

You have to address why so many people are struggling in the first place.

#Sudbury #ShawnRossi #Ward8 #OpioidCrisis #Addiction #MentalHealth #Homelessness #Healthcare #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston says downtown revitalization cannot succeed unless people actually feel comfortable going there — and that includes seniors.

In the interview, Johnston argues that many people are already reluctant to visit downtown unless there is a major event happening. He specifically raises concerns about seniors and people with mobility challenges who may feel especially vulnerable if they encounter unpredictable behaviour, open drug use, or situations that make them feel unsafe.

He points to practical issues as well.

If a senior is expected to use a downtown library, medical office, restaurant or shop, they need safe parking, accessible entrances, reliable transit and a route from their vehicle or bus stop where they actually feel comfortable walking.

Johnston even discusses a downtown dental office where, according to the conversation, a security guard may escort patients to and from their vehicles — something he sees as a sign of how serious the perception of safety has become.

His argument is that downtown cannot be revitalized simply by building new facilities and hoping people show up.

**People have to feel safe enough to use them.**

That means addressing homelessness, addiction and mental-health issues while also improving policing, security, accessibility and the overall environment downtown.

Johnston says the goal should be a downtown where seniors, families, businesses and visitors feel comfortable spending time — not a place people avoid unless there is a special event.

#Sudbury #BobJohnston #DowntownSudbury #Seniors #CommunitySafety #Accessibility #CityHall #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/250320-hockey-coaching-kids

Coaching kids in hockey is about much more than teaching skating, passing, shooting, or systems.

One of the hardest parts of the job is understanding that **every player is motivated differently.**

Some kids are extremely competitive and want to win every drill. Others are there because they love being with their friends. Some respond well to being challenged. Others need encouragement and confidence before they are willing to push themselves harder.

That means a coach cannot treat every player exactly the same and expect the same result.

The real skill is learning what drives each child and then finding a way to bring all of those different personalities together toward one common goal: **the team.**

A highly competitive player may need to learn patience and teamwork. A quieter player may need the coach to help bring out their confidence. Another child may need structure, while someone else performs better when the pressure is taken off.

That is where coaching becomes leadership.

You are managing individual personalities, different confidence levels, different abilities, different expectations from parents, and different reasons for why each child is even playing hockey.

The challenge is to develop every player without allowing one personality or one level of ambition to dominate the room.

**A good coach does not simply demand more effort. A good coach figures out what makes each player want to give that effort — and then gets 15 or 20 different kids pulling in the same direction.**

That lesson goes far beyond hockey.

Learning how to work with people who think, respond, and perform differently is one of the most important skills young athletes can take with them long after they leave the rink.

#MinorHockey #HockeyCoach #YouthSports #CoachingKids #Teamwork #Leadership #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

Sudbury’s rat infestation is creating an unusual side effect: more natural predators are starting to show up.

In the podcast, E2 Pest Control explains that with so many rats available as a food source, residents may begin seeing more birds of prey, foxes and coyotes in and around the city. They specifically mention documented sightings of birds carrying rats away and note that predators naturally respond when food becomes abundant.

That can actually help.

Hawks, owls, eagles, foxes and coyotes all prey on rodents. When rat populations increase, these animals can become part of the natural pressure that helps reduce their numbers.

The guests even point out that this is one time of year when seeing coyotes and foxes can have a positive side — because they are hunting the very animals residents are trying to control.

But natural predators are only one piece of the solution.

Residents still need to remove the things attracting rats in the first place: unsecured garbage, food sources, standing water, long grass, debris, wood piles and openings into sheds or homes.

The best rat-control strategy is a combination of prevention, pest management and allowing the natural ecosystem to do some of the work.

When prey populations explode, predators often follow. In this case, Sudbury’s birds of prey, foxes and coyotes may be unexpected allies in bringing the rat population back down.

#Sudbury #RatInfestation #BirdsOfPrey #Coyotes #Foxes #PestControl #Wildlife #MinnowLake #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-when-forest-goes-quiet-what

Troy Woodhouse raises a question many Northern Ontarians are starting to ask:

**If Quebec stopped allowing glyphosate for forestry applications more than 20 years ago, why is it still being sprayed over forests in Ontario?**

Troy’s concern is not just about one chemical. It is about what happens to the entire ecosystem when herbicides are used to suppress deciduous vegetation such as birch and poplar so commercially valuable conifers can dominate.

He describes what can happen afterward: mixed forests become more like monocrops, with one dominant tree species and far less growing underneath.

That means less browse for moose, fewer berries, fewer plants, less insect habitat and less food and nesting habitat for birds.

Troy says some sprayed blocks become what he calls **“silent forests”** — places where you hear fewer birds, see little vegetation underneath the trees and notice far less biodiversity.

He also raises concerns about traditional harvesting areas, blueberries, wildlife and waterways, while being careful to say he cannot scientifically prove that every change he has observed was caused by glyphosate.

But his larger question remains:

**Are we managing Northern Ontario’s forests as complete ecosystems — or are we managing them primarily to produce the trees mills want?**

A healthy forest is more than timber.

It is birds, insects, berries, moose, fish, plants, water and the people who depend on all of it.

#StopTheSpray #Glyphosate #NorthernOntario #Forestry #Biodiversity #WildlifeHabitat #Moose #ForestManagement #Environment #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261001-detox-without-gimmicks-how-body

Dr. Josie and Rachelle make an important point about “detox”: **sometimes helping the body is less about adding something new and more about reducing what it has to deal with.**

The body already has natural systems for processing and eliminating substances — especially the liver, kidneys, digestive system, lungs and skin. But the podcast argues that constant exposure from things like plastics, pesticides, processed foods, household products and air pollution can add to the overall burden.

Their message is not that you need a miracle cleanse.

It is to reduce unnecessary exposure where you realistically can, while supporting the systems your body already uses every day.

That can mean drinking enough water, eating enough fibre, having regular bowel movements, moving your body, sweating through exercise or sauna, eating nutrient-dense whole foods and avoiding heating food in plastic.

They compare it to Sudbury’s environmental recovery: before the landscape could begin recovering, the source of pollution first had to be reduced.

**The same idea applies to health: reduce unnecessary exposure, support the body’s normal functions, and give it the best conditions possible to recover and function well.**

It is not about “flushing toxins” overnight. It is about lowering the burden over time and supporting the body’s natural processes.

#Detox #HealthyLiving #WholeFoods #LiverHealth #GutHealth #WomensHealth #Sauna #Nutrition #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261004-sudbury-ward-shawn-rossi-on

Ward 8 candidate Shawn Rossi says people should not run for City Council simply because they want the position — they should come prepared to actually understand the job.

Rossi says he spent years studying municipal issues before putting his name on the ballot because councillors are expected to make decisions involving roads, infrastructure, housing, taxes, development, bylaws and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars.

His concern is that someone can get elected, spend four years learning as they go, and still make poor decisions because they never took the time to understand the systems they were responsible for overseeing.

Rossi argues that elected officials need enough knowledge to challenge the information being placed in front of them.

They need to understand the issue well enough to ask:

Does this make sense?
Is there a better way?
What are other cities doing?
What does this actually cost?
What happens five or ten years from now?

He says councillors cannot simply accept “that’s the way we’ve always done it” from City departments. They need to research alternatives, question outdated policies and understand enough about the subject to recognize when something is not working.

Rossi also says the questions have to come from the councillor’s own understanding — not simply from talking points handed to them by somebody else.

**His message is that City Council is not the place to learn the basics after you get elected.**

When taxpayers are trusting councillors with major decisions, Rossi believes candidates should arrive prepared to analyze information, challenge assumptions and understand the consequences of the votes they cast.

#Sudbury #Ward8 #ShawnRossi #CityCouncil #Accountability #CityHall #TaxpayerDollars #MunicipalElection #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli says the City should ask a basic question before hiring another expensive outside consultant:

**Why don’t we have more qualified people inside City Hall who can do this work themselves?**

Rocca-Circelli says consultants do have a role when specialized expertise is needed. Her concern is how often they are used, who is selecting them, and whether the people managing those contracts have enough knowledge to ask the right questions.

She points to City studies and reviews where she believes the process did not dig deeply enough into what went wrong. Her argument is that even an expensive consultant can only provide useful answers if the City clearly understands what needs to be investigated.

When municipalities repeatedly hire outside firms for research, planning, feasibility studies and technical reports, those costs ultimately become part of the taxpayer’s bill.

Rocca-Circelli argues Greater Sudbury should build more **qualified expertise inside the organization** and make better use of professionals who already understand Northern Ontario.

She questions why outside consultants should be brought in to make recommendations about local services when Sudbury may already have people who understand the geography, communities and realities of the city.

**Consultants should fill an expertise gap — not replace the need for qualified people inside City Hall.**

Stronger internal expertise, she argues, could mean better decisions, less dependence on costly outside reports and better value for taxpayers.

#Sudbury #MirandaRoccaCircelli #CityHall #Consultants #TaxpayerDollars #Accountability #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260608-beyond-ranks-air-cadets

Jeff's own son is a perfect example of what the Air Cadet program can lead to.

Jeff explains that his son went through Sudbury’s **200 Wolf Squadron**, where he earned his **glider licence before he even had his driver’s licence**. A year later, he earned his powered pilot licence — and today, he flies professionally for **WestJet**.

For Jeff, that makes his son one of the squadron’s real success stories.

The Air Cadet program gives young people access to aviation training that many families might otherwise never be able to afford. Cadets can work toward glider and power pilot scholarships, while also learning discipline, responsibility, teamwork, leadership and confidence.

And the opportunity can become much more than a summer experience.

For Jeff’s son, what started as a youth program eventually became a career in the cockpit.

**That is the power of exposing young people to real opportunities early — sometimes the thing they try as a teenager can become the career they spend their life doing.**

Air Cadets is not just about uniforms or marching. For some young people, it can literally be the first step toward learning to fly.

#AirCadets #200WolfSquadron #WestJet #Pilot #Aviation #YouthPrograms #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #Leadership #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261005-animal-welfare-in-ontario-jill

Jill from PetSave says one of the most frustrating patterns happens every fall.

A cat may be seen wandering a neighbourhood all summer long. People notice it. They feed it. They watch it come and go.

But then the first really cold day arrives — and suddenly the rescue’s phone starts ringing.

Jill says that creates a huge problem because **everyone calls at once**, often about animals they have known were outside for weeks or even months.

By that point, rescue cages may already be full, foster homes are limited, boarding is expensive, and dozens of other animals may also need immediate help.

Her message is simple:

**If you are seeing a stray cat now, don’t wait until November when it is freezing outside. Call early.**

Getting involved sooner gives rescues a better chance to trap the animal safely, check for identification, arrange veterinary care, spay or neuter it, and find a foster or permanent home before the situation becomes an emergency.

Waiting also creates another risk — reproduction.

An unspayed cat left outside through the warmer months can contribute to even more kittens entering an already overloaded rescue system.

Jill says PetSave is already dealing with overcrowding and limited intake space, so prevention and early reporting matter.

