Council allows day nursery on Glengary Dr.

City council tackled a number of zoning issues at Monday night's meeting. The owner of a home based day care centre wants to expand her business. The day care on Glengary Drive currently holds five kids, but the owner would like to expand that to 12. Councillor Mark Bentz was concerned about the possibility of noise from children playing in the yard. The business currently looks after toddlers or and pre-schoolers.  Plenty of people came out to argue in support and against the daycare.   Despite the divide between councillors, the day care will be allowed to hold 12 kids.

More parking on the way

The City of Thunder Bay is rezoning a piece of property in the downtown area to allow for more parking.  The property owners want to knock down a house on Marks Street South to expand the commercial parking lot that serves West Arthur Place.  15 percent of the lot must be used as a green space.  Some area residents expressed concern over the rezoning, stating West Arthur Place doesn't need any more parking spaces.

Ice Edge in discussions

Ice Edge Holdings is taking another step in their dream of bringing a professional hockey team to Thunder Bay. The groups top dogs were in the city to meet with City officials and the commissioner of the ECHL. CEO Keith McCullough says him and Anthony Leblanc both being from Thunder Bay, want to see a team come to the city and believe as long as a new arena is built, a team could be successful. Leblanc says a new arena needs to happen before a team could come to the city.

Whelan building is getting a new high tech tennant

The Medical industry in Thunder Bay is getting another heavy hitter. Tornado Medical Systems has chosen the city for its home and will set up shop in the historic Whelan building. TMS is a commercial medical imaging company and Michael Power says having a commercial company in the city will pay huge dividends for the city from research financing firms. Power says when a research company can show they have an active partner in the commercial field more research funding will flow to the Regional Research Institute. TMS could employ as many as 50 people with in the next 2-3 years.

RFDA holding 2nd annual Art of Giving fundraiser

The RFDA and Badanai Motors are once again joining forces to raise money for regional food banks. The car dealership will be hosting the 2nd annual Art of Giving auction. Chair Marilyn Chicoine says they hope to raise 30 thousand dollars. The fundraiser takes place September 23rd at Badanai Motors starting at 7 o'clock.

Police looking for armed robber

Thunder Bay police are looking for one man after a north side gas bar was robbed at Knife point yesterday. Police say the robbery happened at 6:30 yesterday. The thief is described as 5 foot 11 and was dressed all in black. No one was hurt.

Police looking for missing woman

Thunder Bay police are looking to the public for help in locating a missing woman. Police say 42 year old Cindy Rose Forbister has been missing since Saturday night. Forbister is described as 5 foot 6, slim with brown hair and a skull tattoo on her forearm.

Union members 96% in favour of strike

Transit workers voted 96% in favour of strike action today at the CEP hall on Memorial Avenue. The vote was only see if workers are willing to strike; bus service will continue for the time being.


The Ministry of Labour will inform the union of the earliest date they are able to strike. Amalgamated Transit Union 966 president Charlie Brown says the union doesn't want to inconvenience the public and he hopes the city comes back to the table to negotiate.

Brown notes it was the largest turnout he'd ever personally seen with 90% of the workforce in attendance.

Some of the issues which concern the union are proposed changes to benefits, an increase in part time workers and how transit workers wages compare to those of other city employees.

Support for cats

The Thunder Bay Humane Society still has a lot of cats but community members have been a big help.

The organization has been receiving donations of supplies like food and litter as well as financial support.

Judy Decicco of the Humane Society says the public's response has been incredible and notes the organization receives no government funding.

No cats were abandoned last week and there were nine adoptions.

Decicco says the organization will continue to waive adoption fees for cats they've had over six months leaving only the $100 vet fee

Robbery arrest

Thunder Bay police have arrested a man in connection with the August 23rd robbery of Mr. Sub on Red River.
The same man is also being charged with a mugging that happened last Friday on South May street.

Police took the 26 year old man into custody Saturday morning

Neebing grow-op bust

Combined Forces Drug Enforcement Unit officers arrested two people and siezed 900 marijuana plants in Neebing Township yesterday.

In addition to the plants, five firearms and 565 grams of dried marijuana were also siezed.

The total street value of the of the drugs is estimated to be around 875,000 dollars.

Swim advisories lifted

There's good news if you want to take a dip to beat the heat this weekend.

The Health Unit has lifted swimming advisories for Lakeview and Sandycove beaches at Boulevard lake.

Sunnyside beach at Boulevard and Chippewa Park's Main Beach are still under advisory due to high levels of E. Coli bacteria.

Traffic disruptions on Monday

Keep this in mind as you make your way to work on Monday. If your travelling in the area where John Street becomes Oliver Road you can expect some traffic disruptions. Thunder Bay Hydro is conducting work in that area around Algoma and High Street. Crews will be working on hydro lines which will impact traffic flow from Banning Street, Ontario, and Second Street as well as cross traffic from intercity and the surrounding residential areas. The closure will begin at 10 and continue through to 4 until the work is done.

Leon's Store taking shape

Work continues on the new Leon's store in Thunder Bay.  The building is taking shape, and crews are still working on the lot.  City Council will be asked on Monday night to give Leon's some leeway on it's store front sign.  It's requesting a variance to increase the size of it's wall sign.

Atikokan generating station gets green light to convert to Biofuels

The Atikokan Generating Station jumped a big hurdle in switching to Biofuels. The Ontario government has announced that the plant has recieved provincial approval for the switch. MPP Bill Mauro says the next step is creation of a power purchase aggreement and then construction will take about three years.  Mauro says he hopes that a wood pellet facility can be built in the Northwest to supply the station with fuel.

Late assignments could equal a zero for students this year

Students will have to keep track of due dates on their assignments a little more closely this year. The ministry of education has put new regulations in place allowing teachers to give zero's for late assignments. Superintendant of education Sherri-Lynne Pharand says the local school board still has to create their own policy. Teachers will use their own judgement on weather or not they give students a zero for handing in late assignments.

Alzheimer Society gets money

The Alzheimer Society is on the receiving end of a 25-thousand dollar donation. Doris Arnold provided the cash as a commitment as a Patron to the Society. Arnold first became a patron in 2007 in honour of her late husband who dies of Alzheimers.

Invasive Species in Thunder Bay

The Ministry of Natural Resources are on the look out for invasive species.  The rusty crayfish was recently spotted in Cloud Lake.  Rusty crayfish are highly aggressive and can consume twice as much food as native crayfish.  Anyone who spots the larger than normal crayfish is asked to contact the MNR.

Kokocinski appointed NW LHIN CEO

A new person is in charge of the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.  The Board has appointed Laura Kokocinski as Chief Executive Officer effective September first.  She has worked with the LHIN as the Senior Director, Planning, Integration and Community Engagement since January 2006 and was appointed Interim CEO back in February.  Kokocinski is from Northwestern Ontario and has extensive health care experience in various communities including Sioux Lookout and Thunder Bay.  She was selected from a large Canada-wide pool.

Former Thunder Bay Mayor not running

Former Thunder Bay Rainy River MP Ken Boshcoff has made it official; he's not running for the Mayor's seat in Thunder Bay. Boshcoff says he doesn't have time to be mayor since his business advisory company has taken off. The former Thunder Bay Mayor released the statement on Friday because he wanted to quell the rumour mill and clarify his intentions.