Chair Acclaimed To Learning Foundation

Two familiar faces are back at the head of the Lakehead Learning Foundation.  Clint Harris and Sue Peever were acclaimed as Chair and Vice Chair at the foundation's annual general meeting.  The foundation was created in 2003 to provide support for students such as field trip fees, team and uniform fees and emergency shelter.

Big Lots Closing T.Bay Store

Thunder Bay's new Big Lots store is going to close it's doors in the near future. The parent company of Liquidation World announced it's closing 78 stores across the country and its head office in Brantford, Ontario. The former Liquidation World store officially opened its doors under the big lots title at the end of October.  

NAN Wants Far North Act Scrapped

The provincial government is downplaying First Nation demands to scrap the Far North Act. Natural Resources minister David Orazietti says first nations are buying with more than 30 communities already participating. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says the legislation is too restrictive and limits opportunities for development.

Bisson Not Happy With Results

NDP MPP Gilles Bisson isn't pleased with the outcome of the recent Northern Leaders Forum in Timmins. Bisson says not much has changed for the daily lives of northerners following last week's meeting.  Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle defends the gathering. Gravelle calls the meeting a historic event.

College Gets Cash For New Program

The province is giving some money to Confederation College to start a new program for expectant mothers.  President Jim Madder says they're currently working on the curriculum for the new "Maternal Care" program.  Madder says they're teaming up with First Nation health care organizations to develop the program that they hope to offer in the fall of 2014.

Province To Maintain Caramat Road

The community of Manitouwadge has its road problem resolved.   The road to the landfill has not been plowed or maintained because of  bureaucratic red tape.    In the legislature Transport Minister Glen Murray said the province is coming to the rescue.   He says the MTO will be opening Caramat Road, maintaining it and working with the the community to repair the full length over the coming months.  The closure of  forced the township to suspend garbage collection.

Housing Numbers Down

As the year winds down the number of new houses being built in Thunder Bay is slowing.  The latest government statistics from Canada Mortgage and Housing show that compared to last year there's been a drop.  Warren Philp is CMHC's local number cruncher and says the drop is about 15 per cent

Morning Mishap

No one is hurt following a single vehicle collision on Water Street and Villa this morning at around 9:30.  Officials say that an SUV knocked down a light pole and rammed into a building.  It's unknown why the driver lost control.

Crime Of The Week

Crime Stoppers and the OPP are asking for your help in solving three acts of mischief that all took place within walking distance of each other in the town of Geraldton.  On October 2nd, Greenstone OPP were dispatched to two separate incidents where a rock was thrown through a window while the homeowners were in their residence.  While out looking for the unknown suspect(s), there was a third incident where a window was broken at the town library.  Anyone with information about who may be responsible for these senseless acts of mischief is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a web tip at www.tipsubmit.com.

Dawson Road Blaze

There were no injuries following a huge two-alarm fire on Dawson Road.   The fire broke out early last night night at a home between Dog Lake Road and Shirley Road.  Five pumper trucks and over 20 firefighters battled the blaze, however the house was virtually destroyed.  Early indications are that the fire may have started in the basement of the residence.  

Dawson Heights To Be Expanded?

The Dawson Heights Subdivision that began in the early 1990's may be seeing some new life. Council will look over a Draft Plan tonight that would include the creation of two new streets and twenty-five dwellings that would fill in the space between Wardrope Road and Dawson. The development would mark the fourth and final stage of the Dawson Heights Subdivision

Whalen Building 100 Years Old

The City's Whalen Building is officially 100 years old.  2013 marks the anniversary of the the completed construction of the heritage building in the city's north core.  Andrew Cotter is the Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee says it's a great structure. Cotter says they want to hold an anniversary celebration in the spring of 2014 because that's when the building's first tennants moved in.

City Council Preview

The City is considering extending the Community Improvement Plan for the Downtown Core areas and Simpson street Business Improvement Area.  It's been in place the past 10 years and is scheduled to end on December 31st.  City staff are recommending to council to keep the program with its financial incentives for businesses in place for another year.  Meanwhile, City staff are putting a couple of subjects that were set to be discussed this month on the back burner.  A report on what other communities are doing to deal with the number of pets a person can own is now going to be discussed in the New Year. Another report on what the City will do with the Royal Edward Arms in the future is now going to be discussed in the first half of 2014.

