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Long Weekend

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OPP Urging Safety Over Long Weekend

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A sure sign summer is coming to an end as the Labour Day long weekend has arrived.

Provincial Police will be out in full force to ensure everyone stays safe the next couple of days.

By the end of August, officers responded to 165 fatal motor vehicle collisions in Ontario, marking the 179th road fatality of the year.

OPP say the numbers will likely go up before the end of the year.

Speed was a factor in 32 of the deaths, 28 were linked to driver inattention and 26 involved impaired driving.

Motorcyclists have been hit particularly hard, with 26 drivers and two passengers losing their lives so far.

Failing to yield was the factor in most of the fatalities.

At this time last year 16 motorcycle drivers and one passenger were killed.

Also up from 2019 are pedestrian fatalities at 27, compared to 21 deaths last year.

Six cyclists have also lost lives this year after being struck by vehicles.

Chief Superintendent Rohan Thompson is the Commander of the OPP Highway Safety Division and says ”For so many of the innocent people killed in these collisions, there’s a driver whose careless behaviour contributed to this senseless loss of life and the lifelong impact left with the surviving families. This is what our officers are thinking about when they issue you that ticket for speeding or breaking other traffic laws, and so should you.

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Blueberry Festival Events Happening All Long Weekend

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There are plenty of fun events planned this long weekend with quite a few starting Sunday.

From 10am to 3pm on Sunday there will be Slate Falls Air float plane rides.

It costs 20 dollars for an 8-10 minute flight and masks will be required if you plan to take part.

The flights will be taking place at the Slate Falls Air Base at 29 Wellington Street.

 

The Sioux Mountain Music Festival will also start on Sunday.

Due to COVID-19 concerns the event is being held online this year from 3pm to 10pm.

The event will feature tons of talent including local area bands, northern bands, Thunder Bay performers, Nick Sherman, and other solo performers as well.

To find out more information, check out the Sioux Mountain Online Music Festival Facebook Page.

 

The Blueberry Festival Triathalon is also back for another year, but there are some changes.

The swim, bike and run will be taking place on separate days and there will be no mass starts and will take place on their designated days from 9am to 3pm.

The swim will be taking place Monday, the biking follows on Wednesday and the running will be on Thursday.

Participants can participate in any of the parts that they want or do all three if they wish to as well.

 

For the full list of events, click the link HERE

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MADD Urging You To Stay Safe This Long Weekend

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Be safe while you’re celebrating the last long weekend of the summer.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving Canada Chief Executive Officer Andrew Murie is encouraging everyone to spend some time thinking about how you’ll get home before you go out.

He says if you’re going to be drinking or consuming drugs, you need to plan a sober ride home.

Statistics from MADD Canada show that hundreds of people are killed and thousands are injured in Canada every year in crashes involving alcohol and or drugs.

Murie adds not only should you never drive a motor vehicle while impaired, but that you should also never ride with an impaired driver.

The advocacy group notes cabs or designated drivers are just a few of the safe, sober and reliable options for making it home alive.

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OPP Launch Distracted Driving Campaign

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Provincial Police are running a Distracted Driving Campaign over the Labour Day long weekend.

So far this year, the deaths of 26 people in Ontario have been linked to inattentive drivers.

There were 55 inattentive-related fatalities in 2018.

Last year, 24 pedestrians were killed province-wide, with inattentive driving being the primary cause in seven of the deaths.

So far this year, there have been 21 pedestrian deaths, two of which were caused by motorists who were not focused on the road.

As of January 1st, new distracted driving penalties include a fine increase up to $1,000, three demerit points and a three-day licence suspension.