9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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After a slow start to the winter the storms have finally hit Sudbury and Northern Ontario, with winter weather conditions now befalling the city. The weekend saw heavy snowfall across the northern regions of the province and there have been consequences with school bus runs closing and weather warnings in the Greater Sudbury area.
Temperatures are expected to routinely plunge below -10 C and even lower than -20 C for the remainder of the week, causing havoc on the highways. All major highways are now snow covered so slow and steady driving is advised for all vehicles, even those equipped with snow tires. Highways 17, 11, and 101 are all closed for varying reasons, while the following school buses were cancelled today and are expected to remain as such tomorrow:
• Cancelled for West Parry Sound, East Parry Sound, North Bay, West Nipissing, Mattawa;
• Cancelled for Conseil Ccolaire Catholique des Grandes-Rivières for Ramore, Iroquois Falls and Cochrane. Schools remain open;
• Cancelled for all four school boards from Kirkland Lake to Temagami, inclusing Timmins. Schools remain open except for Temagami, Kearns and Elk Lake;
• School buses cancelled in Moosonee — public school remains open.
The drastic change in conditions over the weekend saw all roads become treacherous. The winter had been uncommonly mild so far, with most snowmobile trails in Ontario closed two weeks after the traditional start of the season. However, last weekend finally saw the Canadian winter grip Sudbury and surrounding towns, and the police were forced to give routine alerts for deteriorating road conditions.
Police say motorists are adhering to proper driving protocol and that only two minor collisions have been reported by early morning on Monday. Drivers are reminded to drive more cautiously than normal and to leave themselves greater breaking distances when trailing other vehicles or approaching intersections.
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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A Sudbury driver has been sentenced to jail time for drunk driving and causing a collision during mid-November. Barrie Severin caused a three-way traffic incident in Greater Sudbury’s South End two months ago, he was found to have been operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
On top of his jail time, Severin will be placed on six months’ probation, while his driver’s license has been suspended for 18 months. At the time of the collision on Regent Street, police noticed Severin was unsteady on his feet, while his eyes were glassed and he needed to lean against his truck to stay on his feet.
65-year old Severin was predicted to be facing 30 days of jail time that would be served on a weekend basis, but Ontario Court Justice Norman Glaude decided against lenience. Indeed, the court judge decided to make an example of Mr. Severin, teaching him a “lesson” and sending a message to others who drive while under the influence of drink or drugs.
“This is a clear case where you have to go to jail,” Glaude told the 65-year-old man in a stern tone. “It sickens me to have to send you to jail to learn a lesson. It won’t be for 30 (days). It will be for 45 days.”
The accused pled guilty, but his admittance did little to sway Justice Glaude, especially as the Crown filed to have any punishment extended as this was Severin’s second DUI conviction in recent years. His defense had cited the fact that Mr. Severin suffers numerous medical conditions, is retired, takes 18 medications per day, and is 65-years old, asking for a 30 day intermittent sentence.
Assistant Crown attorney Kevin Ludgate said a jail term was necessary for Severin.
“He has to go to jail notwithstanding his medical issues,” said Ludgate.
As the sentence was passed, Severin said “I have no right to drive impaired. I agree with it … I shouldn’t have been driving at all.”
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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Workers in the Greater Sudbury area felt the economic pinch during 2015 as Statistics Canada announced on Friday that the city lost some 5,000 jobs (a 2.4 per cent rise) through last year.
It was a worrying close to 2015 for Sudbury too, with unemployment rising for the sixth consecutive month, moving to 8.4 per cent from 8.2 per cent in November. It will not make happy reading for workers to see that Sudbury is currently an exception in Ontario at the moment as the province was the only one in Canada to see jobs growth in December. Province wide there were 35,000 new jobs, with unemployment falling to 6.7 per cent, a 0.2 per cent decline, but in Sudbury it is a different story.
Between November and December 900 jobs were lost in Sudbury. Statistics Canada announced monthly figures showing 79,300 people were working full or part-time in the Greater Sudbury metropolitan area (CMA) during December, down from 80,200 in November. The number of Greater Sudbury’s workforce also fell to 86,600, down from 87,400.
Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce released its Ontario Economic Update 2016 in December, acknowledging in the process that 2015 had been a rocky year in terms of employment levels. However, the Chamber is confident that growth will arrive this year, although it is predicted be slow:
“Over the next two years, Sudbury can expect roughly 0.5 per cent employment growth per year, with government services, retail-wholesale trade, and manufacturing each contributing,” the chamber said in a release. “The unemployment rate will improve slightly over the next two years as population outflows are offset by a modest rise in the labour force participation rate.”