**The best time to help a stray animal is not when the temperature drops below zero. It is when you first realize that animal may not have a home.**

#PetSave #StrayCats #AnimalRescue #WinterSafety #SpayAndNeuter #AnimalWelfare #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-sudbury-ward-candidate-wanda-berton-heyerichs

Ward 9 candidate Wanda Berton-Heyerichs says Greater Sudbury needs to stop using the term **“affordable housing”** without first defining exactly what that means.

Affordable for who?

A senior on a fixed income?
A young family trying to buy their first home?
Someone working full-time but struggling with rent?
Or a person coming out of homelessness who may simply need a safe bachelor or one-bedroom unit?

Wanda argues that these are completely different housing needs, and the City cannot solve them all with one type of project.

If the City builds three-bedroom units but the real shortage is small, low-cost units for people leaving homelessness, then the target may look good on paper while still failing the people who actually need housing.

That is why Wanda says the first step should be to clearly identify **who needs housing, what type of housing they need, where they need it, and what “affordable” actually means for that group.**

She also raises the possibility of alternatives such as smaller units or tiny homes where appropriate.

Her approach comes back to the same principle she applies to other City services:

**Define the problem first. Then build the solution around the actual need.**

Simply announcing that hundreds of “affordable units” are being created does not necessarily mean the housing crisis is being solved.

The real measurement should be whether the right people can actually afford and use the housing being built.

#Sudbury #Ward9 #WandaBertonHeyerichs #AffordableHousing #HousingCrisis #HousingAffordability #CityHall #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260912-ward-candidate-tysen-galoni-different

Ward 1 candidate Tysen Galoni says the conversation around homelessness needs to start with one basic truth:
Galoni says he knows this first-hand because he previously worked with homeless people in Toronto, helping individuals in shelters and food banks get to medical appointments and access care.

Through that work, he says he saw how often homelessness was connected to serious mental illness, addiction and the loss of family support.

His point is that people are not simply choosing to sleep outside because they prefer that life. Many are dealing with problems that make it extremely difficult to function without treatment and support.

Galoni recalls seeing people who were heavily addicted — but he also saw people recover.

He gives the example of one man he knew who eventually went to rehab. Months later, Galoni says the man had lost weight, was speaking clearly and had managed to save thousands of dollars.

That experience shaped how he looks at the problem today.

Galoni argues that homelessness cannot be solved by simply moving people along, issuing fines or telling them to leave the city.

He believes different people require different solutions: mental-health treatment for those who are ill, rehabilitation for those struggling with addiction, social workers and housing to help people rebuild their lives, and consequences when genuine criminal behaviour is involved.

The goal should not simply be to make homeless people disappear from view. It should be to give people a realistic path out of homelessness.

Galoni says he has seen people come back from addiction and homelessness himself — which is why he believes recovery is possible when the right help is actually available.

#Sudbury #TysenGaloni #Ward1 #Homelessness #MentalHealth #Addiction #Rehabilitation #CommunitySupport #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260615-gail-routine

Gail’s story shows that going to the gym is about much more than lifting weights or getting cardio.

At nearly 75 years old, she still works out regularly, walks for an hour in the evening and maintains her own home. She says staying active helps her remain strong, independent and mentally sharp.

But one of the biggest benefits is simply **getting out of the house and being around people.**

Gail is retired, lives alone and lost her husband only months before the interview. She explains that going to the gym in the morning has become part of her community. She sees the same people, talks with them, learns from them and stays connected.

That social connection matters.

When someone is retired, widowed or spending a lot of time alone, it can become very easy to stay home, become isolated and slowly become less active.

The gym gives people a reason to get dressed, leave the house, move their body and interact with others.

Gail says there are mornings when she does not feel like going — but once she gets through the door, she feels better.

**Sometimes the hardest part is simply showing up.**

The benefits are physical, but they are also mental and social: strength, mobility, independence, routine, friendship and a sense of belonging.

You do not have to become an athlete.

Sometimes just getting out of the house, walking, joining a gym or finding an active community can make a major difference in how you feel and how you age.

#HealthyAging #Fitness #GymLife #StayActive #MentalHealth #Community #SeniorsFitness #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260606-womens-health-getting-back-to

The podcast raises concerns about antibiotics being used in chicken feed and what that could mean for human health.

Historically, antibiotics were sometimes added to livestock and poultry feed not only to treat illness, but also to prevent disease and improve growth. The concern is that unnecessary antibiotic use can contribute to **antimicrobial resistance**, making certain infections harder to treat.

Canada has tightened those rules significantly. Since 2018, medically important antibiotics used in animal feed require veterinary oversight, and they can no longer be labelled or used for growth promotion. They may still be used to treat or prevent disease when medically appropriate.

**The bigger message is that what goes into our food system matters — and responsible antibiotic use protects both animal health and human health.**

#WomensHealth #FoodIndustry #Antibiotics #Chicken #FoodHealth #AntimicrobialResistance #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261004-sudbury-ward-shawn-rossi-on

Ward 8 candidate Shawn Rossi raises an interesting question about Sudbury’s energy future: **could the City work directly with a major industrial user like Glencore to secure cheaper, more stable electricity over the long term?**

Rossi points out that Glencore’s Sudbury operations consume an enormous amount of electricity because of their electric arc furnace. He argues that when one local company uses that much power, there may be an opportunity to think differently about how energy is produced and purchased.

His idea is to explore whether Sudbury and Glencore could partner on a **small modular reactor, or SMR**, with the industrial operation purchasing power directly while the community also benefits from a long-term local source of electricity.

Rossi’s argument is that cheaper and more predictable electricity could do more than lower energy costs.

For Glencore, it could improve the long-term economics of operating in Sudbury and potentially encourage further investment. For the City, a locally structured energy agreement could potentially reduce exposure to future electricity increases and make Sudbury more attractive to energy-intensive industries.

He is clear that this is a concept that would require serious technical, regulatory and financial analysis — not something that could simply be implemented overnight.

But his broader point is important:

**Why should Sudbury automatically accept the energy system it has today if there may be opportunities to create a better long-term arrangement with the major industries already operating here?**

Rossi says municipal leadership should be willing to investigate ideas that could lower costs, strengthen local industry and give Greater Sudbury a competitive advantage for decades.

#Sudbury #Ward8 #ShawnRossi #Glencore #Electricity #EnergyCosts #SMR #Mining #EconomicDevelopment #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/251210-trades-automotive

There is nothing wrong with being interested in crypto, social media, gaming, YouTube, or becoming an internet personality.
But the reality is that somebody still has to fix the car, wire the house, repair the furnace, install the plumbing, weld the steel and keep our communities running.

That is the message behind this Love the North discussion about the shortage of qualified automotive technicians and other skilled tradespeople. Businesses across automotive, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and other trades are struggling to find licensed workers.

For young people, the internet can make success look instant.

You see someone trading crypto, becoming an influencer or making money online and it can appear that traditional careers no longer matter.

But those outcomes are not guaranteed.

A skilled trade gives someone something extremely valuable: a real skill that solves a real problem.

Cars will still break. Homes will still need electricity. Furnaces will still fail in January. Buildings will still need plumbing. Mines, construction companies and businesses will still need qualified people who actually know how to build, repair and maintain things.

And as fewer young people enter these fields, those skills can become even more valuable.

The answer is not telling young people to abandon technology or stop dreaming big.

It is reminding them that there is enormous opportunity in learning how the physical world actually works.

You can chase opportunities online — but having a trade means you have a skill nobody can take away from you, and somebody will always need it.

Northern Ontario needs the next generation of mechanics, electricians, plumbers, welders, HVAC technicians and skilled tradespeople.

The work, demand & opportunity is real.

#SkilledTrades #AutomotiveTrades #Mechanic #Electrician #Plumbing #HVAC #Welding #Apprenticeship #Careers #NorthernOntario

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-sudbury-ward-christel-brandle-says

Ward 2 candidate Christel Brandle says one of Greater Sudbury’s biggest problems is not just individual projects — it is the way decisions are made at City Hall.

Brandle describes what she calls an **“All Boys Club”** mentality, where the same systems, relationships and ways of doing things continue year after year, even when residents are frustrated with the results.

Her concern is that the current process can create a double standard.

She points out that when an ordinary resident wants to build a home or complete a project, the City expects detailed plans, permits, approvals and compliance before the work moves forward. Yet on major municipal projects, Brandle questions whether taxpayers are always being given the same level of clarity about final plans, costs, delays and accountability.

She also points to projects like Anderson Drive, where residents have dealt with years of delays, service interruptions and uncertainty while the work continues under City oversight.

For Brandle, the issue is bigger than one road or one development.

**If the same people, processes and relationships keep producing the same problems, then the system itself needs to be challenged.**

She says residents want representatives who will ask difficult questions, follow the money, demand answers when projects go off track, and speak for the people instead of simply accepting “that’s how it has always been done.”

Brandle’s message is that democracy only works when elected officials truly represent the people who put them there.

**If City Hall is working well for a select few but the majority of residents are frustrated, then it is time to change the process — not just the faces around the table.**

#Sudbury #Ward2 #ChristelBrandle #CityHall #Accountability #MunicipalPolitics #TaxpayerDollars #Transparency #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-when-forest-goes-quiet-what

Troy Woodhouse says one of the clearest examples of how public pressure can influence forest management happened last summer.

He explains that members of the Stop the Spray movement, along with Indigenous elders and supporters, organized protests and even blocked Highway 11 near Serpent River. According to Troy, the pressure worked: spraying was cancelled in the Spanish Forest and Pineland Forest areas that season.

But then something changed.

Troy says there was **no similar protest or public rally this year — and the spraying returned.**

For him, that demonstrates how important continued public involvement can be.

It is not enough for people to raise concerns once and assume the issue has been permanently resolved. Forest management plans continue, decisions continue to be made, and if residents stop participating, protesting, reviewing plans or asking questions, previous practices can simply return.

That is why Troy repeatedly stresses public awareness.

Many Northern Ontario residents may not even realize they can review forest management plans, comment on proposed activities and raise concerns about herbicide spraying, harvesting methods, wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

**Last year there was public pressure — and Troy says the spray stopped. This year the public pressure was not there — and the spray came back.**

Whether someone supports or opposes forestry spraying, Troy’s bigger message is difficult to ignore:

**If people want a say in what happens on public forests, they have to stay involved. Silence can become permission for business as usual.**

#StopTheSpray #NorthernOntario #Forestry #Glyphosate #ForestManagement #Biodiversity #SerpentRiver #PublicInput #Environment #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston calls the 2026 municipal election a key election in Sudbury’s history — because he believes the city is at a point where voters have to decide whether they are satisfied with the status quo or want a major change in direction.

Johnston says Greater Sudbury is not dealing with one isolated problem. It is dealing with several at the same time: property taxes and affordability, deteriorating roads, aging infrastructure, homelessness, addiction, downtown safety, housing, municipal spending, accountability and major capital projects.

His argument is that the next mayor and council will be making decisions that could shape the city for years — including how hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars are spent, which services get prioritized, and whether City Hall becomes more accountable to the people who elected it.

