Sault Ste. Marie news

• First Nations child welfare case adjourns, judge reserves decision

  26-11-2019 17:49
  
  OTTAWA — Lawyers have wrapped up their arguments today in a Federal Court case challenging a Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling that ordered Ottawa to pay billions in compensation to First Nations children and their families. The Liberal government, which is appealing the tribunal’s decision, had its lawyers ask the Federal Court to stay the order requiring Ottawa to pay $40,000 to […]
  
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• Man fined for fleeing police, driving while suspended

  16-07-2026 20:41
  
  A man must pay thousands of dollars in fines after he fled from police in Batchewana First Nation last fall when he was suspended from driving. Robert Perreault-Robinson was seen operating an SUV on Frontenac at about 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 29, said assistant Crown attorney David Didiodato on Thursday. Batchewana First Nation Police Service knew Perreault-Robinson wasn’t supposed to be behind the wheel. The father of three did not stop for police and drove into a ditch when a police vehicle wa
  
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• Open-air burning banned in Sault Ste. Marie

  16-07-2026 19:21 via saultstar.com
  
  Open-air burning in Sault Ste. Marie is banned until further notice. Sault Ste. Marie Fire Services will not renew or issue fire permits during the restriction that began Thursday, a release says. Any resident burning during the ban will be subject to penalty. Certified natural gas and propane firepits, fire tables and fireplaces don’t need a permit and can be used. Call 705-949-3333 or go to saultstemarie.ca/BurnPermits for more information.
  
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• Man loses job after impaired crash in Echo Bay

  16-07-2026 17:42 via saultstar.com
  
  A man lost his job when he had nearly three times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood and crashed his off-road vehicle this spring. Ontario Provincial Police went to a single-vehicle collision on Watson Road in Echo Bay on May 16, Ontario Court Justice Colin McMorrow heard Thursday.A side-by-side vehicle was in a ditch. Lannigan was very unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred. There was a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, said assistant Crown attorney David Didiodato. The father
  
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• Driver loses job after impaired crash in Echo Bay

  16-07-2026 17:42
  
  A man lost his job when he had nearly three times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood and crashed his off-road vehicle this spring. Ontario Provincial Police went to a single-vehicle collision on Watson Road in Echo Bay on May 16, Ontario Court Justice Colin McMorrow heard Thursday.A side-by-side vehicle was in a ditch. Lannigan was very unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred. There was a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, said assistant Crown attorney David Didiodato. The father
  
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• Sault man Nelson wanted by police

  16-07-2026 16:06 via saultstar.com
  
  Arthur Ambridge Nelson is wanted by police. Nelson, 47, is sought on 10 charges including break, enter dwelling house, fail to comply with probation order and four counts fail to attend court after appeared, a release says.Anyone with information about Nelson can call Sault Ste. Marie Police Service at 705-949-6300 or Crime Stoppers at 705-942-7867 or saultcrimestoppers.com.
  
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• Sault College partners to offer dental assisting program

  16-07-2026 15:46
  Sault Ste. Marie residents can get dental assistant training by studying online. Sault College is partnering with Cambrian College to offer the one-year certificate program, a release says. Students go to Sudbury for practical skills training. Placements are in the Sault and surrounding communities. The program runs three semesters. Courses include dental office management, pharmacology and lab practice and dental materials. “ By working together, we are creating practical, common-sense p
  
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• City keeps pools, splash pads closed, spikes street party

  16-07-2026 15:35
  
  Press release:Due to continued poor air quality conditions causedby wildfire smoke, all City cancellations announced yesterday remain in effect.All City-operated outdoor pools and splash pads remain closed, and the DowntownPlaza remains closed to the public.The Downtown Street Party scheduled for this evening has also been cancelled.In addition, all outdoor sporting events scheduled at City-operated facilities have beencancelled. This includes any bookings, outdoor City-run programming activiti
  
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• Rotaryfest cancels some Thursday activities due to smoke

  16-07-2026 15:26 via saultstar.com
  
  Press release:Further to Wednesday’s announcement that ROTARYFEST programming may be affected by the Air Quality Health Index, closure/opening announcements will be updated on the ROTARYFEST website and social media at 9am and 12 noon each day. Closure decisions will be based on the AQHI forecast at those times, and will follow the policies listed on the ROTARYFEST website.Rotary will be monitoring the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) throughout the festival weekend and making decisions bas
  
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• Rotaryfest cancels more Thursday activities due to smoke

  16-07-2026 15:26
  
  Press release: Further to Wednesday’s announcement that ROTARYFEST programming may be affected by the Air Quality Health Index, closure/opening announcements will be updated on the ROTARYFEST website and social media at 9am and 12 noon each day. Closure decisions will be based on the AQHI forecast at those times, and will follow the policies listed on the ROTARYFEST website. Rotary will be monitoring the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) throughout the festival weekend and making decisions b
  
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• Worship planned at large Sault cross

  16-07-2026 14:55 via saultstar.com
  
  Christians gather to worship near St Basil on St. George’s Avenue East on Aug. 22. A Thousand Voices at the Cross starts at 6 p.m., a release says.Call 705-251-2585 or email [email protected] for more information.
  
