MPP Defends Teachers Bill

MPP Bill Mauro hopes some past goodwill is enough to ease any possible labour tensions with local teachers.  Next week the McGuinty government will force a new contract on public school teachers in the province.  In defending passage of the bill, Mauro understands there could be some animosity but thinks teachers here will remember what the Liberals have done for education in the province.

Councillor Eyes Tanning Bed Ban

A Thunder Bay lawmaker believes our city should follow Oakville's lead and ban the use of tanning beds by people under 18.   Councillor Aldo Ruberto says he's willing to make the move himself at a future council meeting. Ruberto says dermatologists themselves are recommending people under 18 do not use tanning beds.

Spike Belts Fail To Stop Van

Nipigon and Marathon O.P.P now have a man and a woman in custody but apprehending the two proved to be difficult. Provincial Police say a dark grey van stole gas from a service station in Wawa yesterday. Marathon O.P.P. spotted the suspect vehicle, tried to pull it over but to no avail. Twice they tried using spike belts to stop the vehicle but it continued westward. Eventually Nipigon O.P.P. spotted the vehicle yesterday afternoon in a parking lot and arrested the man and woman with no incident. They remain in custody pending a court appearance.

Kenora Thistles Championship Banner Stolen

The Kenora Thistles 1907 Stanley Cup Championship banner is missing. Kenora O.P.P. say it was stolen from the Whitecap Pavillion on the Kenora Harbourfront sometime between 4:00 O'clock Friday afternoon and 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning. The burgundy and white banner is 8 feet long and 3 feet wide. Police say a Canadian flag and a Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup flag were also stolen. Police are asking for the public's help for any information. 

Basketball Split Squad Set For Exhibition Games

The Lakehead University Thunderwolves men's basketball team is getting an early jump on the season. The tryout squad is teaming up with the University of Wisconsin-Stout Blue Devils for a week-long camp at the L.U. Thunderdome. A pair of exhibition games featuring L.U.'s split squad will hit the hardwood Wednesday and Thursday night starting at 7:00 o'clock.

Golf Community Mourns Loss Of Ken Britton

The Thunder Bay District Golf Hall of Fame has lost one of its members. Local golfers aer mourning the loss of Ken Britton who passed away Saturday at the age of 79. Britton was a 5-time champion at the Strathcona Invitational and a former President of the Strathcona Men's Club. Britton was inducted into the Thunder Bay District Golf Hall of Fame in 2007.

LHIN Lauches Online Survey

The local health authority wants your opinion on health care in the region. Laura Kokocinski of the Local Health Integration Network says the organization is launching an online survey to get public feedback for its new three year plan.   She says the survey is to validate the information they've collected over the past three years about what's important about health care in the region and what services should be delivered.  The survey is available at this LINK

Treed Bear Captured

City police and the Ministry of Natural Resources have now trapped a bear that had been in a tree in the Neebing and Confederation Drive area over the noon hour. They say the animal was hit by a car and then it scurried up the tree. Police now say they managed to lure the animal into a cage.

No Injuries In Wild Ride

City police are reporting a wild ride overnight.  Police say they were kept busy last night after a driver of a red Jeep reportedly crashed through several yards and laneways before hitting a building located in the 300 Block of Cumberland Street. Just before 9:00 p.m. police received a call about a hit and run that had occurred in the Dawson Road and Red River Road area.  The witness stated that a red Jeep had just run through yards almost hitting pedestrians. A few minutes later calls were received from residents in the Stephen Street area about a red Jeep that struck vehicles, fences and property in back yards as it traveled through a laneway in the area.  The vehicle finally came to a stop when it struck a building on Cumberland Street.  A 38 year old man was taken into custody and has been arrested for drunk driving, refusing to provide a breath sample and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.  He was to appear in court this morning.

Hobbs Achieving Objectives At AMO Meetings

Thunder Bay's Mayor says he's achieving his objectives in Ottawa. Keith Hobbs is taking part in the AMO meetings happening there. Hobbs says he's been able to speak about concerns on behalf of council to Energy Minister Chris Bentley about the conversion of the Ontario Power Generating Station here in Thunder Bay. He also says the city is receiving high praise for its mining readiness strategy from the Liberals and the P.C. provincial parties. The AMO meetings continue today and will wrap-up tomorrow.

Border Crossing Study

A new report from the Fraser Institute says delays and increased security measures at the border are costing Canadians over $19 billion dollars a year. Co-author Alexander Moens says the newly signed Beyond the Border initiative has the opportunity to reduce some of the inefficiencies. Moens says what they couldn't adequately determine is if we're getting value for that money.