Johnston also challenges the way authority operates at City Hall. In the interview, he argues that elected officials should be setting the direction on behalf of residents, with municipal management carrying out that direction — not the other way around.

For him, that is why this election matters so much.

This is not simply about choosing different names around the council table. It is about deciding what direction Greater Sudbury takes next.

Do residents want the same priorities and spending patterns to continue, or do they want a different approach to taxes, infrastructure, social issues and accountability?

Johnston’s message to voters is clear: if people want change, they have to participate.

The decisions made in this election could affect Sudbury’s finances, services and communities for years to come — which is why every vote matters.

#Sudbury #BobJohnston #SudburyElection #MunicipalElection #CityHall #Accountability #TaxpayerDollars #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260910-sudbury-ward-eric-benoit-on

Ward 2 Councillor Eric Benoit talks about the frustration people can feel when permits, approvals and City processes slow down construction — but he also makes the point that **permits exist for a reason.**

When someone is building a home, renovating, adding an apartment, developing land or starting a larger project, the permit process is there to make sure the work meets basic safety and building standards.

That includes things like structural requirements, fire safety, electrical and plumbing considerations, setbacks, drainage, septic systems, access and making sure a project does not create problems for neighbouring properties.

Benoit’s position is not that the City should eliminate permits.

The bigger issue is whether those permits can be handled **faster, more clearly and with less unnecessary red tape** so good projects are not delayed for months while people wait for answers.

That balance matters.

If the City makes development too difficult, builders can walk away, housing takes longer to create and costs can rise. But if approvals are removed altogether, the risk shifts to homeowners, neighbours and future buyers who may be left dealing with unsafe or poorly planned construction.

**The goal should not be “no permits.” The goal should be a permit system that protects people without becoming an obstacle to building.**

For a city trying to increase housing supply, that means clear rules, reasonable timelines, faster decisions and a process where developers and homeowners know exactly what is required before they start.

#Sudbury #EricBenoit #Ward2 #BuildingPermits #Housing #Development #RedTape #CityHall #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260916-bill-leduc-goes-deep-are

Sudbury Ward 11 Councillor Bill Leduc raises a major question about the new downtown Event Centre: **how can Council confidently approve a project when councillors still do not have the final cost?**

Leduc says the City has been working with a roughly **$200-million budget**, but he stresses that a budget is not the same thing as the final price. In the interview, he says he has repeatedly asked for the **Class B estimate** — a more detailed construction estimate that should give Council a much clearer picture of what the project is expected to cost.

According to Leduc, that Class B estimate had still not been provided to him at the time of the interview.

That is where the accountability issue begins.

If councillors do not yet have the detailed estimate, how can they know whether the arena will finish near $200 million, substantially above it, or what additional costs may sit outside that headline number?

Leduc also points to related spending such as land acquisition and surrounding infrastructure, arguing that taxpayers need to understand the **total financial commitment**, not simply the construction budget discussed publicly.

The City’s own project information shows construction is already underway, with foundations and structural work scheduled through 2026 and completion targeted for 2028.

**For taxpayers, the question is simple: before hundreds of millions of dollars are committed, shouldn’t the people voting on the project know as closely as possible what the final bill will actually be?**

Leduc compares proceeding without that information to **signing a blank cheque.**

#Sudbury #BillLeduc #EventCentre #Arena #TaxpayerDollars #CityHall #Accountability #MunicipalSpending #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli says one of the biggest accountability gaps at City Hall is the loss of the **Auditor General’s office**.

She explains that the Auditor General was meant to operate independently from City staff and investigate more than just spending. The office could also look at processes, policies, bylaws and allegations of wrongdoing — giving citizens somewhere to go when they believed something needed to be reviewed.

That matters when taxpayers start asking questions like:

Where did the money go?
Why did a project cost more than expected?
Was the proper process followed?
Is there documentation to support what residents are being told?

Rocca-Circelli says the Auditor General could access information directly and investigate without the same barriers an ordinary citizen may face when trying to obtain records. The findings could then be brought back to council, creating another layer of independent oversight.

Without that office, she argues that citizens have fewer options when they want municipal spending or decisions independently examined.

And that is really the bigger issue.

**Residents should not have to become investigators themselves just to understand how their tax dollars are being spent.**

When City Hall is making decisions involving hundreds of millions of public dollars, taxpayers should have access to clear numbers, documentation and an independent body capable of asking difficult questions.

Rocca-Circelli’s position is that restoring the Auditor General would help put that watchdog back in place.

**Transparency is not simply telling taxpayers what was spent. It is giving them a way to verify it.**

#Sudbury #MirandaRoccaCircelli #AuditorGeneral #TaxpayerDollars #Accountability #Transparency #CityHall #MunicipalSpending #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261001-detox-without-gimmicks-how-body

Dr. Josie and Rachelle talk about one of the simplest ways to support the body’s natural elimination systems: **sweating** — including through exercise and sauna use.

Their point is not that a sauna somehow “cleans everything out” of the body. The liver, kidneys, digestive system, lungs and skin already do the heavy lifting when it comes to processing and eliminating substances. But sweating can be one additional pathway the body uses.

In the episode, they discuss research looking at substances such as certain heavy metals and “forever chemicals,” noting that small amounts can be detected in sweat. They also make it clear that you are not eliminating huge quantities this way — so sauna should be viewed as supportive, not as a miracle detox treatment.

Sauna also encourages heat exposure and perspiration without needing a hard workout, which can make it appealing for people looking for another way to support regular sweating.

The conversation connects this with movement as well. Exercise helps stimulate the lymphatic system, which depends heavily on body movement rather than having its own pump like the heart does.

**The bigger message is that detoxification is not about buying a cleanse. It is about supporting the systems your body already has — hydration, fibre, movement, sweating, whole foods and reducing unnecessary exposure in the first place.**

A sauna can be one useful piece of that bigger picture.

#Sauna #Sweating #Detox #HealthyLiving #WomensHealth #LymphaticSystem #Wellness #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260929-northern-ontario-animal-welfare-jill

Jill from PetSave says taxpayers are funding Ontario’s animal welfare system — but in Northern Ontario, she believes the results are falling far short of what residents and animals should expect.

She describes repeated cruelty and neglect complaints where people say they called Provincial Animal Welfare Services multiple times, yet little or nothing happened. In some cases, Jill says rescues were eventually contacted only after animals had deteriorated to the point of severe suffering or death.

That raises a serious question:

**If taxpayers are paying for animal welfare enforcement, why are volunteer rescues still being left to do so much of the work?**

PetSave and other rescues raise their own money to take in animals, pay veterinary bills, deal with hoarding situations, find foster homes and respond to emergencies. Jill argues that rescues are increasingly doing work that should fall under municipal or provincial animal welfare systems — without receiving the funding that follows those responsibilities.

Her frustration is not simply about spending more money.

It is about making the money already being spent actually produce results.

Jill says animal welfare officers are paid through public dollars, and those dollars should translate into investigations, enforcement, confiscations where legally justified, charges where appropriate, and meaningful protection for animals.

**Tax dollars should work for the taxpayer — and in animal welfare, that means protecting animals before rescues are left cleaning up the aftermath.**

If the existing system cannot deliver that, Jill says there needs to be accountability, stronger oversight and potentially major changes in who is responsible for getting the job done.

#PetSave #AnimalWelfare #TaxDollars #Accountability #AnimalCruelty #Ontario #NorthernOntario #AnimalRescue #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261001-detox-without-gimmicks-how-body

When people hear the word **“detox,”** they often think of juice cleanses, supplements, special drinks or extreme diets. But Dr. Josie and Rachelle explain that your body already has its own systems designed to process and eliminate substances every single day.

Your liver, kidneys, digestive system, lungs and skin all play a role.

The bigger question may be: **how much are we asking those systems to deal with?**

Exposure does not only come from food. We can encounter chemicals and pollutants through the air we breathe, water, household cleaners, cosmetics, plastics, pesticides, food packaging and other everyday products.

Their message is not to become afraid of everything around you. Instead, start by reducing unnecessary exposure where it is practical.

That could mean using glass instead of heating food in plastic, eating more whole foods, drinking enough water, getting enough fibre to support regular bowel movements, moving your body, exercising and sweating, and reducing heavily processed foods.

They also explain why extreme “detox cleanses” are not necessarily the answer. The body requires nutrients, including protein, vitamins and minerals, to support the natural processes already taking place.

One of the strongest examples comes from Sudbury itself. The city’s landscape began recovering when pollution at the source was dramatically reduced. Their comparison is simple: sometimes healing begins not by adding more — but by **taking away some of what is creating the burden in the first place.**

**Better health does not always require another product. Sometimes the first step is simply reducing what your body has to deal with every day.**

#Detox #WomensHealth #HealthyLiving #Nutrition #WholeFoods #GutHealth #LiverHealth #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261001-sudbury-ward-borg-on-roads

Sudbury Ward 9 candidate James Borg raises a question many rural residents are asking: **why do property taxes keep going up when some communities receive fewer municipal services?**

Borg says residents in parts of Ward 9 are paying property taxes comparable to the rest of Greater Sudbury, yet many still rely on private wells and septic systems. Some areas have no municipal water lines, no fire hydrants, no natural gas service, limited transit, and roads that residents say require more maintenance.

For rural taxpayers, that can mean paying the municipal tax bill while also paying personally to maintain a well, septic system, heating system, driveway, and other services that urban residents may receive through municipal infrastructure.

Borg says the frustration became even greater after amalgamation, with taxes continuing to rise while some residents feel the level of service has not kept pace.

Roads are a major example. He points to dirt roads needing regular grading, repeated pothole repairs, aging pavement and areas where residents depend on their vehicles simply to access work, groceries and basic services.

He also proposes better transit and a water-filling station for residents in the rural corridor who rely on wells and can be left without water if a pump fails or freezes.

**The issue is not whether rural residents should pay taxes. The question is whether the services they receive are keeping pace with what they are being asked to pay.**

For Borg, City Hall needs to take a harder look at where tax dollars are going and make sure communities outside the urban core are receiving a fair return.

#Sudbury #Ward9 #JamesBorg #PropertyTaxes #RuralSudbury #CityServices #Infrastructure #Roads #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-when-forest-goes-quiet-what

Many people in Northern Ontario may not realize they can have a voice in how Crown forests are managed.

In our conversation with Troy Woodhouse, he explains that Ontario’s forests are governed through long-term forest management plans. These plans help determine where harvesting takes place, how forests are regenerated and what methods are used — including decisions involving herbicide spraying, clear-cutting, selective cutting, wildlife habitat and biodiversity.

But there’s an important part of the process many residents don’t know about:

The public can participate.

Residents can review forest management plans, provide input and raise concerns about what is happening on public land. If people want less spraying, more selective cutting, greater protection for wildlife habitat or different regeneration practices, those concerns need to be heard during the planning process.

The problem is that many people never participate because they don’t know they can.

These forests are used for hunting, fishing, berry picking, recreation, traditional harvesting and forestry. Decisions made today can affect those lands for decades.

Troy’s message is that speaking up can matter. Public involvement, community pressure and Indigenous-led forestry initiatives can help push discussions toward different approaches to managing the forest.