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• Fomer mayor Simpson dies in 1951: IN OTHER YEARS

  16-07-2026 06:01
  
  July 16, 2001Joni Gamble, 15, enjoyed a free flight above Sault Ste. Marie as part of the sixth annual Young Eagles program at Sault Airport. July 16, 1976The Senate was expected to give final approval of a bill to abolish capital punishment today, clearing way for the royal assent that would officially make it law. Paul Kates continues to lead the Sault contingent at the Ontario amateur golf tournament in Toronto, 12 strokes off the leader’s pace. Four new stores will open in the former
  
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• Sault city council rejects deputy mayor proposal

  15-07-2026 23:41
  
  A motion geared to creating a dedicated deputy mayor in Sault Ste. Marie has failed.City councillors believe the existing system – which sees councillors take turns on a monthly revolving basis to fill the need in the role of acting mayor – works well and doesn’t cost taxpayers additional money.A deputy mayor title would likely result in additional honorarium to compensate for the additional workload. Instead, they suggest that the regular review of the city’s procedural
  
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• Man steals bedding, gets bunk in Sault jail

  15-07-2026 22:17
  
  A man with a long criminal record skipped meeting his probation officer this spring and walked out of a Sault Ste. Marie business without paying for hundreds of dollars of merchandise. Corey Peplow didn’t report for two months as of mid-April, assistant Crown attorney Blair Hagan told court on Wednesday.He put more than $600 of goods, including bedding sets, in a shopping cart at Walmart and left the Great Northern Road business on April 7. Peplow pleaded guilty to theft under $5,000 and
  
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• Triple play: City surpasses new housing starts for three consecutive years

  15-07-2026 21:03 via saultstar.com
  
  For the third year in a row, Sault Ste. Marie has surpassed its annual new housing start target set by the provincial government.It’s only one of two communities across Ontario that have achieved that goal. The other is Kitchener, said MPP Matthew Rae, Parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. As a result, the city has been awarded $600,000 in additional funding under the Building Better Fund, bringing its total three-year reward to $1.8 million. The munici
  
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• Lewis sentenced for manslaughter in September

  15-07-2026 19:55
  
  A man who fatally stabbed his twin girlfriend’s boyfriend will be sentenced Sept. 23, said Ontario Court Justice Karen Pritchard on Wednesday.Montana Lewis was found guilty of manslaughter in January.Sam Graham, Jr. was stabbed by Lewis in November 2020. He was 19. Defence counsel David Bayliss is seeking time served for Lewis, who has four-and-a-half years of pre-sentence custody. Assistant Crown attorney Heidi Mitchell wants Lewis jailed 13 to 15 years. Bayliss and Lewis appeared in cou
  
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• Sault MPP's case adjourned two weeks

  15-07-2026 19:30
  
  A pre-trial for Sault Ste. Marie MPP Chris Scott was held Monday.Marcela Ahumada, speaking on behalf of defence cousnel Michael Lacy, asked for Scott’s matter to be adjourned for two weeks. Scott returns to court for an update on July 29.He faces domestic-related charges of assault and assault with a weapon. Scott is sitting as an independent after being removed from the Progressive Conservative caucus after he was charged in September 2025.
  
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• Limit visits to keep air ‘stable’: Sault Area Hospital

  15-07-2026 19:17 via saultstar.com
  
  Sault Area Hospital has declared a Code Grey Button Down as wildfire smoke causes poor air quality throughout the region Wednesday. “We are taking steps to protect patients, staff, and visitors while maintaining essential services,” the hospital said in a social media post. Air Quality MeasuresAir handlers are being adjusted throughout the building to improve indoor air quality.Odours may continue to be present while air quality remains poor.Clinical ServicesSurgeries and procedures
  
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• Limit outpatient visits to keep air ‘stable’: Sault Area Hospital

  15-07-2026 19:17
  
  Sault Area Hospital has declared a Code Grey Button Down as wildfire smoke causes poor air quality throughout the region Wednesday. “We are taking steps to protect patients, staff, and visitors while maintaining essential services,” the hospital said in a social media post. Air Quality MeasuresAir handlers are being adjusted throughout the building to improve indoor air quality.Odours may continue to be present while air quality remains poor.Clinical ServicesSurgeries and procedures
  
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• There's smoke on the water in the Sault

  15-07-2026 18:50 via saultstar.com
  
  A small pleasurecraft on the St. Mary’s River is obscured by smoke from forest fires on July 15, 2026.
  