HMCS Ville De Quebec Visit A Success

Final numbers will come in at the end of the week but the visit by the HMCS Ville De Quebec is being deemed a success. Manager of Tourism, Paul Pepe estimates the ship entertained between 8,000 and 9,000 visitors during its stay here in the port of Thunder Bay. Pepe says they will continue to try and attract similar tourist attractions to the waterfront. Pepe says the visit was a win-win for both the city and the crew who made a financial impact on the city.

M.N.R. Sends Support Personnel To B.C.

British Columbia is getting some help from Northern Ontario forest firefighters. 36 Ministry of Natural Resources personnel have been sent to help with their forest fire situation. 8 Fire Ranger crews and incident management staff have been sent to help. Equipment is also on its way to help. The M.N.R. says it can afford to send help with the fire rating low to moderate across the region. There is no word on how long the crews are expected to stay.

Tuition Cost #1 Issue Facing Students

Lakehead University students are gradually making their way back to the city for the start of another school year. Student Union President Emma Brightwell tells us about the primary concern facing students. Brightwell says for some international students it costs them upwards of $12,000 a year to attend L.U.

Fight To Keep E.L.A. Open Continues

The writing may be on the wall for the Experimental Lakes area near Dryden, but that's not stopping one scientist from her campaign to keep the outdoor laboratory open. Diane Orihel  says they risk losing valuable research if the ELA is closed. The federal government has flatly refused any suggestions to keep the ELA open and is planning to shut it down at the end of March 2013, if no other agency comes forward to operate it.

Rainy River Tourism Offer

The town of Rainy River is expressing interest in taking ownership of one of Ontario's now closed tourism centres. The centre in Rainy River was among those closed in May as part of cost-saving measures. Mayor Deb Ewald says they've inquired about buying it for a dollar. Ewald says the Province is now considering their offer.

A Tree for Jack Layton

MP Charlie Angus will be in Thunder Bay today to celebrate the life of Jack Layton. A Memorial Tree is being planted at Birch Point Park on Boulevard Lake at a ceremony starting at 3pm. It is almost a year since the passing of the late Jack Layton. Layton died of cancer last August only a few months after leading the NDP into official Opposition status for the first time in its 50-year history.

Now Owing Michael Antcliffe

Michael Antcliffe, local author and cancer fundraiser is dead. He was 37. Antcliffe created the Facebook group "I Owe Michael Antcliffe $10" with a mission to raise funds for cancer care in the region while battling the disease himself. The premise of the campaign is to owe Antcliffe $10 after he died for the pleasure of being his friend on Facebook. He currently has over five thousand friends between his page and group.

Hockey's Greatest Prize Is In Kenora

Mike Richards, who played a part in the L.A. Kings Stanley Cup Victory, is brining the cup to Kenora. The cup will be there today (Saturday) and will be making a two hour pit stop under the White Cap Pavillion. Richards and the Cup will then be available for photographs for about two hours.

Bikers Collect Toys

The Salvation Army is again hosting its annual summertime Toys for Tots Motorcycle Ride. Spokesperson Gail Kromm says toys can be dropped off at any motorcycle dealer from now until September 15th. That's when the bikers gather for a parade around the city. The toys will be presented to the Salvation Army at the end of the ride.

Labour Issues Will Not Delay Local School Year

There is no way the Lakehead Public School Board will be able to get a contract signed with its teachers by the September first deadline imposed by Premier Dalton McGuinty. Board Chair Deborah Massaro says regardless of what happens it will be business as usual in the new school year.  Massaro says the board normally negotiates with its teachers in the fall but doesn't know why no one felt the need to move the talks ahead.

Exemplary Service Medals Awarded

Thunder Bay Fire Service Personnel are now proudly displaying new medals for exemplary service. Nine members were honoured with the special medals yesterday on board the visiting HMCS Ville De Quebec. Acting Captain Jo Rucchin was one of the recipients for his 20 years of dedication and says he's very proud to serve alongside a group that is so dedicated to serving our community.

Hobbs Ready For AMO Meeting

Provincial municipal leaders are gathering in Ottawa starting Sunday for their annual meeting. Our Mayor Keith Hobbs says the gathering of the Ontario Municipal Association is a chance to meet cabinet ministers they normally don't get to.  Hobbs says they hope to discuss local issues with the health, energy and infrastructure ministers.  Those issues include helping out the local tissue bank Regen Med, and getting the conversion of the Mission Island Ontario Power Generation plant back on track.

Queen's Jubilee Medals Awarded

The HMCS Ville De Quebec is serving a special purpose during this week's visit to the port of Thunder Bay. Today the ship hosted a special Queen's Jubilee Medal Ceremony. Five people from the region were given the distinguished award including Retired Captain Ann Zuliani, who says it's an honour. Nine fire personnel were also part of the ceremony, they were given exemplary medals for 20 and 30 years of service.

Inflation Slows To A Crawl

Runaway inflation doesn't appear to be a concern in Thunder Bay.  The rate barely budged in the city last month.  Government figures from Statistics Canada show that the inflation rate dropped from half a per pent in June to point one per cent in July.  Nationally the inflation rate fell to 1.3 per cent in July.

