SooConnect, Sault Sainte Marie, ON (2025)

07/23/2025

⚡ Heads-Up: Power Outages Coming to Eastern Soo Areas

Hydro One is planning two upcoming maintenance power outages that will leave thousands without electricity east of Sault Ste. Marie over the next two Sundays.

🔌 Here’s what to expect:
• Sunday, July 27: 8-hour outage from 6 AM – 2 PM

More than 5,400 customers will be affected in areas including Cobden, Huron Shores, Thessalon, Blind River, and surrounding townships.

💡Plan ahead: charge devices, prep food, and set backup alarms—especially if you’re an early riser!

07/22/2025

🚨 SCAM ALERT: Fake Texts Claiming to Be from SAH

Sault Area Hospital (SAH) is warning the public about a fraudulent text message scam asking people to make Interac payments or click suspicious links.

🛑 Important to know:
• SAH does not send payment requests by text
• They never include payment links in unsolicited messages
• If you get one of these texts—don’t click or call

Instead, report it as junk, delete it, and contact SAH directly if you’re unsure.

📞 Billing inquiries? Call (705) 759-3434 ext. 5415
🔗 Or visit: www.sah.on.ca

Let’s protect each other from fraud. 💙

07/21/2025

🚨 Ontario’s Big Push for More Police Recruits

A new province-wide campaign called “”Answer the Call”” is launching to tackle the police staffing crisis across Ontario. Over 50 police services are teaming up—with government backing—to recruit more officers and modernize the process.

💼 The campaign includes:
▪️ Increased police college spots (2,100 grads this year vs. 1,200 in 2022)
▪️ Scrapping the post-secondary requirement
▪️ Funding training costs
▪️ Prioritizing small, rural & First Nation forces

Experts warn that more officers ≠ guaranteed safety, and say deeper issues like poverty, mental health, and public perception need to be addressed too.

📢 Ads will roll out on billboards and social media over the next few months.

07/18/2025

📉 Canada’s Rent Drops Again—But Don’t Celebrate Yet

For the 9th month in a row, average rents in Canada have dropped—down 2.7% in June to $2,125/month. But don’t be fooled by the dip—rents are still nearly 12% higher than they were in 2022.

🔍 Key takeaways:
• One- and two-bed units fell 3.5% year-over-year
• Alberta saw the sharpest decline (↓6%)
• Toronto & Vancouver rents still sky-high
• Halifax was the only major city with a rent hike (+1.5%)
• Studio rents surged over 19% since 2022

📊 Despite short-term drops, the long-term trend still points upward, especially for purpose-built rentals.

07/17/2025

🌱 Keep Your Boulevard Tidy, Sault Ste. Marie Reminds Residents

The City of Sault Ste. Marie is reminding homeowners that you’re responsible for maintaining the boulevard in front of your property — that’s the strip between the curb and sidewalk, or the street and your property if no sidewalk exists.

Regular mowing and upkeep aren’t just about curb appeal — they help keep pedestrians safe and avoid fines. If left untended, you could face penalties or charges if the City steps in to clean it up.

Check full rules at www.saultstemarie.ca/bylaws

07/04/2025

A proud moment for Sault Ste. Marie! One of our own is stepping onto the national stage as a contestant in Miss Universe Canada 2025. Her journey is a powerful reminder that confidence, ambition, and heart can take you far. Let’s cheer her on! 👑✨

07/01/2025

🇨🇦 Happy Canada Day! 🇨🇦

Today, we celebrate the beauty, strength, and spirit of this incredible country we call home. From coast to coast, let’s take a moment to appreciate our freedom, diversity, and shared values.

Whether you’re watching fireworks, enjoying a BBQ, or spending time with loved ones—here’s to making memories and honouring the red and white! 🍁❤️

07/01/2025

🇨🇦 Canada Reverses Digital Tax—Trade Talks with U.S. Back On

Big news for business: Canada has officially backed off from its planned digital services tax on major U.S. tech companies. This decision has opened the door to resume trade talks with the United States, with both sides aiming to reach an agreement in the coming weeks.

Why it matters for Northern Ontario?
This move could ease tensions, prevent new tariffs, and create more certainty for local businesses that rely on cross-border trade, tech platforms, or imported goods.

Positive momentum is building—let’s hope it stays that way.

06/30/2025

🚫 Canada Tightens Work Permit Rules for International Students

Starting June 26, Canada has revised who qualifies for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). International students enrolled in non-degree programs across 178 fields of study are now ineligible for PGWPs — a decision made by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to better align with labour market demands.

However, not all the news is bad: 119 new fields were added, focusing on in-demand sectors like healthcare, education, trades, and social services — bringing the total number of eligible programs to 920.

If you applied for your study permit before June 25, 2025, you’re still eligible under the previous rules. The government is also making it easier for degree-level graduates (bachelor’s, master’s, PhDs) to qualify, even if their field of study isn’t on the approved list.

06/30/2025

🚑 Sault Hospital Cuts Paramedic Wait Times Dramatically

Good news for emergency care in Sault Ste. Marie! 📉

Paramedic offload delays at Sault Area Hospital have improved sharply over the past year. In May 2024, paramedics were waiting an average of 11 hours per day to transfer patients to hospital staff. This May, that number has dropped to just 2.75 hours per day. 🙌

The Dedicated Offload Nurse Program has played a key role, helping paramedics hand over patients quickly so they can respond to other emergencies. However, the program’s provincial funding hasn’t been confirmed yet for the future, with an update expected by August.

🚨 Key stats:

2024: 341 offload hours in May

2025: 85 offload hours in May

Delayed patients cut by more than 50%

While call volumes remain steady, better hospital flow is reducing wait times — but whether the funding continues remains uncertain.

06/27/2025

🚨 Trade Tension Alert: U.S. and Canada Talks Cut Off

Things just got heated. The U.S. has officially walked away from trade talks with Canada after a dispute over Canada’s new tax on big tech companies like Amazon and Google.

In response, the U.S. says new tariffs on Canadian imports are on the way—possibly within days. The Canadian dollar has already taken a hit, and uncertainty is rising for businesses across the country.

What does this mean for Northern Ontario? If new tariffs roll out, local businesses could face higher costs on goods and materials—and the ripple effect might be felt right here in the Soo.

We’ll be keeping an eye on this one.

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