CPC Speaks To Council

Thunder Bay's Crime Prevention Council says local residents feel safer since the group's inception in 2010. Coordinator Amy Siciliano spoke to City Council at their meeting Monday night.  She told them about how they've made inroads in the past year including creating their Hate Crimes Awareness Committee with the local police force.  The group is also pleased to announce they received over 867 thousand dollars in a public safety grant which will allow them to network with National Crime Prevention organizations.

Smoke Free Commitment Renewed

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre renewed a smoke free commitment Monday. Initiative spokesperson Kelly-Jo Gillis feels patients that do smoke, are being given the tools to quit.  Support also includes care kits, follow ups with patients after leaving the hospital and staff trained to help others quit smoking. 

Flu Shot Schedule Online

Flu season will soon be upon us.  The Health Unit will start offering its flu shot clinics starting October 21st.  Health Unit Spokesperson Diana Gownalock says 21 clinics are being held in the city and another 8 in the communities surrounding Thunder Bay.   Gownalock says it's come one, come all but stresses seniors and children should try to make it to the clinics as soon as possible since they are at higher risk of getting the flu. To check out the flu shot clinic schedule click here.

Minor Hockey Struggling With Registration

Registration numbers for minor hockey leagues in the Thunder Bay area have made a significant drop. Trevor Hosanna is the General Manager of Hockey Northwestern Ontario. He believes a mix of high costs, safety concerns and a growing lack of interest is to blame. Efforts are being taken to make the game safer, and more fun while reducing costs where possible.

City Manager To Provide Update

On the city hall beat tonight...councillors will be getting an update from the city manager about priorities for the city as they relate to sewers, roads and other infrastructure. There is also a budget update scheduled as well as a proposal to sell the Prosvita Hall property on High Street to the Indian Friendship Centre. Thunder Bay's Crime Prevention Council is providing a yearly update to City Council tonight.

Two Transports Involved In Highway Mishap

The driver of a transport truck is recovering from minor injuries after a mishap involving two transports in the region.  OPP say the accident happened on Highway 17 between Raith and Shabaqua at around 5 o'clock this morning.  They say that one of the transports landed in the ditch and needed to be pulled out.   There were no dangerous goods being transported by either vehicle.

Little Change To NWO Federal Ridings

Little change to the boundaries in northwestern Ontario. The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has submitted its final report to the Chief Electoral Office There are no changes to the riding of Thunder Bay-Rainy River which pleases MP John Rafferty who says the commission wanted to include a portion of the Kenora constituency in his riding. Thunder Bay-Superior North will be expanded to include Manitouwadge

Campbell Lauds Accountability Office

The Provincial Government is one step closer to having a financial accountability office. The bill has passed third reading in the legislature, and Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says it will make sure instances like the scandal with the gas plants in southern Ontario, never happens again.  She believes the office will make sure money is distributed equally across the province.  The creation of an accountability office was a key demand from the NDP in the 2013 budget.

Crime Of The Week

Crime Stoppers and Thunder Bay Police are looking for the public's assistance in finding five people responsible for an assault that took place September 15th.  An 18-year old male got off a City bus and was walking between County Boulevard and Lanark Crescent when he was approached by five individuals who asked for money.  When the victim stated he had no money, he was pushed to the ground and assaulted.  The victim later woke up on the pathway and made it home before being taken to hospital suffering from a fractured jaw and other injuries.

The five people involved in the assault range between 20 and 25 years old including two native Canadian males, a native Canadian female and two Caucasian males.

Anyone with information on this assault is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or call 1-800-222-TIPS.

OPP Nab Drug Traffickers

Nipigon OPP have charged three people involved in drug trafficking. Officers arrived at the Nip/Rock High School friday and noticed a young man who appeared to be selling drugs to students. A search yielded several grams of marijuana. He remains in custody at a Youth Detention Facility in Thunder Bay pending a bail hearing.

Rickford Addresses Ring Of Fire Delays

FedNor Minister Greg Rickford is defending his government's handling of the Ring of Fire. Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas was critical of how little appears to be done in the development of the Chromite project. Rickford stressed negotiations take time and it should be soon that local municipalities will be involved in shaping the project. The issue popped up repeatedly at last week's Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.

Gravelle Back's Mauro's Bill

Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle says he's going to back his fellow Thunder Bay area MPP's private members bill. Bill Mauro's proposed legislation looks at reducing the number of nuisance bears in the region. Gravelle says he's got Bill's back. Mauro's bill also looks at expanding the hunt as well.

Thunder Bay Shout Out

After 5 seasons the Breaking Bad series finale airs tonight.   Thunder has had a small part to play in the series.  In season two episode thirteen,  one of the shows stars, RJ Mitte gives a shout out to the Lakehead.
Its not the first time the city has been immortalized in a popular North American TV show.  An episode of Prison Break mentioned Thunder Bay in a 2005 episode.

Police Memorial Sunday

A memorial Service to honour men and women of the force who died in the line of duty is today.  The service is part of Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day.  A march at 1:30 will take place from the Provincial Court house to the service at St Paul's Church.

The "Thunder Bay" Visits Thunder Bay

A new Great Lakes freighter named after our city made its first visit to our port. Special ceremony was held Friday at Keefer Terminal. Canada Steamship Lines President Louis Martel says its not the first CSL ship to carry the name Thunder Bay He says the freighter is designed to last at least 25 years. 

Dawson Road Home Catches Fire

Fire and Rescue are looking into the cause of a fire on dawson road around 1am. The blaze was too intense to battle from within the building, which suffered heavy smoke and fire damage. The cause of the fire is currently being investigated. No one was home at the time of the blaze, and no one was injured.

FedNor Funding Event Centre

Thunder Bay's Mayor Keith Hobbs is hoping FedNor Minister Greg Rickford will be announcing some funding for the proposed Event Centre soon. During an event Friday the Minister refused to comment on funding applications that are currently being reviewed. Hobbs says he has high hopes. Hobbs says the Event Centre would be the crowning jewel in the waterfront development project.

Retail Sector Declining

The North Superior Workforce Board is giving Municipal leaders a sneak peak of how the region's labour sectors are faring. Executive Director Madge Richardson gave an update to the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association recently and says an area that is showing a decline includes the retail sector as well as personal services such as housecleaning, and cooking.

Sports Hall Of Fame Inductions Tonight

The Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of fame is inducting its aclass of 2013 tonight.  In the athletes category it will be paralympic athlete Andrea Cole, former NHLer Tony Hrkac and Canadian Womens Hockey Star Katie Weatherston.   In the building category its Brian Mallan and Brian Mclean...in the team category Sailor Jim Cameron gets the nod.

Rickford Defends ROF Process

FedNor Minister Greg Rickford is defending his government's handling of the Ring of Fire.  Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas was critical of how little appears to be done in the development of the Chromite project.  Rickford stressed negotiations take time and it should be soon that local municipalities will be involved in shaping the project.  The issue popped up repeatedly at last week's Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.