Northern Ontario’s forests are more than a source of timber. They are part of our environment, economy, culture and way of life.

If residents want change, they need to learn when local forest plans are being reviewed, ask questions and participate.

Having a voice only matters if we use it.

#NorthernOntario #ForestManagement #OntarioForests #Forestry #Wildlife #Biodiversity #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260904-ward-karan-wants-to-make

What should municipal government focus on first — big projects, or the everyday issues residents deal with in their own neighbourhoods?

In our conversation with Ward 8 candidate Karan Bedhesha, his priorities centred on making Sudbury more affordable, accessible and safe.

Karan says residents are raising concerns about road conditions, sidewalks, accessibility, neighbourhood safety and the rising cost of living. He argues that basic infrastructure has to work for everyone — including seniors and people with mobility challenges who may struggle with poorly maintained sidewalks, parks or neighbourhood streets.

Affordability is another major concern. Property taxes continue to put pressure on homeowners, but the impact doesn’t stop there. When taxes and operating costs rise for landlords and businesses, some of those costs can eventually be passed along through higher rents and prices.

Karan says Sudbury needs to look at new ways of reducing that burden while still funding the services residents depend on. He also believes seniors who have contributed to the community for decades deserve greater consideration as housing and living costs continue to rise.

Safety, in his view, should also involve the community itself. Karan wants to see greater use of neighbourhood watch and citizen patrol programs, creating stronger connections between residents while allowing police resources to remain focused on more serious calls.

That means roads that are maintained, public spaces that are accessible, neighbourhoods where people feel safe and a city that remains affordable enough for young families, working people and seniors to stay.

Is Greater Sudbury is putting enough attention — and enough resources — into those everyday priorities.

#Sudbury #GreaterSudbury #Ward8 #KaranBedhesha #Affordability #Accessibility #CommunitySafety #PropertyTaxes #NorthernOntario

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260929-northern-ontario-animal-welfare-jill

Animal rescue groups across Northern Ontario are being asked to carry a growing burden — often with little or no government funding.

In our latest conversation with Jill from PetSave, she argues that the provincial animal welfare system is failing to respond adequately to reports of neglect and cruelty. She says people regularly contact PetSave after making repeated complaints about animals they believe are being abused, neglected or left in dangerous conditions, yet they feel nothing is being done.

The consequences can be devastating.

Jill described cases where rescues were eventually called after animals had already reached critical condition, including one severely starved dog that ultimately had to be euthanized. Her question is simple: if evidence exists, complaints have been made and animals remain at risk, who is responsible for making sure action is taken?

Meanwhile, organizations like PetSave continue taking in abandoned animals, handling emergency medical cases, supporting remote Northern communities and relying heavily on volunteers and foster homes. Jill says PetSave currently has hundreds of animals in care and receives no government funding to operate its shelter.

That creates a bigger question for taxpayers.

If public money is already funding Ontario's animal welfare system, should privately funded rescues and volunteers continually have to step in when animals fall through the cracks?

Jill is now encouraging Northern Ontario residents to document their experiences so a clearer picture can be built of how many cruelty and neglect complaints are actually going unanswered.

Animal welfare is not simply about rescuing an animal after something goes wrong.
It's about enforcement, prevention, accountability — and making sure someone responds before it's too late.

#NorthernOntario #AnimalWelfare #PetSave #AnimalRescue

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/261001-sudbury-ward-borg-on-roads

Bad roads don’t just make for an uncomfortable drive — they can become another hidden cost of living in Northern Ontario.

In our conversation with Sudbury Ward 9 candidate James Borg, road conditions were a major issue. Borg says the condition of local roads was one of the main reasons he decided to run, pointing to potholes, repeated patchwork repairs, dirt roads needing more regular grading and aging infrastructure throughout Greater Sudbury.

When roads deteriorate, the cost doesn’t stop with the municipality.

Every pothole hit and rough stretch of pavement can put added stress on a vehicle. Over time, drivers may be replacing tires, repairing bent rims, paying for wheel alignments and dealing with premature wear on shocks, struts, ball joints, wheel bearings and steering components.

For families already facing higher costs for food, fuel, housing and property taxes, an unexpected $500, $1,000 or larger vehicle repair bill can hurt.

Borg also described his own frustration, saying vehicles he owned had been damaged because of road conditions. He argues Greater Sudbury needs to put greater emphasis on maintaining basic infrastructure rather than allowing roads to deteriorate and relying on repeated temporary repairs.

That raises an important question for taxpayers:

Is delaying proper road maintenance actually saving money — or are residents simply paying the difference through vehicle repairs?

Roads are about more than convenience. They affect transportation costs, vehicle life, safety, business deliveries and the overall affordability of living in Northern Ontario.

Watch the full conversation with James Borg on Love the North.

#Sudbury #GreaterSudbury #SudburyRoads #Potholes #AutoRepair #Infrastructure #Ward9 #JamesBorg #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260324-women-health-digestion

Bloating is something a lot of people learn to live with — but that does not mean it should simply be ignored.

In this Love the North discussion on digestion, the conversation looks at how the gut affects much more than just what happens after you eat. Digestion is connected to energy, stress, sleep, mood, focus, immunity, and overall well-being through the gut-brain axis.

Bloating can be one of the first signs that something in that digestive process is not agreeing with you.

It may show up after certain meals, later in the day, or after eating foods that are harder for your system to process. Stress, eating habits, food choices, and overall gut health can all influence how your digestive system feels and functions.

The important part is paying attention to patterns.

Does the bloating happen after specific foods? Does it get worse when you are stressed? Are you eating too quickly? Are there other symptoms happening at the same time?

The episode emphasizes that digestion does not operate in isolation. When the gut is struggling, people may notice changes not only in their stomach, but also in their energy, concentration, sleep, and how they feel mentally.

**Bloating may be common, but persistent bloating is your body telling you to pay attention.**

Understanding what you eat, how you digest it, and how lifestyle and stress affect your gut can be an important first step toward feeling better overall.

Persistent, severe, or unexplained bloating should be discussed with a healthcare professional.

#Bloating #Digestion #GutHealth #WomensHealth #GutBrainAxis #HealthyLiving #Nutrition #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/250430-elgin-street-mission

The Elgin Street Mission has been serving some of Sudbury’s most vulnerable residents for decades — but that work does not happen without volunteers.

The Mission provides breakfast and supper every day and serves roughly **90,000 to 100,000 meals each year**. It also provides clothing, showers, laundry facilities, counselling, referrals and a safe place for people who may have nowhere else to turn.

That amount of support requires people.

Volunteers help make meals possible, organize donations, serve food, assist with day-to-day operations and, perhaps most importantly, provide human connection to people who may be going through one of the hardest periods of their lives.

For someone walking through the doors of the Mission, a volunteer may be one of the first people that day to greet them with respect, listen to them, or simply treat them like they matter.

The Elgin Street Mission operates largely through support from individuals, businesses and churches rather than regular government funding, which makes community involvement especially important.

You do not necessarily need specialized skills to make a difference. Sometimes what is needed most is simply your time, reliability and willingness to help.

**A meal may bring someone through the door, but volunteers help create the compassion, dignity and sense of community that surrounds that meal.**

If Sudbury wants organizations like the Elgin Street Mission to continue helping thousands of people every year, they cannot do it alone.

They need the community standing beside them.

#ElginStreetMission #Sudbury #Volunteer #Volunteering #CommunitySupport #Homelessness #FoodSecurity #HelpingOthers #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/250502-beekeeping-in-north

Getting stung by a bee can sometimes make the situation worse — and part of the reason comes down to **pheromones**.

During the beekeeping discussion, Justin explains how bees communicate chemically. When a honeybee stings, it can leave behind an alarm pheromone that signals to other bees that there may be a threat nearby.

That means one sting can attract the attention of other bees and potentially make them more defensive around the same spot.

It is one of the reasons experienced beekeepers try to remain calm and deliberate when working around a hive. Swatting, crushing bees, making sudden movements, or becoming increasingly agitated can turn what started as a manageable situation into something much more uncomfortable.

The sting itself also leaves a barbed stinger behind in the skin. Removing it quickly matters because the attached venom sac can continue delivering venom for a short period after the bee has flown away.

For a beekeeper, learning to read the colony is part of the job. Some days bees can be extremely calm. Other days weather, disturbances around the hive, lack of forage, or the condition of the colony can make them much more defensive.

**Bees are not simply attacking at random. They are communicating with each other and responding to what they perceive as a threat to the hive.**

Understanding that communication — including the role of alarm pheromones — helps explain why staying calm around bees is so important and why one sting can sometimes lead to more.

Beekeeping in Northern Ontario means learning not only how to manage the hive, but how to understand the behaviour of thousands of insects working together as one colony.

#Beekeeping #HoneyBees #BeeSting #BeePheromones #Beekeeper #Pollinators #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LocalFood #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260910-sudbury-ward-eric-benoit-on

Ward 2 Councillor Eric Benoit says housing affordability in Sudbury is being driven by a simple problem: **there are not enough homes available for the number of people who want to live here.**

Benoit says Greater Sudbury is working on hundreds of affordable housing units while also trying to reduce red tape and encourage more private development. His view is that affordability is not only about building subsidized apartments — it is also about increasing the total supply of homes across every price range.

He explains that when vacancy is extremely low, people end up competing for whatever is available. Someone who might prefer a larger apartment or a modestly priced home can be forced into a much more expensive option simply because there is nothing else on the market.

Benoit points out that even higher-end construction can help free up lower-priced housing. If someone buys a new $1-million home, for example, that can open up the $400,000 home they may otherwise have purchased.

The challenge is that prices have moved dramatically. During the discussion, Benoit talks about camps that once might have sold for around $50,000 being purchased for close to $200,000 because people were desperate to find something they could afford to live in.

His argument is that Northern Ontario needs **more housing of every kind** — apartments, starter homes, family homes and new construction — along with a permitting system that protects building standards without unnecessarily slowing development.

**If demand keeps rising while supply stays tight, affordability will remain out of reach for more Northern families.**

#Sudbury #HousingAffordability #AffordableHousing #NorthernOntario #Ward2 #EricBenoit #HousingSupply #HomePrices #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli talks about giving Greater Sudbury’s individual communities more autonomy over the decisions that affect them directly.

Her argument is that neighbourhoods and outlying communities often know their own priorities better than anyone else. One area may need roads repaired. Another may need park improvements, drainage work, community facilities, or better local infrastructure.

Instead of every decision being driven centrally from City Hall, Rocca-Circelli believes communities should have a stronger voice in deciding where attention and resources are needed first.

Part of that approach includes creating more meaningful local advisory structures so residents can identify priorities within their own wards and help shape how money is spent in those areas.

The goal is not to separate Greater Sudbury into completely independent municipalities again. It is to give communities more influence over the practical decisions that affect daily life.

If residents are the ones living with the roads, parks, infrastructure, and services every day, they should have a much stronger say in which problems get fixed first.

For Rocca-Circelli, stronger local decision-making could help rebuild trust, improve accountability, and make sure City spending better reflects what individual communities actually need.

