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CTV News
14 minutes ago
- CTV News
Parents protest as Parry Sound students face classes in construction sites
Parents and students gathered outside Parry Sound District High School on Friday, voicing frustration over the Near North District School Board's handling of school construction delays. With both the existing high school and the new JK-12 site under construction, families say they lack clear answers about safety and logistics for the upcoming school year. 'Today we're just trying to hype up the awareness of the Near North District School Board's plan. We're questioning their contingency plan,' said Shane Reynolds with the group 'Parents for Parry Sound.' 'We're standing in front of the existing high school, which is a third broken down right now with demolition. We have questions that are still outstanding.' Parry Sound - Parents Protest Parents and students gathered outside on August 15, 2025, to voice frustration over the Near North District School Board's handling of school construction delays. With both the existing high school and the new JK-12 site under construction, families say they lack clear answers about safety and logistics for the upcoming school year. (Madison Marier/CTV News Northern Ontario) Amy Black, another parent with the group, echoed concerns over transparency. 'We band together when push comes to shove, and we are not taking a very vague media release as a satisfactory answer,' she said. 'We want proof that the school is safe. We want proof that the well-being of the children is the priority. So far, we have yet to see that.' Board releases contingency plan Late Friday, the board published an eight-page contingency plan on its website and social media, addressing safety and operational adjustments. The document confirms that fire alarms, PA systems and security cameras remain functional at Parry Sound High School, despite partial demolition. A conference room will serve as a temporary library, while a classroom will host bagged lunches in place of a cafeteria. Parry Sound school construction site Parry Sound High School sits as a construction site as demolition had started on the building before it became clear a the new school's construction would not be completed for the start of the 2025-26 school year. (Madison Marier/CTV News Northern Ontario) In a media release, the board acknowledged the 'delay and resulting confusion' but emphasized that student safety and learning continuity are 'paramount.' The plan, developed with input from the Ministry of Education and community partners, remains 'fluid,' with updates to be shared via email and a dedicated webpage. Uncertain timelines and logistics The $58.5 million school project, funded by the province in June 2023, has no confirmed completion date. The board stated it is working with contractors to finalize timelines but warned that exterior work may continue into 2026. Parry Sound - New school rendering An undated computer graphic rendering of what the new Parry Sound JK-12 school will look like when consturction is completed. (Supplied/Near North District School Board) Temporary measures include redistributing some students to McDougall and Nobel Public Schools, which the board says have 'sufficient capacity.' Transportation details are expected by Aug. 25, and remote learning has been ruled out as an option at this time. Calls for transparency persist Parents continue to push for in-person updates, but the board has not committed to a town hall, stating it will rely on digital communications. Reynolds and others argue more direct engagement is needed. 'We want our questions answered,' Black said. 'Right now, it feels like we're being kept in the dark.' Parry Sound - Parents Protest Parents gathered outside on August 15, 2025, to voice frustration over the Near North District School Board's handling of school construction delays. With both the existing high school and the new JK-12 site under construction, families say they lack clear answers about safety and logistics for the upcoming school year. (Madison Marier/CTV News Northern Ontario) The Near North District School Board urges families to monitor its website for further adjustments as the school year approaches and check its new FAQ page to address common questions.
CTV News
43 minutes ago
- CTV News
Some grocery stores could stop selling alcohol ahead of new Ontario recycling program rules
A person carries in empty cans to The Beer Store in Ottawa on Aug. 16, 2025. (Kimberley Johnson/CTV News Ottawa) Some grocery stores could soon stop selling alcohol in response to a looming rule. Stores that sell liquor will be required to start accepting empty liquor bottles and cans through the Ontario Deposit Return Program starting Jan. 1, 2026, but the Retail Council of Canada is warning that some members say they aren't equipped to do that. In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Michael Zabaneh, vice-president of sustainability with the council, says the current compensation model, which gives retailers two cents for every container, isn't enough to offset costs. 'Given the cost and operational complexities of managing alcohol returns, some retailers are reassessing whether it remains viable to continue selling alcohol at all under current or proposed deposit-return conditions,' he writes. He says the plan poses health and safety risks and is costly. Some stores also don't have the space and staff to accept beer and wine bottles. 'While retailers support improving collection and recycling rates, this must be done through well-funded and scalable alternatives,' reads the statement. Returning a few dozen beer bottles to The Beer Store on Saturday morning, Peter Finnie says he often sees firsthand how much workers handle. 'I can't think of any stores that would be set up to do what these people do,' he said. He brings cans multiple times a week to raise money for the charity he works with, the Bytown Association for Rescued Kanines – or B.A.R.K. He says the job does not look easy for those inside. 'You have people who professionally collect bottles, and they'll show up and maybe have a couple of thousand beer cans and hundreds and hundreds of wine bottles,' he said. 'Now, if they showed up at some other place, it would jam them up pretty quickly and then you got the awful smell.' In a statement to CP24 this week, the Ontario Ministry of Finance says more than 400 grocery stores and convenience stores are already participating in the recycling program with more expected to join in the coming months. The Beer Store has an agreement with the provincial government to keep at least 300 locations open until the end of 2025. It will be allowed to close an unlimited number of stores starting in the new year when the new recycling rules take effect. Those like Martha Fenton say they hope it remains easy to bring back empty bottles and cans. 'If it does close, then I don't know what I would do,' she said. 'Might have to go in my recycle bin if grocery stores or corner stores don't offer that option.'
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Stellantis layoffs impact about 100 Windsor workers
Stellantis has laid off about 100 workers at the Windsor Assembly Plant ahead of its summer shutdown. A spokesperson for the auto giant confirmed to CTV News that notices were issued to a 'small number of employees' on Friday. 'The layoffs are based on seniority and are a result of regular volume adjustments at the plant,' said LouAnn Gosselin. Production at the plant is being idled over the next two weeks for a regular vacation period. While the company did not disclose the number of employees affected by the layoffs, Unifor Local 444 stated that approximately 100 people were impacted. The union is working to find employment opportunities for the affected workers. 'The plant is going through their productivity period and, along with some other changes in production, has found itself slightly overstaffed,' said James Stewart, the union's president. 'Our in-plant representatives will be working to find opportunities for this junior group of workers and get them returned to employment status as quickly as possible.' In recent months, auto workers, particularly those in Windsor, have faced turbulent times marked by alternating layoffs and plant shutdowns.
