Police say robberies are similar

City police are wondering whether the same person is responsible for two robberies at the Apple Community Credit Union on North Cumberland Street. The second robbery happened on Friday afternoon, the first on April 29th. Both getaway vehicles were similar in description, a silver or grey minivan, and the robberies took place by one person on a Friday at about the same time of day.  Top:  surveillance photo from August 6th robbery.  Bottom:  surveillance photo from April 29th.

Privacy Commissioner to probe health records fiasco

Ontario's Privacy Commissioner has her sights set on the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Ann Cavoukian has launched a formal investigation into how private health records were found littering the street around the old Port Arthur General Hospital. Covoukian tells our newsroom it's unacceptable.
Covoukian is also upset that her office discovered the matter through media reports. Commission spokesperson Bob Spence says the decision to start the investigation came after gathering some preliminary information from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.  He says the probe will collect evidence to find out what happened, how it happened and the steps needed to make sure it doesn't happen again.  Spence can't say how long the investigation may last.

NAN likes Aboriginal Affairs pick

The Nishinawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief has confidence in the new Aboriginal Affairs Minister. British Columbia MP John Duncan now heads the portfolio. Stan Beardy says he looks forward to working with him and notes they had a good working relationship with former minister Chuck Strahl. Duncan was the parliamentary assistant to Strahl.

Hyer on cabinet shuffle

Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer is pleased the Prime Minister removed John Baird from the Transport Ministry.  Hyer says Baird didn't really solve any transportation issues and notes Chuck Strahl might do a better job.  He would like to see the new minister help bring back passenger rail service to the Northwest.  Hyer will be meeting with Strahl in the near future.  Baird adds back bencher John Duncan is the sixth minister of Aboriginal Affairs in the last six years.

Northern Credit Union awards thousand dollar RESP

The Northern Credit Union wants to know what the region's future looks like. The credit union is holding a calendar contest where kids and high school students compete for RESP's. Thunder Bay Manager Susan Olnyk says the winners will receive a thousand dollar RESP, and the runner ups a 500 dollar RESP contribution. Submissions can be made up to September 22nd.

Peregrine Falcon population rebounds

Nature enthusiasts are encouraged to keep an eye out for peregrine falcons in the Thunder Bay area.  The once engangered species is making a comeback in the Northwestern Ontario. MNR Spokesperson Lisa Nyman says they want to hear from anyone who spots the birds. New nest sites were found in the Thunder Bay area.

Dragster deal sealed in Thunder Bay

People driving on the Harbour Expressway near Memorial were treated to the sight of a top fuel dragster this morning. Jim Fersch of Alberta came to Thunder Bay to meet a Quebec man halfway to buy the racer.  He says he purchased it over the internet and arranged to meet the seller here to complete the transaction.  Fersch says the 945 horsepower vehicle is worth 35 thousand dollars used and about 60 thousand new.

Car hits a house on the south side

A house in the 100 block of south court street had it's front steps driven into. City police responded to the call at 4pm yesterday afternoon and have charged a 51 year old with impaired driving. The car left the road smashed through a fence and hedge before hitting the front stairs of the house.  The driver and the passenger recieved only minor injuries and were released. 

Camp Quality helps kids with cancer

Northwestern Ontario's Camp Quality is up and running again this summer on East Loon Lake. Spokesperson Jeanna Faykes says they're glad they can offer this camp to kids who are living with cancer. Faykes says they want to thank their volunteers and people who make the camp possible.

Mac's Mart robbery

There's been another Mac's Mart robbery. According to Thunder Bay Police, a man wearing a disguise and carrying a weapon took cash and other items from the Mac's Mart on Simpson street around midnight last night. No one was hurt. The man was described as over six feet all and between 200 and 220 pounds. He was wearing  black jogging pants,a red shirt and had a yellow hood around his face.

Short handed Chill fall to Timbers in championship match 4-2

After a phenomenal season—winning a total of 12 games— the Thunder Bay Chill fell to the Portland Under-23 Timbers in last night's championship match 4-2. The Chill were forced to play a man down when Rafa Heck earned a red card for a foul in the 16th minute. The Timbers didn't hesitate to seize the opportunity, scoring the first goal of the game in the 29th minute. Oliveira Araujo answered for the Chill, scoring Thunder Bay's lone goal before the end of the first half. The two teams hit the field in the second half with a tie game. With the exception of a close call for Thunder Bay on a free kick, the Timbers controlled the field for the remainder of the game putting 3 more up on the board.

Cats have claws, beat Stingers 7-2

 It could have been called the Tanner Nivens show last night. Nivens had 4 RBI, a home run and a wild dive for a fly ball in the fifth. Nivens had some help from pitcher Garret Yount who worked through seven innings; one of his longest starts of the season. Yount got out of a bases loaded situation with 2 consecutive strikeouts in the seventh before being relieved in the eighth.

Credit union robbed

Thunder Bay Police are saying a man robbed the Apple Community Credit Union on North Cumberland Street yesterday afternoon. A tall man dressed in a grey sweatshirt, a black mask and a tilly hat pointed a gun at staff and demanded cash. The suspect then left the scene in a minivan that has been described as either grey or silver with an undisclosed amount money.

Chill advance to final

The Thunder Bay Chill won their semifinal match against the Baton Rouge Capitals last night in Portland 2-1. The game was scoreless until Baton Rouge got on the board 75 minutes into the game. The Chill responded by scoring twice in quick succession for the win. The Chill will face the Timbers for the Premier Development League final tonight.

Cats fall to Stingers 5-3

Despite some aggressive play yesterday, the Cats couldn't hold on to an early lead over the division leading Wilmar Stingers. As the regular season winds down the game was important for both teams: Wilmar wanted to maintain their lead and Thunder Bay needs wins desperately to have a shot at the playoffs. The two teams face off again tonight at Port Arthur Stadium.

Health Sciences Centre feeling the heat

Officials at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are scrambling for answers.   It's because some patient's  pharmancy papers from the old Port Arthur General Hospital have been found around the site of the building which is now being demolished.   Hospital officials are trying to determine how the papers were disposed of and why the confidential health records were exposed to public view

The "Iceman" among 6 new Hall of Fame inductees

There will be 6 new inductees into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. World curling champ "The Iceman" Al Hackner, BMXer Jay Miron, hockey star Greg Johnson and free style skiier and two time Olympian Dave Walker will be inducted in the athlete category. Being inducted as builders are hockey coach George Gwozdecky Jr. and baseballer Fred Bragnalo. The Hall of Fame induction dinner takes place Saturday, September 25th at the Valhalla Inn.

Gravelle talks forest tenure reform

Minister of Forestry Michael Gravelle is defending his government's forest tenure reform plan.
The plan suggests putting wood allocation into the hands of local management forestry corporations.  Gravelle says he understands that many stakeholders have voiced their concerns over the idea.  He vows they will use input from stakeholders in making final decisions.  Gravelle adds a new forest tenure system won't be in place for another 3 to 5 years.

Review of Ontario's workplace safety

A report on improving work place safety is set to be released in December. Tony Dean is the Chair of the government appointed review panel and says they received input from Thunder Bay and across the province. Dean says they want to beef up training for new employees and will report back to the Minister of Labour this fall.

OPP comment on being forced out of Pikangikum

Members of the community of Pikangikum forced 11 OPP officers out of the town on June 30th.  An investigation is ongoing and not much more is known about the incident.  Superintendent Ron Van Straalen says many people in Pikangikum rely on the OPP.  Van Straalen says they have a good relationship with the community and notes the community is not necessarily upset with the police.