SooConnect, 20 Malabar Drive, Sault Sainte Marie, ON (2025)

10/18/2025

🎃 Show Off Your Spooky Side — Hallowe’en Spirit Awards Are Back!

Got the best-decorated house or business on the block? 👻
The City of Sault Ste. Marie is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Hallowe’en Spirit Awards — recognizing residents and businesses that go all-out for spooky season!

🏠 Categories:
• Residential (1st, 2nd & 3rd place)
• Business (1 citywide winner)

💻 What’s new this year: The contest goes virtual! All entries will be featured on the City’s official page, where the community can vote by giving “likes.”

📅 Important dates:
• Submit nominations by Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 (4 p.m.)
• Facebook voting runs Oct. 20 – 26
• Winners announced Oct. 27

✨ Self-nominations welcome — just upload a photo and fill out the form at saultstemarie.ca/halloweenspiritawards.
Let’s see who brings the most hauntingly creative vibes to the Soo this year!

10/17/2025

⏰ Time’s Up for Daylight Saving?

Changing the clocks twice a year might soon be a thing of the past. A new Private Member’s Bill from MP Marie-France Lalonde aims to end Daylight Saving Time across Canada and establish one permanent time nationwide.

The proposal comes after growing evidence that time changes disrupt sleep, increase accidents, and negatively affect mental and physical health. Experts say shifting the clock twice a year throws off our body’s natural rhythm, leading to health issues like higher blood pressure, fatigue, and even heart problems.

If passed, the bill would call for a pan-Canadian conference with provinces, territories, and Indigenous partners to make the change official.

Several regions — including most of Saskatchewan, Yukon, and parts of B.C. and Quebec — have already ditched the practice. Could the rest of Canada be next?

10/13/2025

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, Sault Ste. Marie! 🍂

Today, we’re thankful for this amazing community — for the local businesses that make our city thrive, the families who support them, and the neighbours who always lend a hand.

From all of us at SooConnect, thank you for being part of what makes the Soo so special. 💛

Let’s take a moment to slow down, share a meal, and appreciate everything (and everyone) we have to be grateful for.

📸 Tell us what you’re thankful for in the comments below 👇 — we’d love to hear from you!

10/10/2025

⚠️ Toyota Expands Recall in Canada

Toyota is recalling over 32,000 vehicles in Canada due to a software issue that can cause the rear-view display to malfunction — potentially increasing the risk of a crash.

The recall affects certain Toyota Sequoia (2023–25), Tundra, and Tundra Hybrid (2022–25) models equipped with 14-inch multimedia displays. The screen can occasionally appear green, half green, or fully black, meaning the backup camera may not meet federal safety standards.

Owners will be notified by late November 2025 and can receive a free software update at Toyota dealerships.

This follows a previous recall of 70,000 Toyota vehicles in September for similar display issues.

10/08/2025

🎉 Good News Alert! 🛎️

We’re thrilled to share that the missing Ontario Heritage Plaque from Precious Blood Cathedral has been found safe and sound! 🙌✨

A huge thank you to Fortress Property Management ()for their sharp eyes and quick action in locating the plaque. 🦸‍♂️💪

It’s heartwarming to see our community come together to preserve our local history. 💛

10/08/2025

✈️ Cheers, travellers!

Air Canada just made flying a little sweeter. As of Sept. 1, beer and wine are now complimentary on all Air Canada flights—including routes to Mexico and the Caribbean.

The free lineup features Hop Valley, Creemore Springs, Molson Canadian, Coors Light, and Paul Mas wines, with Heineken 0.0 offered as a non-alcoholic option. Passengers can also enjoy new Canadian-made snacks, from MadeGood oat bars in the morning to pretzels and cookies later in the day.

Air Canada says it’s the only Canadian airline offering non-alcoholic beer in-flight. Plus, new wellness shots and Bistro menu options are being added to upgrade the onboard experience even more.

10/04/2025

💰 Minimum Wage Rises in 5 Provinces

As of October 1, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island have all increased their minimum wage rates, tying the changes to inflation.

