Two Thunder Bay women are on the receiving end of prestigious awards. Nancy Chamberlain who led a program for male victims of sexual assault recently received the Ontario Victim Services Award.
The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is welcoming back Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield as President. Canfield was last President in 1998 and says he looks forward to carrying NOMA's goals forward. Canfield is taking over for O'Connor Mayor Ron Nelson.
Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti is one of eight provincial cabinet ministers in the city for the Northwestern Ontario Municipal leaders conference. Orazietti says since he was only recently appointed as minister today's session is part of the learning curve. Orazietti says the will also be looking for ways the ministry can support economic development and jobs in the region.
Eight cabinet ministers are in the city today for the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference. Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle is among them. He says it's a chance for him to update area leaders. Gravelle says he worked hard to get as many cabinet minister to attend as possible.
Ontario's Municipal Affairs Minister meets with members of Thunder Bay's disaster relief committee today. It's Linda Jeffery's first visit to the city since it was revealed the government rules means the committee will only be getting 20 cents for every dollar raised for May 28th flood victims. Jeffery tells our newsroom, the process continues. Jeffery hopes to get an update on the claims process.
Calling all storm watchers! A program is being offered in Thunder Bay by Environment Canada Meteorologist Geoff Coulson, and he says it gives folks the chance to learn more about specific weather patterns and possibly even become a spotter for Environment Canada. The free session is taking place in Thunder Bay June 3rd.
MPP Bill Mauro isn't giving up the fight. Mauro says even though Horizon Wind has passed a crucial environment hurdle from the government there is still time for those opposed to the building of wind turbines on the Norwester Mountains to voice their views. Mauro stopped short of saying the this weeks decision is a setback for opponents.
A veteran senior administrator at City Hall is taking on some new duties on a temporary basis. Karen Lewis has been appointed to take over as the Interim CEO of the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission.
The Carolina Hurricanes now have three Staal brothers on the roster after Jared Staal was called up from their AHL affiliate in Charlotte. He will join brothers Eric and Jordan Staal. Jared will make his NHL debut Thursday night against the New York Rangers.
MPP Michael Gravelle is taking some of the credit for helping to save the Experimental Lakes Area . The province has agreed to keep the scientific research in the area near Vermillion Bay going. Gravelle says he has been lobbying on behalf of provincial control over the area.
Thunder Bay Fire Crews spent a short time at the Health Sciences Centre today. There wasn't a fire but crews found a little bit of smoke in the area and closed the case.
The Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute is looking for a new CEO. It comes with the sudden departure of Michael Wood. Board Chair Keith Jobbitt will not discuss the details surrounding Wood's exit but says Roxanne Deslauriers is going to take over on an interim basis until a permanent replacement can be found.
Horizon Wind is one step further towards building its wind energy park in Thunder Bay. The Ministry of Environment has determined the Big Thunder Wind Park's Renewable Energy Approval application meets the requirements of the Green Energy Act. The company's REA still needs to be approved before Horizon can commence construction on the first phase of their project on the Nor'Wester escarpment.
Lobby efforts for a one-on-one meeting to discuss property assessments in northern Ontario have finally paid off. The Northern Mayors Coalition has secured a meeting with the Deputy Minister of Finance in Toronto on Monday morning. Mayor Craig Nuttall says several communities withholding payment to the province's assessment office may have been the turning point
Police in Kenora are sitting on a sizable seizure of cocaine. They say 7 kilos of the contraband, worth an estimated 750 thousand dollars, was discovered after they stopped a speeding vehicle on the Trans Canada Highway in the community yesterday. A 26 year old man from Pickering is charged.
A resident of Bearskin Lake First Nation is facing police questions after a prohibited assault weapon was found in his home. Police say the discovery of the AK-47 and two high capacity magazines was made after a raid on the house yesterday. So far police have not charged the 57 year old man.
Former Confederation College student Adam Leon is free and clear. An Ontario Superior Court granted Leon an absolute discharge in relation to an incident where a Cessna was taken from the college flight school and flown into the United States. His lawyer Neil McCartney originally asked the court to treat Leon's case as "double jeopardy" since he was already charged and served time in the United States.
Golfing fees are not being reduced at Municipal Golf Course this year. Councillors have turned down a proposal to bring down fees to 2007 levels, an idea which Councillor Trevor Giertuga thinks it's a guaranteed money loser. Giertuga called the proposal asinine.
Thunder Bay Police are charging a 35 year old man with impaired operation of a vehicle, mischief and breaking and entering. The laundry list of charges stem from an incident yesterday that saw a man repeatedly try to enter a home. Police say the man threw a snow shovel at the front door of the home breaking the glass. He then left the area in a vehicle when police pulled him over for drinking and driving at the corner of Court and River Street.
Two young men are charged with stealing a vehicle in Neebing. OPP say they found an abandoned vehicle on Olsen Road last week and it was later revealed it was stolen from a residence in Thunder Bay. The two under age youth are charged with possession of property obtained by crime. The two are being held in custody for a video bail hearing.
Sachigo Lake teens are on a fundraising walk have made it to Thunder Bay! They had hoped to make it to the City by April 27th but instead arrived just in time for a special celebration at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School today. The teens want to raise money for new residences for the DFC high school.
Unionized
staff who provide child welfare, health and mental heath services to
aboriginal communities in northwestern Ontario have voted overwhelmingly
in favour of strike action. The 450 plus staff at Dilico Anishnabek
Family Services have voted in 95-percent in favour of strike action.
The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union says their old
collective agreement expired in March 2012. CEP says workloads,
off-hour coverage and wages and benefit improvements are just a few of
the issues that haven't be resolved. The Union is hoping to schedule
more meeting dates with the employer.
Be on the lookout for telescopes and astronomers today as people interested in the wonders of the universe celebrate International Astronomy Day. Thunder Bay's Fort William Historical Park will be taking part in the celebrations tonight.