Injured Bear Still Seen In City

An injured bear hobbling on three legs is still being spotted around the city. The bear was last seen by multiple people at approximately 10:00 O'clock last night in the area of Riviera Drive. Another bear was seen near Strathcona Golf Course. There have been no new sightings of what police believe to be a cougar or a lynx since Tuesday night.

Nuissance Bears A Problem For Police

The President of the Thunder Bay Police Association is speaking out about having to deal with nuissance animals in the city, particularly bears. Greg Stephenson says the decision by the Ministry of Natural Resources to have city police deal with nuissance bears is putting them in a very difficult position. He feels they don't have the proper training or the right equipment to deal with them. Stephenson says they will be be bringing this issue up with MPP Bill Mauro and especially with Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle.

Broken Nose Leads to Charges

City police are reporting more female violence overnight. One woman was sent to hospital after she had her nose broken. City police have 2 women in custody and charged with assault after an altercation took place just after 11:00 O'clock last night on the 100 block of South May Street. Both women are to appear in court this morning.

Forest Fires On The Decline

Cooler temperatures and rain throughout the region are keeping the forest fire situation at bay. There were no new fires confirmed yesterday in the Northwest Region. Widespread rain has reduced the forest fire hazard to low for the entire region and is keeping the fire situation quiet. There are 53 active forest fires in northwestern Ontario; of those 53 fires, 51 are being monitored by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Woman Charged With Arson

A 25 year old woman remains in custody and is charged with arson. Provincial Police laid the charge after investigating a rash of fires that caused structural damage in the Sioux Lookout area. O.P.P. were looking into 3 fires in particular and with the help of the Northwest Crime Unit, were able to arrest and charge the woman. She is scheduled to appear in a Sioux Lookout court today.

OCSA Lauds City Tobacco Stand

Thunder Bay City Council is getting props for its stand on the issue of contraband tobacco.  The Ontario Convenience Stores Association is pleased council has voted to support the association's fight against the sale of such products.  It also applauds the District Health Unit and it's ad campaign against illegal cigarettes.

More Ceremony On Visiting Frigate

There's more pomp happening on board the visiting frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec Friday.  There will be a medal ceremony taking place in the morning starting at 10.   Five Queen's Diamond Jubilee and nine Exemplary Service Medals will be presented to Thunder Bay residents.   Today there was a Canadian citizenship ceremony on board the ship.

Cougars No Stranger To The Northwest

A wildlife expert at Lakehead University says it wouldn't surprise him if it turned out if there was a cougar in the city. Don Barnes says the big cat has been spotted in Northwestern Ontario from Kenora to Thunder Bay for many years. He recalls a thesis one student did on the cougar sightings in Northwestern Ontario.   Barnes says because the Ministry of Natural Resources has such strict guidelines to prove a sighting, they are never confirmed.

Peterson Applauds Sault Move

The co-chair of the city's Disaster Relief Committee is hoping it catches on. Lynn Peterson is reacting to the decision by the city council in Sault Ste. Marie to donate 75 hundred dollars to our disaster relief. Peterson calls it wonderful news for the community. She says it shows that other communities in the north recognize that it's a disaster could have just as easily happened in their own city. Peterson says the request for donations went out to many municipal councils in the province.

True Grit Tees Off For Disaster Relief

The first major fundraising event for the city's Disaster Relief Fund is aiming to raise 300 thousand dollars to help victims of the May 28th flood.  It's a golf tournament being organized by  True Grit Consulting and takes place at Whitewater September 13th.   It also includes an auction of a Fiat sports car.

New Digs For Cancer Care Operations

Cancer Care Ontario's research presence in Thunder Bay is growing.  Vice President Rick Skinner says they have doubled the number of their software developers after being able to snap up some teckies from the now defunct Tornado Medical Systems and move into their former office space in the Whelan Building

Injured Bear Still In City

An injured bear is still making its way through the city. A bear with an injured foot, apparently only using three legs to walk, was spotted this morning at 7:40 a.m. on Golf Links Road near Cascade Crescent. Reports of wild animals including what could be a cougar or a lynx have been dominating police phones throughout the week. Numerous calls of nuissance bears were reported overnight behind the police station on Balmoral and Central. Other locations where witnesses saw bears included Hutton Park at the end of Valley Street, Dawson Road, Dragon Hills Golf Course and in Oliver-Paipoonge.

Police Association AGM

The Thunder Bay Police Association is playing host for the fifth time to the Ontario Police Association's Annual General Meeting. City Police Association President Greg Stephenson says it's a good chance to catch up with fellow members from across the province. Stephenson says 150 delegates from across Ontario are here in attendance for the meetings which wrap-up tomorrow.

