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Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Muskoka's ‘Sir-Mix-A-Lot' isn't rapping, it's remixing organic waste
How is the District of Muskoka engaging residents when it comes to waste management? Asking them to choose the name for the newest compost machine. Of the options — 'Compost Malone,' 'Dirt Reynolds,' 'Tina Turner,' 'The Turninator,' and 'Lord of the Rinds' — the name 'Sir-Mix-A-Lot' won with the most votes. The district's investment in this high-tech piece of machinery means less waste in landfills, fewer odours, and healthier soil for parks and gardens, according to Colin Mitchell, the district's supervisor of solid waste. 'It's nice and easy to use,' he said. 'It aerates everything … because the drum is a lot bigger and it chops and chews everything up.' Since the district implemented its clear bag program earlier this year, there has been a 51 per cent increase in tonnage of green bin organics collected at the curb . Due to the increase of organics, the new composter is being put to good use. The official name of the machine is BACKHUS A 38 , which is used as a powerful tool to keep methane out of the atmosphere and turn organic waste into a community resource. 'We give away quite a lot of compost every year,' Mitchell said. The AA-grade compost can be picked up at the Beiers Transfer Station and Rosewarne Landfill , free of charge. Residents are encouraged to bring a shovel and container to collect some for their gardens. 'We also use the compost for projects of our own,' Mitchell said. 'Some of our old landfills that are closed, we'll refurbish them and then put compost on top to get vegetation back again.' Muskoka is home to 33 former landfill sites, originally created by the smaller municipalities. In the 1990s, the district took over responsibility for waste management across the region. Today, the AA-grade compost produced by Sir-Mix-A-Lot is used to restore these old landfill areas, Mitchell explained. Applied to the soil, the compost supports revegetation by improving stability, boosting water retention, and adding essential nutrients. Mitchell said the benefits of the new composter are hard to count. In addition to producing nutrient-rich compost for residents, the machine uses less fuel than its predecessor — and most importantly, it helps keep organic waste out of the landfill. But all of this depends on residents following waste guidelines. 'Please, only compost what's meant to be in the compost,' Mitchell said as a message to those across Muskoka who are using their green bins. Non-compostable items — like rope, tarp fragments, and plastic — keep ending up in green bins. The issue is that these materials get tangled in the turning mechanisms of the composter. Mitchell said staff try to catch as much as they can, but some items still make it through. When that happens, the machine has to be shut down so the debris can be cut out. The district urges residents to check its website or view the Waste Wizard tool to see exactly what belongs in the compost. Megan Hederson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Huntsville and Lake of Bays for . The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
IIU investigating after man killed by Winnipeg police Friday
Manitoba's police watchdog is investigating the death of a man who was shot by city police after he was found covered in blood and armed with a screw driver in a back alley in St. James Friday. Gene Bowers, chief of the Winnipeg Police Service, hosted a rare weekend news conference on Saturday afternoon to share details about a fatal shooting that happened one night earlier. One or more uniformed officers discharged a gun within five minutes of WPS receiving a 911 call about a man who was acting erratically in the 200 block of Ferry Road, Bowers said. 'Last night was a very difficult moment for our community,' he told reporters at WPS headquarters in downtown Winnipeg. 'Our hearts go out to the family who has lost a loved one, to the officers who were involved in a split-second decision that forever changed them.' Bowers provided few details about the series of events, citing an ongoing probe by the Independent Investigation Unit of Manitoba. All serious incidents involving on- and off-duty police officers in the province are referred to the IIU to investigate. The police chief said West District patrol officers responded to a 'suspicious call' about an unknown man who was covered in blood and appeared to be attempting to break into houses at 6:11 p.m. Friday. Police located an adult male who fit that description and was armed with a screwdriver at 6:16 p.m., he said. It was unclear Saturday whether the suspect was covered in his own blood or that of someone or something else's. Bowers said a use of force encounter occurred and the man was shot, after which emergency responders provided medical care and he was transported to the hospital in critical condition. The man later died of his injuries. The IIU was alerted of the events late Friday. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Cranberry Portage under evacuation order Saturday