“Greater Sudbury experienced a difficult year in 2015, but the next two years are projected to be more positive,” Karen Hourtovenko, chair of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, said in a release. “I am hopeful for the future of Greater Sudbury. Despite being a difficult year, we also saw examples of great local success stories. The best way to drive economic growth moving forward will be to make strategic investments in infrastructure, entrepreneurship, innovation and technology.”
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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Well here we are starting another year in the province of Ontario where nothing seems to get boring.
Hydro Rates are going up so it is time to make sure your wiring is up to date and all the least power consuming bulbs are installed. It is a good chance to make sure that everything is safe and if you didn’t do it at Christmas or New Year check & test the Smoke Alarms and Co2 Detectors and their batteries are good.
On the bright side you can save some money on your Auto Insurance (the amount varies from one company to the next) if you have real WINTER TIRES (sorry no all seasons tires allowed for discount). There are rules to follow and they may vary from company to company[any so check with your agent or broker. In general though you have to install them on your vehicle by November first of each winter season and they have to stay on till April first. On last condition I’m aware of you cannot leave the winter tires on year round they must be taken off for the spring, summer and early fall….(don’t shoot the messenger).
If you don’t know much about Winter Tires, try this
Whether you like Good Year, Bridgestone, Michelin or good old Canadian Tire home brand the information is likely there somewhere!
Both my wife and I use Winter Tires, we started to do so years ago as they just did a better safer job in the area we reside in. Neither one of us uses studs in the tires as they are noisy and not allowed in some provinces and states. To date we have got along fine without the studs but some folks swear by them as both my wife and I drive the highway a great deal, the noise, poor handling and extra expense would have me swearing at them. But to each their own.
If you are purchasing Winter Tires just for the insurance Discount you likely won’t find it very cost effective however if those tires save you one collision or allow you to get out of your parking space without a Tow Truck they start to become quite attractive,
Have a Safe and Happy 2016 from all of us here at Sudbury Insurance Brokers!
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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Law enforcement in Sudbury is continuing to warn of the dangers of the road for pedestrians, stressing ways for people on foot to stay safe. Greater Sudbury Police is on a yearlong initiative to raise safety awareness in a bid to reduce the number of collisions on the roads and the amounts of accidents involving vehicles and pedestrians.
A rise in incidents over the Christmas period spurred the police force into action and the result is a yearlong program to address the issue. The Holiday Season always sees a high rise in road accidents and other traffic related incidents, but the Christmas period in Sudbury in 2015 was especially alarming for emergency services.
“Pedestrian collisions are preventable,” reads a statement from the police service. “Throughout this initiative and for the remainder of the year, the Greater Sudbury Police Service will provide safety information to drivers, motorists, pedestrians and cyclists.”
Community partnerships will see the Greater Sudbury Police engage the public with awareness programs and meetings, while data analysis will help law enforcement identify problem areas in the cities, such as intersections where the most incidents occur. The police say they “work collaboratively to make improvements through education, engineering and enforcement.”
A Traffic Management Unit is constantly analyzing data on collisions in the Greater Sudbury area, and is looking into way to keep motorists and pedestrians safe. Intersections are hotspots, with data in 2014 and 2015 showing that most incidents take place at intersections. Pedestrian collisions are on the rise, but the data reveals that the majority of cases shows that drivers are typically at fault.
“Greater Sudbury Police officers will continue to enforce road-related laws by enforcing speed limits and watching for impaired and or distracted drivers,” the police service states.
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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Sudbury will play host to its first ever real estate oriented one-day conference next month says the Sudbury Real Estate Board. RECON2016 will be the first event of its kind to be held in the city, focusing on the improvement of the real estate market during 2016.
RECON2016 will be held at the Caruso Club during February 4, with the keynote delivered by Michael Hyatt, who is known as a member of the Dragon’s Den team. As well as working for CBC’s Dragon’s Den, Hyatt is also a commentator on the channel’s News Network. Other speakers during the day will be Guido Mazza and Ian Wood, both from the City of Greater Sudbury; Michael J. Linehan, vice-president and national head of RBC Mortgage Specialists; and Amber Konikow, professional boxer and bronze medalist at the 2008 world championships.