Frigate Serves As Ceremony Venue

A new crop of Canadian citizens are ready to take on the world after they were sworn in at a ceremony in Thunder Bay on board the visiting frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec. Senior Citizenship Judge George Springate says having a battleship as a backdrop is just a way to take advantage of opportunities.  He calls it Canada at its best.   A total of 46 people from 22 different countries took the oath of citizen in the ceremony

Multiple Bear Sightings Overnight

Police are getting a high number of calls about wild animals roaming the city. Most of them are bear calls and police say no new confirmed large cat sightings have been made since supper time on Tuesday. Last night police received numerous calls about bears in the city and on the outskirts. Inside the city, calls came in about a bear behind the police station on Balmoral and Central and at Baseball Central. Other reports came in about bears at Dragon Hills Golf Course, on Dawson Road, Hutton Park at the end of Valley and in Oliver-Paipoonge. Police are continuing to ask for the public's assistance in reporting any wild animal sighting and to exercise caution.

Yesno Wins In A Squeaker

Harvey Yesno is the new Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation. He was selected in the third ballot in today's NAN election. He defeated Terry Waboose 22 votes to 21. Today's vote comes two months after Stan Beardy vacated the spot after being elected Ontario's Regional Chief.

Witness Says That Was No Lynx

A woman who called in one of this weeks wildcat sightings in the city says there is no doubt in her mind what she saw was a cougar. Lindsay Gibson says she saw the animal in the parking lot of the Regional Health Sciences Centre and it was not a lynx.  She describes an animal that is large and muscular with sleek golden coloured fur with a long thick tail.   Gibson says she and her hospital co-workers saw the huge cat charge at them and they ran for safety.

Levesque Confirms Support For Eye On The Street

The Eye on the Street program is getting dissed by some member of City Council including the mayor, but the Police Chief is standing by it. J-P Levesque says he would like the video surveillance program to continue.  He says he sees value in the system because police use it quite a bit as an investigative tool.

New Cougar Sighting Reported

A new sighting inside the city of a large cat is coming in. Police say a witness saw the animal last night at around supper time in the River Terrace area. An injured bear was also seen in the Lakehead University area at approximately the same time. Conflicting reports have the large cat pegged as either a cougar or a lynx. Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says witnesses are still firm in their belief it's a cougar. Adams is once again reminding you to exercise caution if you see either the large cat or the injured bear and to notify police immediately. 

Careless Driving Charge Laid

Careless Driving is the charge. The Traffic Unit has concluded its investigation into a serious auto-pedestriant accident that happened Sunday. A 57 year old woman driver has now been charged after police say she hit a 47 year old woman who was jogging on Blindline Road. Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says the woman jogger remains at the Health Sciences Centre listed in serious condition.

Latest Cougar Update

No New sightings of a large cat or injured bear are being reported by city police overnight. They were on the lookout for both animals yesterday. The last confirmed sighting of a cougar or a lynx was yesterday during the noon hour near a grassy field near Quality Market on Golf Links road. Earlier sightings had the animal near the Shuniah Building at Confederation College and also near a parking lot near the Health Sciences Centre. Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says public safety is paramount. Adams is urging you to call the police immediately if you spot the large cat or the injured bear.

NAN Elections Today

Voting takes place today to elect a new Grand Chief for the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation. 7 delegates are vying for Nan's top spot which represents 49 mostly remote First Nations communities. The elections come two months earlier than normal after Stan Beardy was elected as Ontario's Regional Chief. A total of five candidates are running for 3 Deputy Grand Chief positions as well.

HMCS Ville De Quebec Visits

Naval enthusiasts will want to pay attention to the harbour this morning. Thunder Bay is welcoming the 445-foot HMCS Ville De Quebec as it makes port at Pool 6 Pier at approximately 10:00 O'clock The ship is offering free tours starting tomorrow at 1:00 O'clock and will be here until Sunday. Tours are free and transportation will be offered from the Community Auditorium and Heart of the Harbour. The HMCS Ville De Quebec has served during an anti-piracy mission in Somalia and also in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Boulevard Main Beach Safe To Swim

Fluctuating levels of e-coli are constantly being tested by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. The T.B.D.H.U. is now saying the levels have dropped low enough to lift the swimming advisory for Boulevard Lake's Main Beach. High levels of bacteria continue to keep the swim warning in place at Chippewa Park's Main Beach.

Facebook Post Brings Out Skeptics

This week's reported cougar sightings in the city seem to be drawing a lot of skepticism among the public after the posting of this picture on Facebook. It appears to show a lynx crossing the road at the Lakehead University student residence. Local resident Dave St. Amand says he took the picture on Sunday morning and it appears to have stirred the pot somewhat. However police insist witnesses who they have spoken to claim the animal they saw has a long tail like a cougar would, unlike the short tailed lynx in the Facebook pic.