Northern College graduated 650 students as part of its Class of 2026 during five ceremonies held over three weeks in Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Haileybury and Moosonee.

The annual convocations bring together graduates from across the college’s four Northeast Ontario campuses and include the presentation of the Governor General’s Academic Medal and student awards, according to a June 15 statement from the college.

The Class of 2026 was the college’s 59th graduating class.

Lonnie Bouvier received Northern College’s 2026 Governor General’s Award, which Ontario colleges issue each year to the graduating student with the highest grade-point average for the academic year. Bouvier maintained a 96.456 GPA while completing the Social Service Worker diploma, the college said.

Northern College and its Foundation issued 211 awards totaling $197,425 to the Class of 2026, according to the statement.

In the same release, Northern College President and CEO Mitch Dumas said convocation marks “the culmination of so much hard work, dedication and focus” for students.

The college also highlighted donor Tim Verrier, described as a Northern College graduate from Matachewan who first enrolled at the Northern Ontario Institute of Technology in Kirkland Lake in 1964. The statement said Verrier later founded Veronics Instruments, a company that develops process instrumentation equipment for the nuclear, petrochemical and semi-conductor industries.

Graduate totals were not broken down by campus.

Smooth Rock Falls town council is scheduled to hold a regular council meeting on June 15, 2026, at 6 p.m. at Town Hall, according to a notice posted on the Town of Smooth Rock Falls website.

The town’s notice also says residents who want to take part virtually can do so through Zoom, but must register in advance.

In the notice, the town said agendas for council meetings will be available on its Council Meeting Portal once they are published.

The town also noted that a virtual waiting room is now in place for Zoom participants. According to the notice, registered attendees will be admitted to the meeting five minutes before the scheduled start time.

The City of Timmins says the reduced-load restriction on Langmuir Road will be lifted at 4 p.m. on Friday, June 12, 2026, for commercial motor vehicles and trailers.

Reduced-load restrictions are used during the spring thaw, when road damage is most likely to happen. Lifting the restriction means heavier commercial vehicles and trailers will be permitted again on Langmuir Road under the city’s seasonal rules.

According to the city, seasonal load restrictions are governed by By-law 2006-6275, which includes a list of affected roads in Schedule A. The city also says reduced-load restrictions are typically in place until early June.

The city said some roads in Timmins have load restrictions in effect year-round under By-law 2022-8708, which lists the roads covered.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a food recall warning on June 12, 2026, for Lactantia brand UltraPūr 2% M.F. Lactose Free Dairy Product due to over-fortification of vitamins A and D. The product was distributed nationally.

The recall applies to 2-litre cartons of the lactose-free dairy product sold in Canada. The CFIA says people should not consume the product; anyone who believes they became sick after consuming a recalled product should contact a health-care provider.

The CFIA identified the affected product as a 2 L carton with UPC 0 68200 14854 0 and the code “Best Before JN 22.”

The CFIA says the product should not be consumed, used, sold, served or distributed.

The recall was triggered by the company, according to the CFIA. The recalling firm is Lactalis Canada Inc.

The CFIA said there have been no reported illnesses associated with consumption of the product.

The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation and says it may lead to the recall of other products. The agency also says it is verifying that industry is removing the recalled product from the marketplace.

The recall identification number is RA-82198.

Timmins Public Works has rescheduled a planned day-shift street sweeping on Delnite Road from Thursday, June 11, 2026, to Thursday, June 18, 2026, citing mechanical issues.

For residents on Delnite Road, the change means sweeping will take place a week later than originally scheduled. The city’s notice describes the disruption as limited to the day-shift work on that road.

The City of Timmins said the adjustment is part of a change to the street-sweeping schedule for the week of June 7, 2026.

No other schedule changes were listed in the notice.

Construction on a 700-metre stretch of Algonquin Boulevard East in Timmins, between Brunette Road and Highway 655, is scheduled to begin Monday, June 15, 2026, with lane reductions expected during the work.

The work will affect daily traffic on one of the main routes connecting to Highway 655. The City of Timmins is advising motorists to expect minor delays and allow extra travel time through the construction area.

Ahead of the June 15 start, contractor GIP Interpaving Ltd. is scheduled to mobilize traffic controls on June 11 and 12, 2026.

During the first phase of construction, traffic will be shifted to the outside curb lanes, with one lane kept open in each direction.

The city says the project involves full road reconstruction along this section of Algonquin Boulevard East, including new asphalt, curbs, sidewalks and traffic medians.

Sections of watermain and storm sewer infrastructure are also slated for replacement.

Traffic signals at Brunette Road and Highway 655 are scheduled to be replaced, and streetlights will be upgraded to meet current standards.

The city says access to businesses and properties along the route will be maintained throughout construction.

The City of Timmins says it is working with Cochrane District Paramedic Service to prioritize emergency service operations, including ambulance access, during the project.

The city describes the work as part of its rehabilitation of the Connecting Link corridor, with Segment 9 and Segment 13 scheduled for completion in 2026.

Hydrant flushing and watermain cleaning are scheduled in Timmins’ Connaught Hill area and in South Porcupine from June 15, 2026, to July 15, 2026, according to a notice from the City of Timmins Environmental Services Department.

The city said people in the affected areas may notice short-term drops in water pressure and brown or rust-coloured water during the work. The city advised residents not to drink discoloured water or use it for laundry, noting the water “is not harmful to your health” but can stain clothing.

If brown or rust-coloured water appears while crews are working, the city advised residents to turn off the tap for 10 to 20 minutes.