Give Back During Your Commute

Throughout the week passengers on Thunder Bay Transit will be encouraged to donate canned goods and non-perishables during their commute. Also, beginning on Thursday there will be a food drive at the Fort William Road Wal-Mart. The drive will last until Sunday December 15th.

Win A Harley Davidson

Tickets are being sold for the Motors and Muscles Raffle supporting the Our Kids Count community kitchen program. Gladys Berringer is Executive Director with the program and says this years goal of raising fifty-thousand dollars is based off of previous years success. This years grand prize is a 2014 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle the draw is being made during this summer's Rib Fest.

Christmas Cheer Stuff-A-Bus A Success

The Christmas Cheer Fund continues to provide for families in need during the holidays and yesterdays contributions promise to go a long way. The day long Stuff-A-Bus drive at the Real Canadian Superstore raised thirteen-thousand dollars and forty-thousand dollars worth of food. It took volunteers an hour and a half to unload the food.

Youth Services Plan Development

The City is moving forward on its Youth Service Plan that includes an increase in the amount of money provided to the Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club. A final vote on the plan will be held in January. Councillor Joe Vidiramo says that he is excited to see how similar satellite programs have fared and what kind of impact they will have on the proposed youth centre on High Street. The plan also calls for extra funding for other city operated youth programs.

Renew Your Outdoors Card

Be sure to double check your Ontario Outdoors Card if you plan on doing any hunting or fishing soon. Renewals are being done across the region at Service Ontario Centres. It costs ten-dollars to renew your license, qualifying it for another three years. The Ministry of Natural Resources is reminding people that all profits are put towards wildlife and fisheries management.

Union Gas Contribution

Union Gas is providing the Fort William First Nation with three-thousand dollars to repair and upgrade their pow-wow grounds. The grounds were struck by vandals this past summer. The money was presented at a recent First Nations band meeting.

Food Recall

A food recall on Edelweiss Brand Fine Dark Chocolate is being issued by Health Canada. The chocolates are sold in Ontario and include unlisted milk ingredients. No illnesses have been reported.

Dryden Mayor Wants T.Bay Decision Reversed

The Mayor of Dryden is urging Canada Post to reverse a decision to move mail sorting services to Thunder Bay. Craig Nuttall has delivered a letter to Canada Post stating the area has seen a decline of service since the October move. Nuttall says they rely on the Dryden sorting service. Nuttall says he received a letter from in-town and it arrived three days after it was mailed.

NOMA Leader At Northern Conference

Provincial cabinet ministers, municipal, business and aboriginal leaders are heading to Timmins to share some ideas on the Northern Growth Plan.  Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association President Dave Canfield admits they are a little disappointed at how long its been taking to get the Growth Plan off the ground. The Northern Leader's Forum will be a day long brain-storming session.

Montreal Massacre Service Today

The 14 women killed in the Montreal Massacre are being remembered today at Lakehead University. The day will be marked with speakers, poetry, a candlelight vigil and moment of silence. The ceremony gets underway at noon.

Pedestrians Get The Ok From CN

You can now walk on the James Street swing bridge.  CN Rail Spokesperson James Feeney says they've cleared the structure for rail and pedestrian traffic.  It could be three more months before vehicles are allowed back on the bridge.

Two Co-Chairs Of New Justice Group

The Provincial Government is appointing two people as Co-chairs of the new Aboriginal Justice Advisory Group. The group will examine issues affecting first nation residents in the justice system. Co-Chair Warren White is the Grand Chief of Grand Council Treaty #3, he's joined by Murray Segal the former deputy attorney general of Ontario and former deputy minister responsible for aboriginal affairs.

Hyer Going Green?

Independent MP Bruce Hyer could be getting chummy with his seatmate in the House of Commons. Hyer sits beside Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. The Thunder Bay MP's staff are not confirming a report this morning that he is considering joining the environmental party. Hyer is not available for comment today but staff say he will speak at a news conference on Friday, December 13th at 11 at the Finlandia Club.