Cranberry Portage has been put under a mandatory evacuation order due to wildfire-damaged hydro lines that are expected to keep the community dark for multiple days. The rural municipality of Kelsey issued an emergency bulletin at 8:26 a.m. Saturday. The RM has been asking area residents to prepare emergency kits and evacuation plans throughout the week. 'This fire is currently established on both sides of Highway #10 north of Sturgeon Landing turn off and South of Egg Lake. Multiple Hydro poles are damaged and burnt,' Lori Forbes, municipal emergency coordinator for the region, wrote in an alert at 8:26 a.m. Saturday. Forbes said Hydro had determined power would be out for an extended period. A mandatory evacuation plan was put in place as of 9 a.m. in response to the sweeping outage. Evacuees are headed to Winnipeg. RCMP is helping notify area residents who are asked to visit Billy Mosienko Arena in Winnipeg. Evacuees are being urged to travel via Highway 39 and Highway 6, as Highway 10 remains closed. It's an approximately 7 1/2 hour drive to the Manitoba capital. 'It's still an area of active wildfires, so we can't safely access the area to assess damage or estimate when power could be restored,' said Peter Chura, a media relations officer for Manitoba Hydro. Sent weekly from the heart of Turtle Island, an exploration of Indigenous voices, perspectives and experiences. Hydro's outage map shows 478 customers have been affected in Cranberry Portage. The outage was reported at 2:43 a.m. Maggie MacintoshEducation reporter Maggie Macintosh reports on education for the Free Press. Originally from Hamilton, Ont., she first reported for the Free Press in 2017. Read more about Maggie. Funding for the Free Press education reporter comes from the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative. Every piece of reporting Maggie produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Council awards $2.76 million contract for Skyline Drive watermain replacement
Gibsons council unanimously approved a contract award for water main replacement and road paving on Skyline Drive during a May 27 special meeting of council. William Wallace, Gibsons director of finance, highlighted that the project, valued at up to $2.76 million, is the first major infrastructure project since COVID-19 that hasn't required additional funding beyond the original budget. The contract was awarded following a competitive bidding process that received three submissions. One bid stood out due to its pricing and overall quality, prompting staff to recommend the award said Trevor Rutley, Gibsons director of infrastructure services. The work will focus on the highest-priority section of Skyline Drive, where two substantial water main breaks occurred within recent years. The targeted area also includes associated side streets like Avalon Drive, Shoal Lookout, and Allison Way, which have been identified in the town's water system strategic plan as requiring attention due to condition and capacity issues. Rutley explained that the current scope represents approximately half of the total water main replacement needed on the bluff area. The remaining work, estimated at $5-6 million, would require additional funding in future years. Council members emphasized the importance of clear communication with residents about project boundaries, particularly given that some properties will receive upgrades while neighbouring homes may not be included in this phase. The project is funded through an alternative approval process (AAP) authorizing the Town to borrow funds to complete the Skyline Drive water main project, which closed on July 3, 2024. The AAP secured $2,185,000 for water main replacement (Water) and $555,000 for paving (General). Construction is expected to be completed before winter weather conditions halt paving operations. Jordan Copp is the Coast Reporter's civic and Indigenous affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative . Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Toronto Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Toronto Sun
LIVE UPDATES: Goalie Carter Hart testifies at Hockey Canada trial
Trial of five players from Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team, charged with sexual assault, continues on Thursday Brian Williams • Local Journalism Initiative reporter Published May 29, 2025 • Last updated 27 minutes ago • < 1 minute read Carter Hart was photographed outside the London courthouse on May 20, 2025. (Mike Hensen/The London Free Press) The trial of five players from Canada's 2018 world junior hockey team, charged with sexual assault over an alleged incident inside a London hotel, continues on Thursday with the Crown closing its case and goalie Carter Hart testifying. Follow along below for live coverage from LFP reporter Brian Williams This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Tennis Celebrity
