Friday, November 25, 2011

Wellness Program coming up at council

Council will decide tonight whether or not to hire a part time wellness coach for the city.  Spokesperson Anne Turuba wrote a report on the program and says its been very successful and she hopes in grows beyond city employees.  Turuba says currently the city contracts the position out to an outside person.

Health Conference coming to Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay City council will be asked to fork over 20 thousand dollars to help with an upcoming medical conference.  The Dean of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine Roger Strasser will be speaking to council to ask for transportation costs for the October 2012 conference.   Strasser says the 600 delegates will bring in big economic benefits for the city and the conference will also increase our global profile.

Fundraiser for Humane Society

A fundraiser for the Thunder Bay Humane Society is gearing up for a big event.  Organizer Jessica Leinich says her and a group of residents are having an event at the Westfort Tavern to raise money to help save the Humane Society.  The event will happen December 10th from 8pm to 2am.

Henry Wojak barred from speaking @ Council

Councillor Trevor Giertuga says for every action there is a reaction and in the case of Henry Wojak there was consequences.  Giertuga says Mr Wojak has been barred from speaking at the coming council meeting because of foul language and an inappropriate gesture.

Christmas Cheer off and running

The Christmas Cheer campaign is underway with a goal of 160 thousand dollars. Chair Linda Gambee says this year the need in the community is bigger than ever.  She says where normally the organization gets inquiries weeks before the campaign starts, people have been calling  months ahead of time.  The money is used to provide a grocery hamper and toys to needy families for Christmas

More details on escaped prisoner

The Prisoner who is charged with escaping police custody yesterday is the 22 year charged in connection to this week's Mac's Mart Robbery.  Police officials say the prisoner ran away from officers when he was being taken into the Court House on Arthur Street.  Patrol officers quickly picked him up on Selkirk Avenue and charged is Ryan Deluney .

Rickford lauds First Nations bill

The MP for Kenora believes a new Federal bill to force First Nations to release officials salaries will lead to better accountibility. Greg Rickford notes this is the first step because there's more related legislation on the way.  It will centre on reforming the election system for First Nations that  will provide more certainty for those communities.

Global Sticks gets Gravelle going

Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle is busy these days getting a handle on the Global Sticks situation. With millions of provincial tax dollars invested in the company, Gravelle says everything is being done to get the operation in Oliver-Paipoonge open again and is hopeful that a restructuring plan will help. Gravelle disagrees with Mayor Hobbs that provincial government red tape is partly to blame for some of the company's hardships

Bombers favoured to win Grey Cup

It's Grey Cup weekend in Canada.  On Sunday the Winnipeg Blue Bombers take on the B.C. Lions, and we asked the people of Thunder Bay...who's going to win? 

CEDC works to save Global Sticks

The CEO of the City's Economic Development Commission believes Global Sticks will re-open again.   The company has shut down it's popsicle stick factory in Oliver-Paipoonge.  Steve Demmings says the CEDC has been active with others behind the scenes to keep the firm afloat.  He says more questions will be answered when company President Reggie Nukovic visits the city next week.

More weather records set

Another record breaker for Northwestern Ontario.  The high for Thunder Bay yesterday was 13 degrees shattering the old record of 7.8 set 11 years ago.  Dryden, Ear Falls, Red Lake and Sioux Lookout also broke temperature records.