Med school workers say yes!

Striking workers at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine have voted to end their labour dispute.   They have accepted their very first collective agreement.   No details of the contract will be released until the school's Board of Directors votes on it.

Horwath in Thunder Bay this weekend

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is in Thunder Bay Sunday.  She is joining MP John Rafferty at the Vanderwees Home and Garden Centre today, and attending a Remembrance Day Ceremony.  Monday, she will be meeting with Mayor Elect Keith Hobbs.

Council meets again Monday

City Administration doesn't think it would be wise for council to approve a National Grain Industry Activity Centre. The Friends of the Grain Elevators asked council to help them with the project back in June.  Administration is going to recommend to council that the Tourism Department continue to liase with the group. Council is expected to make a decision on Monday night.  Meanwhile, Sir Winston Churchill High School students are helping area seniors fulfill their dreams.  Grade 11 and 12 students have been visiting residents of Grandview Lodge senior home.  The students have been asking the residents about any unfulfilled dreams they may have had, and then plan a way to make the dream a reality.  The high school is asking council for 1 thousand 500 dollars for the project.

...the waiting game continues

Police appear ready to wait as long as it takes to end the standoff on the 100 block of South Court Street. A man police believe has a gun has been held up in a house since just after midnight. Spokesperson Chris Adams says there's no hurry on the police's part.  Police say the incident began as a domestic dispute.

Infrastructure Minister visits T Bay

The Provincial Infrastructure Minister is paying Thunder Bay a visit on Monday. Bob Chiarelli is seeking input from stakeholders for a new 10 year infrastructure plan. Chiarelli will be holding a round table discussion on the plan with Minister Michael Gravelle and MPP Bill Mauro.

Help for Fort Hope

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says 2-police officers have been dispatched to help at a Northwestern Ontario First Nation that's in crisis.  Bentley says the officers arrived on Tuesday to help restore 24-hour policing in Fort Hope First Nation. The fly-in community, declared a state of emergency recently due to increasing murders, gang fights, arsons and animal cruelty.  Band leaders have put out repeated calls for help from all levels of government as they attempt to deal with the problems.

Wood project launched

The Province is spending 50-thousand dollars on a study to help develop new markets for forest products. The Canadian Wood Council is looking to use more Ontario wood products to construct buildings 5 to 8-storeys high. With support from the Government and the WoodWORKS program, the Council is looking at new technology and wood products for the framing of the buildings. Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle says its another example that value-added material can strengthen the forest industry and the Northern economy.

Hospital could get more money

Thunder Bay is in the running for a ten thousand dollar achievement grant.  The Health Sciences Centre is being honoured for it's "road to excellence" program.  The program was designed to provide more welcoming waiting rooms, improve surgical education materials and foster better overall communication.  The provincial government will announce the winner on Wednesday.

Stevenson now wears the mantle

It appears that the new president of Lakehead University doesn't plan to mess with success. In his first speech as president Brian Stevenson hinted he doesn't plan to stray from the vision of making the institution a research leader.   Stevenson became the sixth president of the L-U in a formal ceremony on Friday.

Clinc collects half a ton of food

A local Chiropractic Clinic came through with a big helping hand for Shelter House. The Port Arthur Chiropractic Centre collected over a thousand pounds of food for the Shelter.  Doctor James DiGiuseppe says they asked patients to fill reusable grocery bags and leave them on their doorstep to be picked up.  DiGiuseppe says he looks forward to getting other clinics in town involved next year.

Police deal with early morning standoff

A domestic dispute has led to a man barricading himself inside a north side home. Thunder Bay Police have cordoned off an area of the 100 block of South Court Street.  Spokesperson Chris Adams says police made contact with the man and are in the process of negotiating with him.  Adams says the man got into a confrontation with an ex spouse earlier in the night and went home armed.  Non one was hurt in thedomestic dispute.

City still has chatty drivers

Thunder Bay drivers  aren't getting the message.  Police say that many are still driving while talking on a cell phone months after it became against the law.   They say a recent enforcement blitz resulted in 16 charges for driving with a handheld device.   The penalty for that infraction is 155 dollars.

Gary Doer on Fort Frances Border Woes

It appears the message hasn't been lost on Canadian officials as they try to ease problems American hunters and fishermen have encountered heading into Northern Ontario.  Our Ambassador to the U-S, Gary Doer says one of the big issues is Americans entering on previous drinking and driving convictions.  Doer says we also have to get the message out that the Americans can also apply to have those convictions forgiven after a period of time.  The Northern Ontario tourism industry says the problem has meant thousands of dollars worth of business being lost.

Stevenson set for new phase

The new era for Lakehead University officially Friday.   Brian Stevenson officially gets installed as university president.  Stevenson says the day is about celebrating a new phase in the university's history and a new direction they'll be taking with the rest of the community.

Fort Hope gets visitors

Fort Hope First Nation welcomed representatives from both levels of Government yesterday.  The wives of the Governor General and Ontario's Lieutenant General toured the community that recently declared a state of emergency.  Former National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations Phil Fontaine says the arsons and murders in the community all stem from poverty.  Fontaine says he feels for the community and understands that it's a huge challenge.

"Dr. Bob" pleased with progress

Bob Rosehart is back in Thunder Bay for a visit. The former Lakehead University president was also paid by the McGuinty government to advise what could be done for the Northwestern Ontario economy. Rosehart says he's pleased with the progress with his recommendations.   Rosehart says he'd still like to see action on getting improvements made to elementary education in the far north.

Students begin remembrance vigil

Students at Churchill High School are joining students from across Canada in a week of remembrance.   Principal Rowan Seymore says during the vigil the names of the 16 thousand Canadians killed during World War One will be projected for students to see in the school and at night it will be projected outside on the school gym wall.

Ministry probes industrial accident

The Ministry of Labour continues to investigate an industrial accident involving a backhoe. A construction worker was injured Thursday after the bucket of a backhole hit him in the chest and pinned him to the wall. Ministry Spokesperson William Lynn says it could be several days before investigators have an update. The construction worker was sent to the hospital with unknown injuries.

Cold weather in November

Its going to be a cold one out there tonight. Environment Canada's Jim Prime says a high pressure system will being pushing cold northern air into our area which drop the temperature into the minuses. He says it'll be cold but we won't see much snow. The temperatures should jump back up towards the double digits on the plus side by early next week.

Thunder Bay target marked for Hilton International

Local developers that want to build a Hampton Inn on Airport Authority Land still need to formally apply to Hilton International.  Company spokesperson Tom Lorenzo says the project is looking good, and Thunder Bay has always been a market they've wanted to target.  He feels the local developers could get approval from Hilton in three weeks and have a target construction date of Spring. Lorenzo says the project not only needs Hilton approval but needs to be approved by the City and the Airport Authority as well.