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.