Quality Market's BYOB program is a success.

Year one was a huge success for Quality Market's Bring Your Own Bag program. Co-owner David Stezenko says the program was created after the big chains started charging more for plastic bags so they decided to encourage customers to use reusable bags and donating money to local charities.  The first year of the program raised almost 11,000 dollars for the Health Science's Centre, Camp Quality and the RFDA.  This year the three charities are Eagle's Cry Life Centre, Shelter House and Habitat for Humanity.

Castlegreen seeking more federal $$$$$$

The Castlegreen Housing Co-op is looking to the federal government for more funding. General Manager Sharon McKinnon says they just completed over a quarter million dollars of patio doors improvements and now they have applied to Canada Mortgage and Housing for additional funds. McKinnon says the money would go towards new windows and fuses boxes.

A Waterloo man is in court after watching his wife commit suicide.

The man who watched his wife commit suicide in a Thunder Bay Motel is in court today to find out how much time he will spend in jail.  The Crown prosecution wants jail time for 47 year old Peter Fonteece who sat by while his severly depressed wife took 40 sleeping pills and died.  Fonteece pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in December.  The body of 38-year-old Yanisa Fonteece was discovered in a Super 8 Motel room after her husband phoned 9-1-1 a year ago.

Pat Lang returns to high school

The president of Confederation College went back to high school on Tuesday. Pat Lang was at Thunder Bay's Superior Collegiate to become principal for a day. Lang says it was to meet students who might be considering chosing Con College as a post secondary option. She said it was also to gain insight into the current high school experience. Lang accompanied principal Wayne Fletcher for the day.

Quit smoking promotion draws record participation

It appears that Thunder Bay smokers are driven to quit. The District Health Unit says its quit smoking promotion has attracted a record number of smokers. Almost 700 have registered in the contest with only five days left to enter. Participants are eligible to win a Ford SUV, a vacation or MasterCard gift cards.

Waterfront hotel project proving popular

The request for proposals to build a new hotel at Prince Arthurs Landing is only a week old and already there's been action. Developer Giselle MacDonald, of the Resolve Group, says there's been a significant amount of interest shown by hotel chains in North America that want to become part of the waterfront project adding,  they've received five or six expressions of interest. MacDonald says the bid process will end on April 30th

Sleeping Giant Loppet set to go

Organizers are hoping to attract 800 to 1000 participants to this years edition of the Sleeping Giant Loppet (formerly the Sibley Ski Tour). It will be taking place March 6th at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. Cross country skiiers can choose from the 8 km mini loppet to the 50 km free technique which will see the fastest male and female participants win $1000 each. This year the honour of bib #1 has been given to two people who have skied every year since the event began in 1978, Ron Lappage and Guy Latimer.

PAGH closer to the wrecking ball

Officials at the Health Sciences Centre hope they will soon be one step closer to tearing down the old Port Arthur General. Spokesperson Scott Potts says they've issued a formal request for companies to submit demolition bids. Once that happens Potts says other options can be reviewed. That includes selling the land, developing it with another partner or keeping it for potential future uses. The building has sat idle since the new hospital opened six years ago.

Hyer wants to bring back Via Rail

The move is on again to bring back passenger rail service to Thunder Bay. MP Bruce Hyer plans to introduce a private members motion on the issue when parliament resumes. Hyer says the time is right to restore the service saying it would reduce greenhouse gases, suppliment dwindling bus service and increase tourism. Hyer hopes his motion brings attention to the issue. It's been two decades since Via Rail service has come through Thunder Bay

Valerie Pringle to speak on mental health

TV personality Valerie Pringle is coming to Thunder Bay next month.   She is being invited to speak on the topic of mental health because her daughter Catherine was diagnosed with panic and anxiety disorder six years ago.   She's expected to discuss some of the stigmas associated with those living with mental health and addictions.   The event will be held at the Valhalla Inn March 22nd at 7 pm.

City set to compensate marina users

The City is trying to minimize the impact the Prince Arthur Landing construction is having on Marina users. Parks Manager Paul Fayrick says the work on waterfront development will definately impact the marina next season.   Fayrick says boat owners who choose not to use the marina this year will have their 2011 fees waived by the city.

School bussing contracts up for renewal

School bussing contracts are being reviewed by both school boards in the city. Last night the Catholic Board renewed it's annual contracts at a cost of just over 5 million dollars. Spokesperson David Carroll says thats thats a 260 thousand dollars decrease from last year. He attributes that to lower fuel costs.  The Public school board reviews it's bussing contract tonight

Thunder Bay councillors have short meeting

There are no bleary eyed city councillors this today.   They managed to make quick work of a short agenda last night getting home in time to watch the Olympics.    It did make for a light moment when some councillors decided to declare conflicts of interest on some rezoning issues starting with Iain Angus, which then moved on to Mark Bentz and then Larry Hebert. Councillors did manage to pass two minor rezoning amendments.

Kennel cough forces restrictions at the Humane Society

The Thunder Bay Humane Society has suspended all dog adoptions, and implimented other strict controls. It follows the discovery of the kennel cough virus among some of the dogs. Director Deb Cooper says it may take some time to get it under control as they treat the affected animals.  She predicts anywhere from 2 to 3 weeks.   Cooper says that local vets are even asking dog owners to keep their pets out of the dog parks under the virus goes away.

First ever local food conference planned

For the first time ever Thunder Bay will be hosting a food conference. It will be headed up by local public health nutritionist Catherine Schwartz Mendez. She says the purpose is to strenghten the local food system.
The conference will take place March 3rd and 4th at Lakehead University.

City probing voting by internet or phone

Don't be surprised to see internet voting in time for this years municipal election in Thunder Bay. City Clerk John Hannam says a formal request is being issued this week for companies to come back to the city with proposals for all types of remote voting. He says that could including voting by internet, phone and even mail. Hannam says the deadline for submissions will be the end of March and he hopes to present councillors with some proposals shortly after that. Hannam says the purpose is to increase voter turnout.

Rural man charged with assaulting a police officer

A Marks Township man is charged after a city OPP officer was assaulted on the weekend. Police say the 24 year old was trying to stop the officer from arresting a man for impaired operation of a snowmachine. The incident orginated when police responded to complaints of a loud party in Conmee Township early Sunday morning at around 1 o'clock. The officer was not hurt.

Thunder Bay left out of northern hospital hearings

Thunder Bay is not included in a series of 12 public hearings on the future of rural and northern hospitals being put on by the Ontario Health Coalition. The Coalition says those hospitals are under threat by the governing Liberals. The group says small hospitals are closing across the province and the work of a government panel set up to review health care in rural and northern communities has been shrouded in mystery.

Weekend hydro outage lasts about 2 1/2 hours

About 10 thousand Thunder Bay Hydro customers have something to talk about today. They were left in the dark for a period on Saturday night. Spokesperson Eileen Dias says a line problem from Hydro One caused the outage. She says about 6 thousand customers were back on service within an hour, the rest were back about an hour and a half later.

A new research lab is coming to Lakehead University.

Lakehead University is getting over half a million dollars to build a new research lab. It's being done in partnership with a private company. Northern Development minister Michael Gravelle says the lab will study LED lights and ways to improve the technology.  The money comes from the provinces Northern Heritage Fund