Ontario’s wage is now $17.60/hour, PEI and Nova Scotia are both at $16.50/hour, Manitoba rises to $16/hour, and Saskatchewan sits at $15.35/hour.

Meanwhile, Alberta—once competitive—has been left behind. At $15/hour, it now has the lowest minimum wage in the country. Other provinces, including B.C., Quebec, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador, already raised their wages earlier this year.

The hikes come as provinces look to ease affordability struggles for workers across Canada.

10/02/2025

⚡ Hyper-Fast EV Charging at Station Mall

Drivers in Sault Ste. Marie will soon have access to six new hyper-fast charging stations at Station Mall, built in partnership with Electrify Canada.

🔹 Charging speeds up to 350kW for a quick top-up
🔹 Located in the north-east parking lot
🔹 Fully operational later this month after final checks

The new hub is part of the city’s move toward cleaner, sustainable transportation, while also making the mall more convenient for visitors.

Would you use a mall charging station while you shop or grab a meal? 👀

10/01/2025

📉 Canada Braces for a Silver Tsunami

A new RBC report warns that Canada is entering its biggest retirement wave yet, with all baby boomers set to reach age 65 by 2030. By 2024, two-thirds were already retired, and the rest will follow this decade—posing major challenges for the economy and workforce.

The shift comes as Canada’s fertility rate hits a record low of 1.25 children per woman in 2024, placing the country among the world’s “ultra-low fertility” nations. Provinces like Nova Scotia, PEI, and Ontario now sit below replacement levels, while only Nunavut remains above 2.0.

Experts say migration alone won’t be enough to fill labour gaps, especially as federal targets lower future growth. Sectors like health care, agriculture, and manufacturing are expected to feel the strain most, with added pressure on social services as retirements climb.

09/29/2025

🍔💸 Canadians are skipping restaurants

A new report from Restaurants Canada shows that 3 in 4 Canadians (75%) are eating out less often due to rising living costs. For younger Canadians aged 18–34, that number jumps to 81%.

🔹 Quick-service restaurants are now edging out full-service ones, with Canadians spending more on fast food than sit-down dining.
🔹 Millennials and Gen Z are the most likely to swap full meals for snacks, often at least once a week.
🔹 Delivery remains popular: 64% of Canadians ordered in over the past six months, with Gen Z leading at 79%.
🔹 Alcohol consumption is also down, with 41% drinking less compared to last year.

Despite these cutbacks, the report notes Canadians are still looking for value when they do choose to dine out.

Do you find yourself eating out less often too?

09/29/2025

🚦 Ontario to Ban Speed Cameras

Premier Doug Ford says Ontario will introduce legislation next month to ban automated speed cameras, calling them a “cash grab” that doesn’t make roads safer. He framed the move as an affordability measure, saying governments should be putting more money back into people’s pockets.

Not everyone agrees—Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow argued the ban sends the wrong message and makes roads less safe. Studies show speed cameras reduce speeding by up to 45% and cut average speeds by more than nine km/h in some cities.

Sudbury introduced cameras in 2024, generating over $750,000 in revenue, but also reducing speeding in key areas. Ford says new safety measures like flashing signs, speed bumps, and raised crosswalks will be encouraged instead.

The debate now boils down to one question: affordability or safety—what matters more on Ontario’s roads?

09/29/2025

⚠️ Sault Area Hospital Under Pressure

This summer was tough for Sault Area Hospital, with patient numbers hitting record highs. The hospital is built for around 290 patients, but saw as many as 324 in a single day. Wait times also stretched beyond targets, with some patients waiting more than six hours to be seen by a doctor.

Adding to the challenge are patients who no longer need hospital-level care but remain there while waiting for long-term care placement. This backlog makes it harder to manage bed space and patient flow.

Hospital leaders say new initiatives—like a virtual waiting room for minor conditions and upcoming investments in primary and long-term care—may help ease the strain. But for now, staff are asking the community to stay current on vaccines, try the virtual service when appropriate, and support frontline workers who continue to face overwhelming demand.

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