After the flushing is completed and crews have left the area, the city advised turning on the cold-water tap closest to the source—usually a laundry tub tap—and letting it run for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the water colour returns to normal.

The city’s notice did not list specific streets for the work and instead referred residents to maps for the locations in the Connaught Hill area and South Porcupine.

Construction on Segment 9 of Timmins’ Connecting Link corridor is scheduled to start Monday, June 15, 2026, on approximately 700 metres of Algonquin Boulevard East between Brunette Road and Highway 655, with lane reductions planned during the first phase.

The work affects a section of Highway 101 East in Timmins and is expected to slow traffic through the area while construction is underway. The city is advising drivers to expect minor delays and to reduce speed in the active work zone.

GIP Interpaving Ltd. is the contractor for the project. Traffic controls are scheduled to be set up June 11 and 12, 2026, ahead of the June 15 start.

The project involves full road reconstruction on the Algonquin Boulevard East section between Brunette Road and Highway 655. Planned work includes new asphalt, curbs, sidewalks, and traffic medians.

Sections of watermain and storm sewer infrastructure will also be replaced. Traffic signals at Brunette Road and Highway 655 are slated for replacement, and streetlights will be upgraded to meet current standards.

During the first phase, construction is expected to require lane reductions only, with traffic moved to the outside curb lanes and one lane in each direction, according to the City of Timmins. The city says access to businesses and properties along the route will be maintained throughout construction.

The City of Timmins says it is working with Cochrane District Paramedic Service to prioritize emergency service operations, including ambulance access, throughout the project.

Traffic and lane-reduction updates are available through Municipal 511. The city also lists its 2026 road construction projects on its website.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has recalled allo simonne Milk Chocolate Spread over possible pieces of glass. The agency said consumers should not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product.

The product was sold online, including in Ontario, which could affect people in Northeast Ontario who order specialty food items over the internet.

The recalled product is allo simonne Milk Chocolate Spread in a 220 g jar. The UPC is 6 28347 31004 2 and the code is 4-281-25 BB 4/27.

According to the federal recall alert, distribution was online in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec.

The recalling firm is allo simonne.

The recall identification number is RA-82183 and it is a Class 2 recall.

The recall date is June 3, 2026. The alert was published and last updated June 9, 2026.

The Timmins Fire Department will lift Timmins’ city-wide fire ban at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, allowing open-air burning to resume, according to a notice posted by the City of Timmins.

The ban has been in place since June 4, 2026. The city said it was declared because of lack of precipitation and extremely dry conditions.

According to the city notice, the fire department said the ban could be reinstated at any time if conditions change.

The notice also said the fire department reminded residents not to leave a fire unattended.

The Town of Smooth Rock Falls says the SRF Splash Pad is now open for the 2026 season, according to a notice dated June 10.

The opening means the public splash pad is available for summer use in Smooth Rock Falls. The town’s notice includes basic information about who can use the facility and what rules users are expected to follow.

The notice says the splash pad is free to use and open to both residents and visitors.

The town also says the splash pad is intended for children and families.

Users are asked to keep the area clean, follow posted rules, and be respectful of others, the notice said.

Timmins Public Works has rescheduled day-shift street sweeping in South Porcupine that had been set for June 9 and June 10, citing mechanical issues.

The change affects several streets in South Porcupine and may delay planned curbside cleaning for residents and businesses on those routes.

According to the City of Timmins Public Works disruption notice posted June 10, the June 9 day-shift route in South Porcupine—Essa Avenue and Dome Avenue—will be rescheduled to a later date.

Public Works said the June 10 day-shift route—Broadway Avenue, O’Brian Avenue and Bloor Avenue, from Moore Street to Lakeview Drive—will also be rescheduled.

The city did not provide new dates for either route.

The Timmins Fire Department will lift the city-wide fire ban at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, ending a restriction that has been in place since June 4.

For residents, that means open-air burning can resume in Timmins. The fire department said the ban could be reinstated at any time if conditions change.

The ban was imposed due to a lack of precipitation and extremely dry conditions.

The fire department reminded residents never to leave a fire unattended. Fire hazard status will continue to be closely monitored, the department said.

The City of Timmins has rescheduled street sweeping planned for the day shift on William Avenue on Monday, June 8, to a later date.

The change is part of the city’s street-sweeping schedule adjustments for the week of June 7, which can affect when crews arrive in specific areas.

In a disruption notice posted on the City of Timmins website, Public Works said the William Avenue day-shift sweep had been scheduled for June 8 but “will be re-scheduled for a later date.”

The city cited “operational issues” as the reason for the change. The notice did not provide a new date for the sweeping.

Two Timmins residents have been charged after a serious assault reported at Hollinger Park on the evening of June 5, with the victim taken to Timmins and District Hospital for treatment, according to the Timmins Police Service.

Police said the assault was reported at about 5:49 p.m. and described the victim’s injuries as serious but not life-threatening.

Timmins police said officers responded to reports of an assault at Hollinger Park and that witnesses saw two suspects assaulting a victim.

Emergency Medical Services attended the scene and transported the victim to Timmins and District Hospital, police said.

Roger Chookomolin, 62, of Timmins, has been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and failing to comply with a probation order, police said.

Karen Wesley, 44, of Timmins, has been charged with aggravated assault, assault with a weapon, and two counts of breach of recognizance, police said.

Police said both accused were held for a bail hearing and remanded in custody. They were scheduled to appear in court on June 8.

Police did not identify the victim or say what led to the assault.