Tasha Carriere, vice-president of the Sudbury Real Estate Board and director of public relations and finance announced the event at a press conference on Thursday and said while focused on real estate the event is created to welcome everyone.
“Obviously, the keynote speaker is going to speak to business practices and to the effect the real estate industry has on the economy. Broadening from that, you have the speakers from the city of Sudbury, who are going to go into the economic update for the city on a broad perspective.”
“We have an Olympian who will talk about what it takes to do well and what it takes to be successful in business or in any aspect of your life,” Carriere said.
“It’s a cross-section of information for people to advance their businesses going forward in 2016.”
“The real estate industry is by far the largest economic driving force in the community,” she said. “A single transaction, no matter how small, has a significant and far-reaching consequence.”
RECON2016 offers real estate professionals “an informative day of networking, collaborating and showcasing innovative business ideas.”
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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I use winter tires and so does my wife. I live in Northern Ontario and discovered many years ago that “All Season Tires” don’t do any season practically well (and lived to tell). It is like buying a “One Size Fits All” Hat the more apt description would be “One Size Hurts All”. Too much compromise is exactly what it says with the All Season description.
Car Insurance Winter Tires Discount in Ontario starting in 2016
There are a wide variety available from the manufacturers some even have Studs. Be careful if you go for the studded variety of tire as they are not legal in most US States and some other provinces so if you live near a border beware! I don’t use studded tires myself I found that if you go to a better tire that it does the job without the noise or damage to the pavement. I am sure there are some situations where studs are the right choice but an the same train of thought I am sure chains are a good idea in some places also.
I am not sure if it is still in place but at one time you could not go past certain points in the Swiss Alps without chains in your trunk in case the weather got bad and having been there I must say I understand why the police checked your car to see if you had them before you were allowed to proceed any farther.
Due to the Ontario Government and the Auto Insurance Companies attempting to lower Automobile Insurance premiums most companies have come out with a discount for those drivers who will install Winter Tires on their car the first of November and keep the tires on till the end of March. Check with your Broker or Agent for details.
The Discount in most cases is not substantial and certainly won’t make up for the cost of my walnut shell infested tires but it is a start and whether I got a discount or not I’ll keep using them. My car has more traction for starting and stops in much shorter distances and that is worth more than a percentage of my premium. Have a safe winter and please consider winter tires.
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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Earlier this week my wife Diane was coming home from an appointment and transporting “peace offering/treat” (read McDonalds Hamburger) for our pooch Oliver. As my wife rounded the corner she saw flashing lights off in the distance and assumed there was a truck cleaning out the leaves from the Storm Sewers. As she drew closer she realized that the flashing lights were the wrong colour and a sense of uneasiness began to invade her happy return to the home.
Fire Trucks! on the street in front of our home and the sense of uneasiness was quickly turning into panic.
Diane was forced to park on the road a few hundred feet from the fire trucks and was just going to break into a run when a local Fireman/neighbor reached out put his hand on her shoulder and said words that instantly grounded her. “Relax Diane it is the home across the street, your dog Ollie is fine I just checked”.
After a momentary pause to sort out her emotions my wife’s concerns turned immediately to the misfortune of the young couple that lived across the street their two children and puppy. She was assured my a next door neighbour that all were fine thanks to the neighbours, Fire Department and those pesky smoke detectors.
So here are a few friendly reminders: Have you done any of the following:
– drawn up an Emergency Plan for exiting a fire in your home?
– checked your Smoke & Co2 Detectors?
– checked your Fire Extinguishers?
– put a Decal on the entrances advising Emergency Services that you have Pets inside?
– Had your heating system checked by your self or preferably a Professional?
– Cleaned and inspected your Wood Burning Appliances, Chimney and Rain Cap?
– made a list of your processions or videoed your home (inside and out) with your tablet or smart phone?
– Gone over your Home Insurance with your Broker or Agent to ensure you are properly covered and understand your coverage?
I would like to send a “tip of the hat” to all the Fire Fighters both Regular and Volunteer this world is a better place becasue of you, please help “Fill The Boot” when you see these heroic men and women in your area.
Thanksgiving is over folks we are on the down hill slide into winter look after yourselves! Next on my Honey Do List: “Winter Tires” (more on that later)
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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“Hi my name is Fred and I like Volkswagen Diesel Cars”. Does it sound like a confession? I hope not because I feel no need to apologize.