Bridge To Remain Closed Indefinitely

CN Rail officials
wait for meeting at FWFN

The James Street bridge is not opening anytime soon.   Following a meeting with CN Rail officials,  Fort William First Nations Chief Georjann Morriseau was told that it will take at least three months to get a detailed consultants report on the safety of the fire damaged bridge for vehicle traffic and when it will open after that is anyone's guess. Morriseau says she will now have to make arrangements for increased transit and emergency services to the community

LU Signs Deal With Alberta University

Lakehead University, the University of Alberta and the Italian Studies Institute are banding together to make it easier to study in Italy. A campus in Cortona is allowing students and alumni from both schools to study there. LU President Brian Stevenson says its about getting in touch with the city's Italian Heritage. The Institute is offering scholarships to interested students.

CCAC Launches Telehomecare

People living with chronic heart disease and other health related conditions can now get health care services from their home.  It's part of the Northwest Community Care Access Centre's Telehomecare program.  Spokesperson Marg Milani says they're looking for interested patients. Milani says patient information is logged every day on a tablet like device and a nurse monitors to see that everything is going well

Children's Aid Needs Help

A late start to fundraising is putting the Children Aid Society's Christmas Wishes Gift Tree campaign behind.  They've so far only raised 60 gifts, with 250 being this year's goal.  Executive Director Rob Richardson says they have gift trees at all three Walmart locations in the City.  Richardson says they'll be collecting gifts right up until Christmas Eve.

Rae Talks Positive About ROF

According to the First Nations negotiator for the Ring of Fire, the giant mining development will live on.   Speaking in Thunder Bay this morning Bob Rae said despite the decision by Cliffs Natural Resources to halt all work on the project, the valuable minerals aren't going away. Meantime,  Rae says negotiations are continuing on getting the best deal possible for First Nations from the development.   He says the mistakes of past mining deals cannot be repeated.

Highway 11 Open

OPP are opening several highways around the region.  Hwy 11 from Hearst to Longlac is now open. They've also re-opened a stretch of Highway 11 between Kapuskasing and Hearst.  There are no road closures west of Thunder Bay.

No School Buses Today

The overnight snow has forced the cancellation of all city and rural school buses this morning and this afternoon.  All school buses will not run today.  All city schools are open today, however all rural schools are closed.  It is a snow day for all students who attend rural schools including Thunder Bay Christian School which is also closed.  

South Side Stabbing

A 19-year old man is in hospital with non-life threatening injuries following a stabbing on the south side.  The victim was stabbed twice in the chest and suffered a punctured lung.  The incident took place outside a residence on North Vickers Street just before 2:30 this morning. Police have a 23-year old female in custody and she'll appear in court today on a charge of aggravated assault.    

Overnight Fire

There were no injuries following a two-alarm fire at a home in the 200 block of Rowand Street on the south side.  Fire crews were called to the scene around one o'clock this morning and over 20 firefighters battled the blaze for nearly four hours.  Five pumpers and an aerial platform also managed to keep nearby homes safe from the flames.  No one was in the home at the time and fire officials say it appears the house may have been vacant.  

Chiarelli Says T.Bay Plant Has Potential

Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli is reiterating the message that Thunder Bay and the region will have enough electricity through the local power plant. Chiarelli held a teleconference for media Wednesday and said it's possible that the local plant will operate at full capacity. Chiarelli disagrees with statements from the Common Voice Northwest group that says we won't have enough electricity with the current planned conversion of the local power plant.

Chief Will Ask For Answers From CN

Fort William First Nation Chief Georjann Morriseau meets with officials of CN Rail today on the future of the James Street bridge.  Morriseau
will be demanding a timeline on when the fire damaged bridge will reopen to pedestrian and vehicle traffic and says she'll reiterate the inconvenience of having the bridge closed.  Morriseau says if the closure is extended she has to make arrangements for transit and emergency services for her community.  The meeting takes place this afternoon on the First Nation.

LU Hosting Mining Conference

Lakehead University is hosting a mining conference over the next two days. Organizer Pete Hollings says officials have high hopes for the gathering.
The conference kicks off this morning with a speech from First Nations Ring of Fire negotiator Bob Rae. Hollings says topics include learning from past mining projects, looking to the future, and exploring current projects on the go.

Foundation To Dole Out Grants

Forty local charities are getting an early holiday gift from the Thunder Bay Community Foundation tonight.  The foundation is handing out a quarter million dollars in grants to those organizations.  The amount of the grants range from 600 to 25 thousand dollars.  The cheques will be given out starting at 6 o'clock at Wayne Toyota at Balmoral and Central.