#Sudbury #MirandaRoccaCircelli #SudburyElection #LocalDecisionMaking #CommunityPriorities #CityHall #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-farm-to-table-in-northern

Brianna from Radical Gardens in Timmins explains that if you want kids to care about good food as adults, one of the best places to start is by making fresh food exciting when they are young.

Her point is simple: kids are far more likely to remember the experience of biting into a sweet, fresh carrot than they are a lecture about agriculture.

She talks about taking part in the Big Crunch, a program where she grew carrots for children across the Northeastern school district. The idea was to let kids experience how different a truly fresh, locally grown vegetable can taste. Years later, Brianna says some of those same kids now shop at farmers’ markets, grow gardens, and care about where their food comes from.

That early experience matters.

If children grow up thinking vegetables are bland, boring, or something they are simply forced to eat, it can shape how they look at food later in life. But if they get to taste fresh carrots, unusual vegetables, berries, herbs, or food straight from the garden — and actually have fun doing it — they begin building a completely different relationship with food.

You do not necessarily create future farmers by making kids weed a garden.

You create curiosity by letting them taste something memorable.

Get kids excited about real food when they are young, and there is a much better chance they will seek out better food when they become adults.

#FarmToTable #RadicalGardens #Timmins #LocalFood #KidsAndFood #HealthyEating #FarmersMarket #NorthernAgriculture #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

Sudbury’s rat problem has become much more than an occasional backyard nuisance.

In this episode, Ward 11 Councillor Bill Leduc, Minnow Lake resident Sasha, and Manon and Rhonda from E2 Pest Control discuss how the infestation developed, what residents are seeing, what attracts rats, and why acting before winter matters.

Sasha describes seeing nine rats in her backyard at one time. Her Facebook post generated more than 200 comments, followed by a community survey, mapping of reported activity, meetings with the City, and a public meeting attended by local residents.

Pest-control experts explain that rats thrive when they have easy access to food, water, and shelter. Garbage, bird feeders, fallen fruit, tall grass, standing water, debris, wood piles, and openings around homes or sheds can all create ideal conditions.

Because rats reproduce quickly, a small problem can grow fast.

That is why prevention matters now. Residents are encouraged to secure garbage, use green bins properly, remove clutter, trim vegetation, eliminate standing water, raise wood piles off the ground, and seal cracks or openings before rodents start looking for warm places to spend the winter.

The episode also looks at the City’s role, including bylaw enforcement, education, maintaining public spaces, identifying hotspots, and encouraging residents to report rat activity.

**This is not a problem one homeowner can solve alone. It will take residents, the City, public health, bylaw, and pest-control professionals working together — because what happens before winter could determine how serious the problem becomes next spring.**

#Sudbury #MinnowLake #RatInfestation #PestControl #E2PestControl #CommunitySafety #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-sudbury-ward-candidate-wanda-berton-heyerichs

Ward 9 candidate Wanda Berton-Heyerichs says Greater Sudbury needs to put more emphasis on **preventative maintenance instead of waiting for problems to become expensive emergencies**.

During the conversation, Wanda points to roads, infrastructure and snow removal as examples of basic municipal services where planning ahead can make a major difference. She recalls how snowbanks were not reduced enough before a major ice storm, something she believes contributed to worsening road conditions.

Her approach is simple: identify potential problems early, maintain infrastructure before it deteriorates, make sure existing services are operating efficiently, and measure whether taxpayers are actually getting results.

That could mean keeping up with road maintenance before major reconstruction becomes necessary, addressing snowbanks and drainage before severe weather hits, improving lighting or other safety measures before problems escalate, and examining aging infrastructure before failures create much larger repair bills.

For Wanda, preventative maintenance is also about priorities. Before taking on additional major projects, she believes the city should make sure the services residents already depend on are working properly.

With property taxes continuing to rise, the question becomes: **Are we spending money preventing problems, or continually paying more to fix them after they happen?**

Watch the full conversation with Ward 9 candidate Wanda Berton-Heyerichs on Love the North.
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Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-when-forest-goes-quiet-what

Troy from the Flying Post First Nation area west of Timmins describes what he calls the **“silent forest”** — areas that have been replanted as monocrops, where one commercially valuable tree species dominates and much of the natural diversity underneath is gone.

Troy explains that a natural boreal forest is normally mixed with species such as poplar, birch, jack pine, black spruce and white pine. In a monocrop, that mix can be reduced to essentially one tree species, with very little growing underneath.

He says the difference is something you can actually hear.

In healthy mixed forest, there are birds, insects, understory plants and other signs of life. But in some monocrop blocks, Troy says it can feel eerily quiet — fewer birds chirping, little vegetation below the trees, and far less biodiversity.

For Troy, that silence is a warning sign.

He argues that when the forest is managed mainly for the trees a mill wants, the broader ecosystem can suffer. Moose lose browse. Insects lose habitat. Birds lose food and nesting areas. Plants and berries disappear, and the forest becomes less useful to the animals and people who depend on it.

His concern is that we may be creating forests that are efficient for timber production, but much less valuable as living ecosystems.

**A forest should not just be measured by how many harvestable trees it can grow. It should also be measured by how much life it can support.**

And when the birds and bugs disappear, Troy says the silence itself may be telling us something.

#NorthernOntario #Forestry #Monocrop #Biodiversity #FlyingPostFirstNation #Timmins #WildlifeHabitat #Moose #ForestManagement #Environment #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260929-northern-ontario-animal-welfare-jill

Jill from PetSave delivers a blunt message about animal welfare enforcement in Ontario: **if you cannot do the job you are being paid to do, then quit and let someone else step in who will.**

Her frustration comes from years of seeing complaints about neglect and cruelty reported, followed up on repeatedly, and in some cases backed by photos, videos, witnesses, and clear evidence — yet animals still continue to suffer.

For Jill, this is not just about individual cases. It is about accountability within a taxpayer-funded system that is supposed to protect animals across the province.

Animal welfare officers have an enormous responsibility. When someone reports that an animal is being starved, beaten, neglected, or left in dangerous conditions, the public expects those complaints to be investigated properly and acted on when the evidence supports it.

Jill argues that when enforcement repeatedly fails, rescues are left carrying the burden — taking in animals, paying veterinary bills, handling hoarding situations, finding foster homes, and raising their own money to do work that should never have reached that point.

Her message is that accountability has to apply to everyone.

**If the system is not protecting animals, then something has to change — whether that means better enforcement, better leadership, stronger oversight, or replacing people who are unwilling or unable to do the job.**

For Jill, the animals should never be the ones paying the price for bureaucracy, delays, or a lack of follow-through.

#PetSave #AnimalWelfare #AnimalCruelty #AnimalWelfareOfficers #Accountability #Ontario #NorthernOntario #AnimalRescue #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston says that if he becomes Mayor, his first priority will be simple: **put the people first.**

Johnston argues that Greater Sudbury is facing multiple crises at the same time — from homelessness, addiction, mental health and affordability to roads, infrastructure, community safety, downtown issues, housing, taxes and accountability at City Hall.

For him, becoming Mayor would not mean focusing on one single issue while everything else waits. He says the city has roughly ten major problems that need immediate attention, and residents are already feeling the effects every day.

Johnston repeatedly returns to the idea that municipal decisions should start with one question: **how does this help the people who live here?**

That means looking at whether taxpayer dollars are actually improving roads, neighbourhoods, housing, public safety and essential services — instead of simply continuing with the same systems because “that’s how it has always been done.”

He also says homelessness and addiction cannot continue to be treated with temporary fixes. His approach is to get to the root causes, including trauma, mental health, addiction, life skills and the circumstances that push people into crisis in the first place.

For Johnston, leadership means being visible, listening to residents, rebuilding trust with City Hall and tackling the biggest problems head-on.

**His message is that Sudbury does not have time for business as usual. With multiple crises already on the table, the people have to come first from day one.**

#Sudbury #BobJohnston #SudburyElection #MayoralCandidate #CityHall #Accountability #Homelessness #Affordability #CommunitySafety #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

A Minnow Lake resident describes just how upsetting the rat problem became in her neighbourhood — with rats appearing frequently enough that it began to feel like they were taking over the area.

What started as an occasional sighting quickly became something much harder to ignore. Seeing rats moving through yards, around garbage, and near homes created a constant sense of frustration and concern for residents who simply wanted to feel comfortable on their own property.

For this resident, the issue was not just the rats themselves — it was the feeling that the problem was growing while residents were left trying to figure out who was responsible for helping.

She eventually reached out to her local councillor looking for support and action, hoping the issue would be taken seriously before it became even worse.

The situation raises bigger questions about how quickly municipalities should respond when residents begin reporting pest problems across an entire neighbourhood.

When rats are showing up repeatedly around homes and streets, residents should not feel like they are dealing with the problem alone.

The message from Minnow Lake is clear: people want practical help, clear communication, and a coordinated response before a local pest issue turns into a much larger community problem.

#Sudbury #MinnowLake #RatInfestation #PestControl #CommunitySafety #CityHall #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-sudbury-ward-christel-brandle-says

Sudbury Ward 2 candidate Christel Brandle raises serious questions about the Anderson Drive project — a City project that she says was originally expected to take about two years but is now into its fourth year.

What makes the situation even more frustrating, according to Brandle, is that work has repeatedly been stopped because of issues tied to the project itself.

She describes delays involving utility markings, sewer and water lines, and even a line that had reportedly been identified as inactive but was later found to still have power. Brandle says those kinds of problems have forced work stoppages and added more time to a project that was already well behind schedule.

Her concern is not just that the work is taking too long — it is that the project is happening under the City’s watch.

When a City project is delayed because the City or its contractors do not have accurate information about what is underground, who is accountable for the extra time, extra cost, and disruption to residents?

Brandle says people living along Anderson Drive have dealt with years of construction headaches, including problems with garbage collection, snow removal, access, and even difficulty selling homes because of the ongoing work.

For her, it comes back to oversight and accountability.

If the City is managing the project, but City-related issues are also stopping the work, residents deserve to know why — and what is being done to finally get it completed.

#Sudbury #Ward2 #ChristelBrandle #AndersonDrive #CityHall #Infrastructure #Accountability #TaxpayerDollars #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260916-bill-leduc-goes-deep-are

Sudbury Ward 11 Councillor Bill Leduc digs into one of the biggest financial questions facing the city: how realistic is it to build the new downtown event centre for approximately $200 million?

The discussion goes beyond the headline number.

Leduc talks about the importance of looking at all the costs surrounding a major capital project — not just the construction price itself. That includes infrastructure, financing, supporting work, future operating costs, and whether other city priorities are being delayed or shifted to make room for the project.

For taxpayers, the concern is simple: when a project of this size is announced at a certain price, how confident can residents be that the final number will stay there?

Large projects can face inflation, design changes, unexpected site conditions, labour costs, material increases, and additional work that may not have been obvious at the beginning.

That is why Leduc’s broader message keeps coming back to accountability and value for money. The city needs to be able to clearly show residents what is included in the $200 million figure, what sits outside of it, what contingencies are built in, and what financial exposure remains if costs rise.

The real question is not just “Can we build it for $200 million?” — it is “What will the total cost to the taxpayer be when everything is included?”

