Ontario regional news: staffing shortages, missing teen found, and corporate auditor changes

Various regional news updates from Ontario include a staffing shortage report from the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, noting that 94 per cent of surveyed municipal employers struggle to attract qualified candidates for roles in management, public works, and finance.

In Kingston, a 14-year-old girl missing since last weekend was located safely in the Greater Toronto Area. Additionally, the Kingston Business Improvement Area clarified that three downtown guitar sculptures were removed for repairs rather than being stolen.

In the business sector, Richards Group Inc. has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as its new auditor, replacing PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Meanwhile, STRATUM has launched a strategic intelligence platform focused on African mining and electric vehicle battery minerals.

Community and sports news includes the launch of a $400,000 fundraising campaign for the Manitoulin Health Centre by the Douglas A. Smith Family Foundation, and Spencer Leckie winning the Subaru Triathlon in Owen Sound by a two-second margin. In Sarnia, hundreds participated in the annual St. Clair River float down despite weather warnings and official safety advisories.