On a recent trip to Sault Ste Marie I averaged 4.4 litres per 100 kilometers which is pretty good for a station wagon driving hilly mainly 2 lane highway through the Cambrian Shield. The fuel mileage is good but as an added benefit there is torque 236 ft pounds far more than the average gas engine (which is nice to have if you have to pass safely on that 2 lane highway).
As I look at the other vehicles on the road I see SUV’s and Pickups who burn far more fuel and perhaps less N OX emissions but I burn half or less fuel and by that alone less emissions over all. But that alone does not excuse Volkswagen’s software cover up.
Now for those of you who are ashamed of Volkswagen for the emissions scandal, I am right there with you but lets try to put it into perspective!
To the best of my knowledge no one has died from the emissions fraud, Volkswagen has admitted their wrong doing and has put cash reserves in place and are attempting to rectify the issue in months not years or decades (unlike some other manufactures with some rather deadly issues).
A week or so ago I heard a lawyer being interviewed on the CBC. He is located I believe in Windsor Ontario his firm has started a Class Action Law Suit against VW for Canadian owners that felt they were wronged. It was repeated over and over coast to cost on the CBC that the average VW dropped $10,000 in value. I can’t say I agreed with him initially but after repeated air play on “Canada’s Radio Station” I sure he was correct! I am not sure what to call it but lets consider it some sort of affirmation.
If you feel the need to join the law suit (and who doesn’t after the National Broadcast) go to Strosbergco.com I believe if you are a disgruntled VW owner you want page 3.
I also heard Automotive Expert Jim Kenzie on CBC the next day after trying to cast some objective sanity on the situation I am sure that whatever good Jim did was far out weighed by the media attention around the globe that seems bent on turning this mole hill into a mountain.
Last but not least I heard a lady in Sudbury on the CBC North who said her dealer had no answers and odds are they don’t yet Volkswagens meeting with the German Government to outline their plans is taking place as I type this. My Dealer in Sault Ste. Marie did send me this e-mail I will share with you with a link to a site to keep everyone updated.
I, like many other Volkswagen owners and Car People in general are watching this story unfold with a rather hypnotic fascination. Why is it such a big deal when the company is publicly admitting guilt and taking action to indemnify the Volkswagen owners that are affected. Perhaps that is the issue that will start the real law suits “Who are the owners that are affected”? Volkswagen will likely say only the owners of the diesel automobiles from 2009 to 2015 (depending on the model) Owners of other Volkswagen diesels will argue that their auto has been devalued by association and so the battle lines will be drawn.
It will if nothing else still make good press!
Remember whether you own a Volkswagen or not give us a call at Sudbury Insurance Brokers for a hassle free quote on your Home or Auto!
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9 years ago
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sudbury ·
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Well next week on Tuesday Sept the 8th the School children will be walking, biking and riding their way back to school. I am sure most of us will be keeping an eye out for the increased activity.
Tragically last school year School Buses were in over 20 collisions the majority of which were vehicles that ran into the rear end of the big yellow machines. In spite of the yellow paint job, flashing lights, strobes and reflective tape the buses were run into from behind. As a result children were scared and injured or worse as well as a few of the bus drivers also. I personally think the school buses are rather visible under most conditions and short of a tail gunner I don’t know what else can be done to stop the rear ending other than not being a distracted driver.
As a responsible vehicle operator the road and what is on it demand your full attention. Being distracted by cell phones whether by text or call is no excuse and the penalties for being caught on the way up along with 3 demerit points. Yes even a minor offence can affect your insurance rates contrary to the coffee shop school of insurance.
Other recent changes to be aware of there is a fine and demerit points for “Dooring” a bicycle so use those mirrors, also with regards to Bicycles you must have a minimum of a metre gap between your car and the bicycle or fine and demerit points. No more crowding the Tow Trucks either it seems the drivers are tired of being run over while doing their job and yes crowding tem will lead to a fine and demerit points also.
Car insurance companies use smart phone apps to measure driving habits.
One of the car insurance companies we represent is coming out with an application for your smart phone to measure your driving habits so good drivers may obtain extra discounts. Unlike current telematics devices that are attached to and monitor your car this application measures your phone call’s duration, distance driven where and when. If your phone conversations go over 20 minutes continually you are penalized (monitors your blue tooth operation). I’m not sure what takes 20 minutes or more to say but perhaps there are some things I am currently unaware of. To further refine the research the monitoring can be fine tuned for each driver that has a cell phone not just Mom and Dad. Just like the current applications the policy holders will be e-mailed weekly to advise them of any risky activity (Occasional drivers beware).
Have a safe September.
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