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• Poor air quality prompts outdoor recreational closures in Sault Ste. Marie

  15-07-2026 16:31
  
  The City of Sault Ste. Marie is closing all city-operated outdoor pools and splash pads due to poor air quality conditions caused by wildfire smoke. The Downtown Plaza will also be closed to the public.Outdoor sporting events scheduled at city-operated facilities have been cancelled, including games at Elliott Sports Complex and Strathclair Park.“These precautionary measures have been taken to protect the health and safety of residents, participants, volunteers, and staff. Poor air qualit
  
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• Led Zeppelin tribute 'good enough' to get airborne

  15-07-2026 14:56 via saultstar.com
  
  Shaun Sanders has a Whole Lotta Love for Led Zeppelin. He parlayed a fascination with the British rock act as a youngster to a one-off tribute the Stairway to Heaven hitmakers to a tribute act that recently celebrated its 12th anniversary.ZED: A Tribute to the Music of Led Zeppelin is the featured act at Rotaryfest’s Stage 1 at Clergue Park on Saturday. Start time is 8:30 p.m. “ They took a hammer to the blues,” Sanders told The Sault Star during a recent phone interview from
  
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• Wildfire smoke causing poor air quality, reduced visibility in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma

  15-07-2026 14:29
  
  Environment Canada’s special air quality statement now includes the entire Algoma District, issued an Orange Level warning. Smoke from wildfires is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility throughout Algoma District, Environment Canada said in a statement Wednesday. Conditions may improve late Thursday. “During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” Environment Canada said in a statement.“Limit time ou
  
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• Wildfire smoke causing poor air quality, reduced visibility

  15-07-2026 14:29
  
  Environment Canada’s special air quality statement now includes the entire Algoma District, issued an Orange Level warning. Smoke from wildfires is causing poor air quality and reduced visibility throughout Algoma District, Environment Canada said in a statement Wednesday. Conditions may improve late Thursday. “During heavy smoke conditions, everyone’s health is at risk regardless of their age or health status,” Environment Canada said in a statement.“Limit time ou
  
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• Victim beat with bat on Cathcart Street

  14-07-2026 20:55
  
  A person was badly beaten with a baseball bat at a residence near the International Bridge on Friday. The victim was then dragged from a unit at 385 Cathcart St. by a second person. First responders were told the injured person arrived at the address injured, police say.Sheena Matchett, 38, was charged with assault, assault causing bodily harm, assault a weapon and obstruct justice. Robert Parent, 38, was charged with assault causing bodily harm, assault with a weapon, obstruct justice, possess
  
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• Weighty waste infrastructure decisions for Sault as landfill nears capacity

  14-07-2026 20:11
  
  Sault Ste. Marie residents will soon hear more about the city’s need to expand the landfill and waste mining, complete with projected costs.An educational plan will also be unveiled to explain biosolids management and organic processing regulatory requirements and their costs the city will face in the coming years. The public consultation process, as well as detailed reports highlighting financial requirements for landfill expansion, and possible alternatives that balance environmental re
  
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• Sault faces major waste infrastructure decisions as landfill nears capacity

  14-07-2026 20:11
  
  Sault Ste. Marie residents will soon hear more about the city’s need to expand the landfill and waste mining, complete with projected costs.An educational plan will also be unveiled to explain the biosolids management and organic processing regulatory requirements and their costs the city will face in the coming years. The public consultation process, as well as detailed reports highlighting financial requirements for the landfill expansion, and possible alternatives that balance environm
  
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• Healthy history: Time capsule discovery at former General Hospital ‘excited’ Sault Museum curator

  14-07-2026 17:18
  
  William Hollingshead smiles as he peruses a phenomenally well-preserved April 29, 1963 edition of The Sault Daily Star. Its paper is neither torn nor tarnished. The type telling a story titled, Castro, Khrushchev talk of more aid, is as legible today as it would have been decades ago during the height of the Cold War. “I can’t believe it’s not yellowed,” Hollingshead says as he turns pages.As Sault Ste. Marie Museum’s executive director and chief curator, Hollingsh
  
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• Healthy history: Sault Museum curator ‘excited’ by time capsule discovery at former General Hospital

  14-07-2026 17:18
  
  William Hollingshead smiles as he peruses a phenomenally well-preserved April 29, 1963 edition of The Sault Daily Star. Its paper is neither torn nor tarnished. The type telling a story titled, Castro, Khrushchev Talk of More Aid, is as legible today as it would have been decades ago during the height of the Cold War. “I can’t believe it’s not more yellowed,” Hollingshead says as he turns pages.As Sault Ste. Marie Museum’s executive director and chief curator, Holl
  
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• Search doesn't find missing Sault angler

  14-07-2026 16:29
  
  Extensive searches on land and water did not find a Sault Ste. Marie angler who went missing north of the city this spring. Terry Garson, 68, was last seen April 27 in the Harmony Beach parking lot. He was fishing for trout and smelt. Various Ontario Provincial Police units, including emergency response team, canine unit and underwater search and recovery unit, were joined by Sault Search and Rescue and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, said Const. Bev Gauthier. The search for Garson ran several d
  
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