Chiarelli Promotes Plan

Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli is busy promoting the government's Long Term Energy Plan and deflecting criticism over the high cost of electricity in the North. In a media teleconference, Chiarelli deflected a question asking if the Province would entertain a seperate electricity rate for Northerners since generating electricity in the region is done fairly cheaply. Chiarelli said no that there will continue to be only one rate for the whole of the province. We face a 33 percent hike in our electricity rates over the next three years according to the new plan. Other issues discussed included the local power plant which Chiarelli feels will provide the region's electricity needs.

Charges Laid In Ambrose St. Fire

Thunder Bay's Fire Service is fining an Ambrose Street property owner for failing to maintain smoke alarms. The total cost of the three tickets is over 700 dollars. Spokesperson Anthony Stokaluk says the home's occupant was hurt in last week's fire. The Fire Service is again stressing the importance of having working smoke alarms on each floor of a residence.

First Nations Education Act Rally

A rally was held at the Fort William First Nation today against the Federal Governments proposed First Nations Education Act. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Deputy Grand Chief Goyce Kakegamic says he hopes that today's protest will show the government that their proposed act is opposed by all members in the community and not just elders. Kakegamic adds that one of the main areas of concern is a lack of attention given to preschool and post-secondary education. Rallies were also held in Toronto, Ottawa and Sudbury.

Home Care Workers Could Strike

Personal Support Workers with Red Cross Home Care could be soon be carrying pickets.  Members of the Service Employees International Union, including 21 in Thunder Bay, rejected a tentative contract on the weekend. Union president Sharleen Stewart says they are in a legal strike position to back demands.  Stewart says a desire for better wages and benefits are at the heart of the dispute for workers now earning 15-dollars an hour.

Numerous Camp Break In & Thefts

Members of the OPP are warning area camp owners about numerous break, enter and thefts that occurred to cottages located on Max Lake, Decourcey Lake and others in the Boreal Road area. All of the incidents occurred sometime during the week of November 24 to November 30th. Some of the items reported stolen include, firearms, generators, chainsaws, and alcohol.

Angus Pans Plan

The Co-chair of the Northwest Energy Task Force is putting some reality to the long term energy plan.  Ian Angus says although the cost wont be as high as initially projected, it's still not going to be cheap.  Angus also disagrees with plans to conserve energy in the Northwest.  Something he says will have little impact once the proposed mines for the region begin operation.

Snowfall Warning Still In Effect

The Thunder Bay area is bracing for its first major snowfall of the season. A large low pressure system from Colorado is tracking northeast and Meteorologist Dayshanelle Matthews with Environment Canada says snowfall amounts will be significant. Calendar parking also takes effect throughout the City today.

Chiefs Support 60s Scoop Lawsuit

A landmark lawsuit against the Federal Government is taking place today. A hearing is scheduled for today and will see Beaver House Chief Marcia Brown Martel take on Canada over the system in the 1960s that saw First Nation children apprehended by the government and placed with non-first nation families. The Chiefs of Ontario are supporting the lawsuit calling the government's actions cultural genocide.

New Canadian Citizens Sworn In

Over thirty people in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario are now Canadian citizens. They took the oath this morning at a special ceremony at Confederation College. Long time Thunder Bay resident Heli Putkuri says she decided to apply for her citizenship because she thought it was time. The 32 new Canadians originally hailed from over 18 different countries.

No Change At The Public School Board

It's status quo at the Lakehead District School Board with trustee Deborah Massaro being acclaimed for a seventh consecutive term as Board Chair.  Trustee Karen Wilson was also acclaimed for a fifth term as Vice Chair.

Kettle Campaign Suffering

The Salvation Army is saying a lack of volunteers is the reason its Christmas kettle fundraiser in Thunder Bay is running behind this year.  Major Rob Kerr says they haven't been able to find enough people who want to staff the kettles.  Kerr says they are down about 13 thousand dollars from the same time last year.

White Cedar Clinic Gets New Deal

The First Nation White Cedar Health Care Centre is teaming up with the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres.  The two will offer services out of the Thunder Bay South Clinic starting in January 2014.  According to the two agencies the new agreement will enhance the current model of service and care for clients.