The episode also examines property taxes, city reserves, staffing, infrastructure, the Auditor General, and whether residents are getting the value they should from municipal spending.

#Sudbury #BillLeduc #EventCentre #TaxpayerDollars #CityHall #MunicipalSpending #Accountability #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-farm-to-table-in-northern

Brianna from Radical Gardens in Timmins explains why local farming works better when growers are not all producing the exact same thing.

Instead of competing over the same standard crops, Radical Gardens deliberately grows more unusual produce — the kinds of vegetables and varieties that may not be common at the grocery store or even at the farmers’ market.

Why?

Because diversity creates opportunity.

If every local grower produces the same lettuce, carrots, and radishes, the market quickly becomes crowded. But when farms specialize, each producer can fill a different need and the entire local food system becomes stronger.

Radical Gardens uses that approach by growing some of the “weirder” products that fit their restaurant menu, while sourcing more common items from other farmers in the region.

That means more variety for customers, more opportunities for local farmers, and a much more interesting farm-to-table experience.

It also helps chefs build menus around what can actually be grown locally instead of relying on ingredients shipped from far away.

For Brianna, the goal is not just to grow food — it is to grow food with purpose.

**Local agriculture becomes stronger when farmers diversify, specialize, and give consumers something they cannot find everywhere else.**

And sometimes, growing the weird stuff is exactly what helps a Northern farm stand out.

#FarmToTable #RadicalGardens #Timmins #LocalFood #NorthernAgriculture #FarmersMarket #EatLocal #FoodDiversity #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260905-spay-neuter-affordable-pet-care

Jill from PetSave discusses why spaying and neutering is one of the most important steps pet owners can take — not only for the health and well-being of their own cats and dogs, but for the entire community.

Every unwanted litter adds more pressure to rescues, shelters, foster homes, and veterinary services that are already working hard to keep up with the number of animals needing help.

That is why access to affordable veterinary care matters so much.

The episode highlights services available through East Village Animal Hospital and the work being done to help Northern Ontario pet owners access spay and neuter procedures at a more manageable cost.

For families struggling with rising expenses, veterinary care can sometimes feel out of reach. But delaying a spay or neuter can contribute to accidental litters and even more animals entering an already overwhelmed rescue system.

PetSave continues to help connect owners with programs and veterinary services that can make responsible pet care more accessible.

**Spaying or neutering one animal may seem like a small decision — but across an entire community, it can prevent hundreds of unwanted animals from being born into uncertain situations.**

Responsible pet ownership starts with prevention, planning, and making sure every animal has the best chance at a healthy, permanent home.

#PetSave #SpayAndNeuter #AffordablePetCare #AnimalWelfare #ResponsiblePetOwnership #EastVillageAnimalHospital #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

The automotive sector is facing a growing challenge: finding enough qualified tradespeople to keep up with the work.

Mike and Justin discuss how difficult it has become to find skilled automotive technicians who bring the right mix of training, experience, work ethic, diagnostic ability, and attention to detail.

Today’s vehicles are far more complex than they once were. Technicians are expected to understand mechanical systems, electronics, computer diagnostics, emissions equipment, advanced safety systems, and increasingly, hybrid and electric vehicle technology.

Replacing an experienced technician is no longer as simple as finding someone who knows how to turn a wrench.

The problem also starts much earlier. Fewer young people are being exposed to the Skilled Trades, and many still grow up hearing that university is the preferred path while trades are treated as a second choice.

Mike and Justin explain why that mindset needs to change.

Automotive work can provide a strong career, practical skills, steady demand, opportunities to specialize, and even a path toward owning a business. But the industry needs more young people entering apprenticeships and learning directly from experienced technicians before decades of knowledge begin leaving the workforce through retirement.

Employers and experienced tradespeople also have a major role to play. Apprentices need proper mentorship, time to learn, strong standards, and real hands-on experience if they are going to become safe, capable technicians.

The shortage of qualified automotive tradespeople will not fix itself. It starts with encouraging young people, creating real apprenticeship opportunities, and passing knowledge forward before it disappears.

#SkilledTrades #AutomotiveTrades #AutoTechnician #Mechanic #Apprenticeship

The automotive sector is facing a growing challenge:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor
Sudbury Needs Change — But What Does That Change Actually Look Like?
Greater Sudbury mayoral candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli talks about why she believes the city needs a different approach to leadership — one built around accountability, transparency and giving communities a stronger voice in the decisions that affect them.
From restoring independent oversight at City Hall to aging roads and infrastructure, rising taxes, community facilities, housing and homelessness, Miranda argues that simply continuing with the status quo isn't enough. Love the North
Is it time for a change in Greater Sudbury — and what should that change look like?
Watch the full conversation and decide for yourself.
#GreaterSudbury #Sudbury #SudburyElection #MunicipalElection #MirandaRoccaCircelli #LoveTheNorth #NorthernOntario #SudburyPolitics

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260920-sudbury-downtown-safety-taxes-ems

Sudbury Ward 10 candidate Derek Young talks about the need to look for efficiencies within City operations while also addressing areas where additional staffing may actually be needed.

One example is bylaw enforcement. Young discusses the value of adding two more bylaw officers to help deal with ongoing issues in the community, while at the same time taking a broader look at how existing resources are being used and where money can be saved.

The bigger question is not simply whether the City should spend more or spend less — it’s whether the money is being directed to the areas where it can make the greatest difference.

That means reviewing staffing, eliminating duplication where possible, improving service delivery, and making sure essential frontline roles have the support they need.

Finding efficiencies does not always mean cutting services. Sometimes it means spending smarter — and putting resources where residents are actually feeling the pressure.

#Sudbury #Ward10 #DerekYoung #BylawEnforcement #CityHall #Efficiency #TaxpayerDollars #CommunitySafety #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260218-carson-switch-insurance-home-commercial

Carson from Switch Insurance talks about something many Northern Ontario homeowners may not think about until it affects their insurance: the difference between a traditional wood stove and a pellet stove.

In the North, supplemental heat is common. Wood stoves have been used for generations, but from an insurance standpoint they can raise questions around installation, clearances, chimney condition, certification, inspections, and fire risk.

Pellet stoves can sometimes be viewed differently because they operate in a more controlled way, feeding fuel automatically and using a regulated combustion system rather than manually loaded firewood.

The key takeaway is that you should never assume either type of stove is covered the same way by every insurance company.

Before installing a wood or pellet stove, homeowners should talk to their broker and find out exactly what their insurer requires. That could include professional installation, a WETT inspection, proof of certification, photographs, or documentation showing the appliance meets current standards.

It’s especially important in Northern Ontario, where wood heat is often more than decorative — for many homeowners, it is a major part of winter heating.

Carson’s broader message is simple: understand what is actually in your insurance policy before there is a claim. The episode also covers home insurance, fire protection, sewer backup, water damage, contents coverage, and commercial insurance.

Whether you burn firewood or pellets, make sure your heating system is installed properly — and make sure your insurer knows it’s there.

#WoodStove #PelletStove #HomeInsurance #FireSafety #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #HomeHeating #InsuranceTips #SwitchInsurance #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260910-sudbury-ward-eric-benoit-on

Sudbury Ward 2 Councillor Eric Benoit talks about plans for new year-round recreational amenities around Anderson Farm — including a paved summer trail, a winter skating path, lighting, and a public sauna.

Benoit explains that the idea is to create something the community can use in every season. During the summer, the paved trail would be available for activities such as rollerblading and biking. In the winter, the same route could be flooded and transformed into a skating path, complete with lighting along the way. There has even been discussion about decorating the route during the Christmas season to create a lit skating experience through the property.

The public sauna is also intended to become part of that year-round experience. Benoit says the concept came through public consultation and ties into both the area's Finnish heritage and the history of Anderson Farm, which once had a sauna of its own. The plan would allow people to warm up in the sauna and make use of nearby recreational amenities throughout the year.

He also points to food trucks and other activities as part of the broader vision — turning the area into more than just a single-purpose facility and instead creating a destination where residents can gather, exercise, skate, bike, and spend time outdoors throughout the seasons.

The goal is to take a community space and make it useful 12 months of the year — giving Ward 2 residents more reasons to get outside, stay active, and enjoy the community close to home.

#Sudbury #Ward2 #EricBenoit #AndersonFarm #Lively #SkatingPath #OutdoorRecreation #CommunityDevelopment #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston stresses that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect — regardless of income, housing situation, addiction, mental-health struggles, or social status.

Throughout the conversation, Johnston returns to the idea that people should not be reduced to labels. He argues that someone experiencing homelessness should not automatically be viewed as an addict or a criminal, and that the real question should be: what happened in that person’s life, and what support do they actually need?

Drawing on his experience working in group homes, youth services, the Blue Door Soup Kitchen, and with people experiencing homelessness, Johnston says many people are dealing with trauma, mental-health challenges, addiction, poverty, or circumstances that pushed them into survival mode. He believes the solution starts with understanding the individual rather than judging the situation from the outside.

Johnston also talks about helping people directly — including hiring people living at Energy Court for work — as an example of why opportunity, trust, and basic human respect can matter.

His message is that social or economic status should never determine a person’s value.

Whether someone is wealthy, struggling, housed, homeless, employed, or trying to rebuild their life, they are still a person first — and they deserve to be treated that way.

#Sudbury #BobJohnston #SudburyElection #Homelessness #MentalHealth #Addiction #Dignity #Community #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-northern-ontario-food-bank-crisis

Natalie from the Sudbury Food Bank and David from Harvest Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie discuss the growing food insecurity crisis across Northern Ontario — and how dramatically the demand for help is increasing.

In Sudbury, Natalie says the number of new people entering the food bank system grew from 572 in the first quarter to more than 1,800, while Harvest Algoma reports demand running about 34% higher than the same time last year.

But one of the biggest misconceptions is who actually needs food banks.

The people asking for help are increasingly working families, seniors, students, and people struggling to keep up with the rising cost of living. Many are working, sometimes more than one job, but still cannot stretch their income far enough to cover housing, utilities, transportation, and groceries.

The conversation also goes behind the scenes of what it takes to keep Northern food banks supplied — moving hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, supporting smaller rural food banks, rescuing usable food before it reaches landfill, and finding ways to make every donation stretch further.

In Sudbury alone, roughly 450,000 pounds of food were diverted from landfill last year and redirected toward people who could use it.

And the need doesn't disappear after Christmas.

People are hungry twelve months of the year.

This is no longer simply a conversation about food banks — it is a conversation about affordability, wages, the cost of living, and how many Northern Ontario families are finding themselves one unexpected expense away from needing help putting food on the table.

#FoodBank #FoodInsecurity #SudburyFoodBank #HarvestAlgoma #Sudbury #SaultSteMarie #NorthernOntario #CostOfLiving #CommunitySupport #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260717-are-you-hurting-dog-truth

Jill from PetSave takes a closer look at something many dog owners may not think twice about — the collar, leash, or training tool they use every day.

She discusses concerns around prong collars and electronic collars, how certain tools can cause unnecessary discomfort or even contribute to injury, and why proper training, exercise, and humane alternatives can often produce better results.

The conversation also covers Easy Walk harnesses, Martingale collars, small-dog safety, leash control, and why matching the right equipment to the dog matters.

The goal isn’t just controlling your dog — it’s keeping them safe, comfortable, and properly trained.

The episode also explores PetSave’s work with Northern Ontario community dogs, including rescue partnerships, spay and neuter efforts, veterinary access, and helping animals displaced by wildfires.

#PetSave #DogTraining #DogSafety #ResponsiblePetOwnership #AnimalWelfare #DogRescue #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260723-love-liver-food-herbs-organ

Rachelle Rocha and naturopathic doctor Kate Reid take a closer look at one of the body’s hardest-working organs — the liver — and why supporting it matters for overall health.

The discussion explores the liver’s role in processing nutrients, metabolizing hormones, managing blood sugar, and helping the body deal with substances it needs to filter and eliminate. They also discuss traditional herbal preparations using plants such as dandelion, burdock, and milk thistle, along with the importance of food quality and traditional nutrient-dense foods.

The conversation also looks at iron, B vitamins, gut health, hormone balance, and why liver has historically been valued as a nutrient-rich food.

Your liver works for you every day — understanding how it functions can help you make better choices about the food you eat and the way you support your health.

This episode discusses complementary-health perspectives and general wellness information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

#LiverHealth #Nutrition #HealthyLiving #TraditionalFoods #HerbalHealth #GutHealth #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260916-bill-leduc-goes-deep-are

When a municipal employee retires, does that position automatically need to be filled — or is it an opportunity to step back and ask whether the work can be done more efficiently?

This discussion looks at staffing, service delivery, and whether every vacant position should simply be replaced as-is. In some cases, retirement can create an opportunity to review responsibilities, eliminate duplication, modernize processes, or reorganize work before adding another full-time salary back onto the payroll.

The bigger question is not just whether a job is vacant — it’s whether the position is still necessary in exactly the same form.

Before replacing every retirement, should City Hall first look for efficiencies and make sure taxpayers are getting the best possible value?

#Sudbury #CityHall #MunicipalSpending #TaxpayerDollars #Efficiency #Accountability #Staffing #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

As summer comes to an end and the temperatures begin to drop, pests start looking for warm, sheltered places to spend the colder months — and even a very small opening around your home can become an entry point.

Sealing cracks and gaps around foundations, doors, windows, vents, siding, rooflines, and other openings can help keep out unwanted visitors including mice, rats, hornets, and other pests.

The key is prevention. Once pests find a way inside and establish themselves, the problem can become much harder — and more expensive — to deal with.

A small crack today can become a much bigger problem tomorrow.

#Sudbury #PestControl #RatInfestation #Mice #Hornets #HomeMaintenance #PestPrevention #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-farm-to-table-in-northern

Brianna from Radical Gardens in Timmins explains how their farm-to-table operation grows up to 200 pounds of mushrooms per week — including varieties such as oyster, king oyster, shiitake, enoki, and lion’s mane.

Those mushrooms are not just sold fresh. They are used throughout the restaurant to build flavour into a variety of dishes, including ramen, seasonings, and other menu items.

A portion of the harvest is also dehydrated and ground into powder, allowing Radical Gardens to preserve that deep, earthy mushroom flavour and continue using it long after the fresh growing season has passed.

It’s a great example of what true farm-to-table can look like in Northern Ontario — growing locally, using as much of the harvest as possible, preserving food for later, and building the menu around what the farm can produce.

From the grow room to the kitchen, those 200 pounds of mushrooms become part of the entire food experience.

#RadicalGardens #FarmToTable #Mushrooms #Timmins #NorthernOntario #LocalFood #EatLocal #FoodProduction #NorthernAgriculture #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-sudbury-ward-christel-brandle-says
Sudbury Ward 2 Candidate Christel Brandle on property taxes.

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260927-sudbury-ward-christel-brandle-says

Sudbury Ward 2 candidate Christel Brandle talks about the condition of local roads and the frustration residents feel when long-term problems are repeatedly addressed with temporary patchwork repairs.

She questions whether constantly fixing the same trouble spots is really the best use of taxpayer dollars — or whether some roads and infrastructure now need more complete, lasting solutions.

For residents driving these roads every day, the issue is about more than potholes. It’s about maintenance, planning, accountability, and making sure money is being spent in a way that actually solves the problem.

At some point, patching the same problem over and over stops being a repair — and starts becoming part of the problem.

#Sudbury #Ward2 #ChristelBrandle #Roads #Infrastructure #Potholes #TaxpayerDollars #GreaterSudbury #SudburyElection #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260127-rustic-rebel-sourdough-home-grown-northern

From dealing with hypoglycemia to building a successful sourdough business, this is the story of how Rustic Rebel Sourdough got its start.

What began in the kitchen grew through trial, persistence, and a determination to create something better — eventually turning a personal challenge into a growing Northern Ontario success story.

It’s a look at the early days, the hard work behind the scenes, and what it really takes to build something from the ground up.

From deep in the trenches to finding success — this is how Rustic Rebel Sourdough began.

#RusticRebelSourdough #Sourdough #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #NorthernOntario #LocalBusiness #FromTheKitchen #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/251210-trades-automotive

Mike and Justin discuss why standards in the Skilled Trades are so important — especially when it comes to keeping workers safe on the job.

In the trades, doing things “close enough” can have serious consequences. Proper training, following procedures, using the right tools, wearing the correct protective equipment, and maintaining professional standards can make the difference between a job done safely and someone getting seriously injured.

They talk about the responsibility tradespeople have not only to themselves, but also to their co-workers and the next generation coming into the industry.

Strong standards help build safer workplaces, better workmanship, and a culture where safety is taken seriously every single day.

In the trades, standards are not just about quality — they can protect lives.

#SkilledTrades #WorkplaceSafety #TradesCareers #SafetyStandards #AutomotiveTrades #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli talks about what it really takes to start creating change in the city.

Her message is simple: if the same approaches keep producing the same problems, then it may be time to look at things differently.

Real change starts with being willing to question what is not working, listen to residents, challenge old habits, and consider new ideas instead of expecting different results from the same decisions.

For Greater Sudbury, that means taking a closer look at priorities, accountability, and how City Hall responds to the concerns people are raising every day.

If we want different results, we may need to start doing things differently.

#Sudbury #MirandaRoccaCircelli #SudburyElection #MayoralCandidate #Change #CityHall #Leadership #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260828-one-dog-to-bark-bus

Jill from PetSave talks about the Bark Bus travelling to Grassy Narrows to help address the serious problem of stray dogs living around the community dump.

For many of these animals, access to veterinary care, spay and neuter services, vaccinations, and safe placement can be extremely limited. The Bark Bus helps bring much-needed support directly to communities where those services may not otherwise be easily available.

The goal is not just to rescue individual dogs, but to help reduce the cycle of unwanted litters, improve animal health, and prevent more dogs from ending up abandoned or struggling to survive.

It’s a reminder of how important outreach, prevention, and access to animal care can be in remote Northern communities.

#PetSave #BarkBus #GrassyNarrows #AnimalRescue #StrayDogs #SpayAndNeuter #AnimalWelfare #NorthernOntario #CommunitySupport #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260723-love-liver-food-herbs-organ

The discussion looks at how certain chemicals in our environment can act as endocrine disruptors — interfering with the body’s normal hormone systems and, in some cases, mimicking or affecting estrogen activity.

The liver plays an important role in processing hormones and many substances we’re exposed to every day, which is why liver health is often part of the conversation around hormone balance and overall wellness.

The bigger question: how much can our environment influence the way our bodies regulate hormones?

#HormoneHealth #LiverHealth #EndocrineDisruptors #EnvironmentalHealth #Wellness #HealthyLiving #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260827-stop-spray-what-happening-to

The discussion looks at concerns over how herbicide use may be affecting moose habitat and food sources across Northern Ontario — including the possibility that changing vegetation and drier conditions could contribute to environments where ticks thrive.

For moose already facing pressure from habitat changes, parasites like winter ticks can add another serious challenge to their health and survival.

The bigger question: are changes to the forest creating conditions that are making life harder for Northern Ontario’s moose?

#Moose #WinterTicks #Herbicides #MooseHabitat #NorthernOntario #Wildlife #Forestry #Conservation #Environment #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260914-when-pets-become-inconvenient-growing

Jill from PetSave stresses how important it is to choose a dog that truly fits your lifestyle before bringing one home.

Every breed and every individual dog has different needs when it comes to exercise, space, training, attention, energy level, and daily care. Making the right choice from the beginning can help prevent situations where a dog is later surrendered simply because the match was not a good one.

Bringing a dog into your home should be a lifelong commitment. The goal is to choose a companion that can grow with your family and remain part of your life for years to come.

Choose carefully. Commit fully. Pets are family for life.

#PetSave #ResponsiblePetOwnership #PetsAreFamily #DogOwnership #DogRescue #AnimalWelfare #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston says leadership means showing up every day, putting in the work, and being accountable to the people of Greater Sudbury.

He talks about the importance of being available, listening to residents, and making sure people can get real answers when they have questions or concerns about their city.

For Johnston, the job of Mayor is not just about making promises — it’s about being present, doing the work, and giving residents the answers they deserve.

#Sudbury #BobJohnston #SudburyElection #MayoralCandidate #Accountability #Leadership #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260920-sudbury-downtown-safety-taxes-ems

Sudbury Ward 10 candidate Derek Young talks about why the arts matter in Northern Ontario — not just as entertainment, but as an important part of building stronger, more vibrant communities.

He discusses the role arts and culture can play in bringing people together, supporting local talent, creating opportunities for young people, and helping communities like Sudbury become places where people want to live, work, visit, and stay.

In Northern Ontario, investing in the arts can also mean investing in community identity, quality of life, tourism, and the local economy.

#Sudbury #Ward10 #DerekYoung #ArtsAndCulture #NorthernOntario #Community #LocalArts #GreaterSudbury #SudburyElection #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260914-when-pets-become-inconvenient-growing

Jill from PetSave stresses a simple but important message: pets are family for life.

When you choose to bring a cat or dog into your home, you are making a commitment to care for that animal through every stage of its life. They are not something to be abandoned when they become inconvenient, difficult, expensive, or no longer fit your lifestyle.

Once they become part of your family, they depend on you.

A pet is not temporary. The responsibility is forever.

#PetSave #PetsAreFamily #ResponsiblePetOwnership #AnimalWelfare #DogRescue #CatRescue #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-when-forest-goes-quiet-what

Troy from Flying Post First Nation, west of Timmins, shares a troubling experience involving a harvested moose whose liver was found to be in such poor condition that it was not considered safe or suitable to eat.

He explains why observations like this raise serious concerns for people who rely on the land, wildlife, and traditional food sources — and why changes in the health of moose deserve closer attention across Northern Ontario.

For communities that have depended on moose for generations, the condition of the animal is about much more than a single hunt. It raises important questions about wildlife health, the environment, and what may be changing in the forests that sustain these animals.

#FlyingPostFirstNation #Moose #MooseHunting #WildlifeHealth #TraditionalFoods #NorthernOntario #Timmins #FirstNations #Environment #Conservation #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260904-ward-karan-wants-to-make
Sudbury Ward 8 candidate Karan Bedhesha talks about empowering residents to prosper, live with dignity, and build a more affordable future in Greater Sudbury.

#Sudbury #Ward8 #KaranBedhesha #Affordability #GreaterSudbury #SudburyElection #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260819-building-champions-esmie-on-speed
Ranked 10th — but she walked away with Bronze. Against the odds, she knew exactly what she had to do at track and field and delivered when it mattered most.

#AgainstAllOdds #BronzeMedal #Champions #Mindset #Performance #RobertEsmie #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth #trackandfield

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260119-solar-north-master-electrician-ryan
Ryan from Guillot Electrical explains how net metering works with solar in Northern Ontario — how the power you generate can offset the electricity you use from the grid.

#SolarPower #NetMetering #GuillotElectrical #NorthernOntario #RenewableEnergy #SolarEnergy #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/250502-beekeeping-in-north
Justin explains what the Queen Bee does after winter to get the hive moving again — and how she helps kick-start the worker bees for the season ahead.

#Beekeeping #QueenBee #HoneyBees #NorthernOntario #Pollinators #Beekeeper #Nature #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/250424-rifles-reels-game-fish-club
Wayne from the Rifles & Reels Game & Fish Club in Garson talks with Mike about the club’s mission to promote safety, education, and conservation across shooting sports, archery, hunting, and fishing.

#RiflesAndReels #Garson #ShootingSports #Archery #Hunting #Fishing #Conservation #OutdoorEducation #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/250910-esmie-olympic-gold-to-coaching
Olympic gold medalist and coach Robert Esmie shares a powerful message about knowing your worth — never underestimate your value, your potential, or what you’re capable of achieving.

#RobertEsmie #Olympian #KnowYourWorth #Motivation #Inspiration #Coaching #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-northern-ontario-food-bank-crisis
Natalie from the Sudbury Food Bank talks about the growing struggle many families face just trying to put food on the table — and why more people are turning to food banks for help.

#SudburyFoodBank #FoodBank #FoodInsecurity #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #Families #CommunitySupport #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Sudbury Ward 1 candidate Tysen Galoni talks about basic community needs versus major projects like the Events Centre — and why he believes the City needs to get its priorities in the right order.

#Sudbury #Ward1 #TysenGaloni #SudburyElection #CityPriorities #EventsCentre #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Sudbury Ward 1 candidate Tysen Galoni talks about basic...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260910-sudbury-ward-eric-benoit-on
Sudbury Ward 2 Councillor Eric Benoit talks about the work currently underway across the City — what’s in progress, what still needs attention, and where Sudbury is heading next.

#Sudbury #Ward2 #EricBenoit #GreaterSudbury #CityHall #SudburyElection #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/251210-trades-automotive
Justin and Mike discuss how we can get more young people interested in the Skilled Trades. It can start at any age — sometimes all it takes is a little exposure, hands-on experience, and encouragement to spark a lifelong career.

#SkilledTrades #TradesCareers #Youth #AutomotiveTrades #CareerPath #NorthernOntario #Sudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260909-sudbury-ward-candidate-wanda-berton-heyerichs

Sudbury Ward 9 candidate Wanda Berton-Heyerichs about addressing repeated systemic failures at City Hall — and what needs to change to finally fix the problems instead of repeating them.

#Sudbury #Ward9 #SudburyElection #CityHall #Accountability #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260828-one-dog-to-bark-bus

Jill from PetSave stresses the importance of spaying female dogs — helping prevent unwanted litters and reducing the number of dogs that end up suffering or without homes.

#PetSave #SpayAndNeuter #AnimalWelfare #DogRescue #ResponsiblePetOwnership #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Gord from Top Glove Boxing talks about how the gym is about more than boxing — it’s about helping young people build confidence, discipline, and real-life skills.

#TopGloveBoxing #Boxing #YouthSports #Confidence #Discipline #Sudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Gord from Top Glove Boxing talks about how the gym is...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

Manon from E2 Pest Control explains just how quickly rats can reproduce — and why a small rat problem can turn into a serious infestation in a very short time.

#Sudbury #RatInfestation #PestControl #E2PestControl #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston discusses pairing police officers with addiction counsellors or mental health workers to better respond to homelessness, addiction, and mental health-related calls.

#Sudbury #BobJohnston #SudburyElection #Homelessness #Addiction #MentalHealth #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260910-sudbury-ward-eric-benoit-on
Sudbury Ward 2 Councillor Eric Benoit (Incumbent) talks about Sudbury’s housing boom — what’s driving the growth, who’s investing, and why everyone wants a piece of it.

#Sudbury #Ward2 #EricBenoit #SudburyHousing #HousingBoom #GreaterSudbury #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260825-enough-is-enough-why-animal

PetSave explains why documenting and preserving evidence of suspected pet abuse can be critical when it comes to protecting animals and supporting enforcement.

#PetSave #AnimalAbuse #AnimalWelfare #ProtectPets #NorthernOntario #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-northern-ontario-food-bank-crisis

This episode looks at the rising demand, the demographics being hit hardest, and what the increase says about the financial pressure facing families and individuals across the North.

#NorthernOntario #FoodBank #FoodBankCrisis #CostOfLiving #CommunitySupport #Sudbury #SaultSteMarie #NorthBay #Timmins #LoveTheNorth

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260827-stop-spray-what-happening-to

Joel Theriault explains how herbicide spraying can affect the vegetation moose depend on — and why hunters and communities are paying attention.

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260916-bill-leduc-goes-deep-are Ward 11 incumbent Councillor Bill Leduc joins Love the North for an in-depth conversation about some of the biggest financial and operational issues facing Greater Sudbury.

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260911-sudbury-election-miranda-rocca-circelli-mayor - Sudbury’s homelessness crisis continues to grow — but what should the city actually do about it?

Mayoral candidate Miranda Rocca-Circelli shares her position on homelessness and what needs to change in Greater Sudbury.

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260825-enough-is-enough-why-animal - PetSave discusses P.A.W.S. and the role police play in animal welfare calls — including why service can vary from one community to another.

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand
A Minnow Lake resident describes just how bad Sudbury’s rat problem has become — including rats chewing their way through garbage bins to get at the waste inside.

Residents say the problem is spreading and they want action.

🎥 Watch the full podcast:
https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

#Sudbury #MinnowLake #RatInfestation #GreaterSudbury #LoveTheNorth #NorthernOntario

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260923-sudbury-rat-infestation-residents-demand

Sudbury’s Rat Problem: Residents Are Speaking Up

A community meeting brought residents together to discuss Sudbury’s growing rat problem, what’s contributing to it, and what can be done before it gets worse.

#Sudbury #GreaterSudbury #MinnowLake #RatInfestation #SudburyOntario #LoveTheNorth #NorthernOntario #Community

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260901-driven-beyond-years-business-swimming - Host Mike checks win with Hudson on his Athlete, Entrepreneural work and Schooling! - Lakeside Lures

Full Podcast:...

LoveTheNorth.ca - Sudbury has a very healthy Rat population - The next podcast highlights some of the ways to keep them at bay and it will take everyone to help with this issue.

LoveTheNorth.ca - Sudbury has a very healthy Rat...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260904-ward-karan-wants-to-make - Sudbury Ward 8 Candidate Karan Badhesha on Safer Communities

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-northern-ontario-food-bank-crisis - David from Harvest Algoma explains how the Sault Ste Marie foodbank feeds other foodbanks across the region.

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260920-sudbury-downtown-safety-taxes-ems Sudbury Ward 10 Candidate Derek Young on helping the Homelessness and community organizations

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-johnston-wants-to-change-sudbury - Mayoral Candidate Bob Johnston on Road Work with a Warranty!

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260825-enough-is-enough-why-animal - Accountablility for Animal Abuse

Full Podcast:...

Full Podcast: https://lovethenorth.ca/article/260919-northern-ontario-food-bank-crisis - Natalee Labbee on the Huge volume of people using the Food Bank in Sudbury

Full Podcast:...

The hidden cost of housing!

Dad's fears of raising a daughter today.

Quebec has had forestry success with manual upkeep.

PTSD

Your Dog's ears are way more sensitive than yours.

Sudbury Mayoral Candidate on Affordable Housing

Elliot Lake Arena Example

Pyrenean Dogs are not for small apartments.

Hunters be aware of where you hunt!

Hunters be aware of where you hunt!

Bill Leduc on Property Taxes - What are you paying for...

Bill Leduc on Property Taxes - What are you paying for...

The Future of our City Matters!

The Future of our City Matters!

Adoption Criteria for a reason.

Adoption Criteria for a reason.

Auditor General - Department Terminated December 2025

Auditor General - Department Terminated December 2025

From permits to land acquisition.

From permits to land acquisition.

Committed to Serve his Community.

Committed to Serve his Community.

Unlock your Education Scholarship!

Unlock your Education Scholarship!

Subscribe for more Northern Ontario Content.

Subscribe for more Northern Ontario Content.

Low rates on pet care

Low rates on pet care

Run your own race

Run your own race

Community Service Levels may differ.

Community Service Levels may differ.

This medal means the most!

This medal means the most!

Retired and downsizing - what are the options?

Retired and downsizing - what are the options?

Vet checks are so important!

Vet checks are so important!

Wild berries - Has the area been sprayed in the last few years?

Wild berries - Has the area been sprayed in the last few years?

Raising a daughter today is a bit different.

Raising a daughter today is a bit different.

Meals powered by Volunteers

Meals powered by Volunteers

Choke collars - Dogs feel just like us.

Choke collars - Dogs feel just like us.

From heart attack to getting in shape!

From heart attack to getting in shape!

Solar Power - Grid vs Net Metering explained.

Solar Power - Grid vs Net Metering explained.

Police Stories ruins marriage.

Police Stories ruins marriage.

Over 40? Fitness is your new social life!

Over 40? Fitness is your new social life!

The correct food can go a long way.

The correct food can go a long way.

Amber's big win!

Amber's big win!

Explore what it's like to foster a dog and maybe help find a permanent home.

Explore what it's like to foster a dog and maybe help...

Humanizing the homeless.

Humanizing the homeless.

Josie the store cat is the Boss.

Josie the store cat is the Boss.

Local Honey - Does it help with allergies?

Local Honey - Does it help with allergies?

Know your worth!

Know your worth!

Designer Dogs - Good or Bad?

Designer Dogs - Good or Bad?

City Lights Bar - Helping businesses downtown.

City Lights Bar - Helping businesses downtown.

From the Military to the office of the Blacksmith

From the Military to the office of the Blacksmith

Simple diet beats bloating.

Simple diet beats bloating.

Working 12 hour shifts can ruin your dog.

Working 12 hour shifts can ruin your dog.

Open your home and become a foster!

Open your home and become a foster!

Chef feeds children to help their immune systems when needed.

Chef feeds children to help their immune systems when needed.

Kids will learn fast with good structure!

Kids will learn fast with good structure!

First Responders Struggle

First Responders Struggle

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