Idle No More Reacts To Meeting News

Thunder Bay's Idle No More is pleased Prime Minister Stephen Harper will be meeting with First Nation leaders on January 11th.  Spokesperson Joyce Hunter says she hopes something comes from the meeting.  Hunter says she's cautiously optimistic that the meeting will be a sincere approach to dealing with First Nation issues.

Make Way For The Gichigami Express

The mushers will be out in force in Grand Portage as Sunday marks the start of the inaugural Gichigami Express sled dog race.  Organizer Jack Stone says the race is a three day affair which will follow a route within Cook County that will include Grand Portage, the Gunflint Trail and Grand Marais.    It will follow the trail routes that were used by the fur traders in the settlement years.  The race will begin at 10 o'clock Sunday morning.

Detours Planned For Tuesday

There will be some detours in your drive on Tuesday.  The City is installing a new water service connection in the 1200 block of Mountain Road.  Mountain Road will be closed from Chippewa Road to 15th Side Road.  Detours and advanced warning signs will be posted advising motorists to take an alternate route.

Local Man Offering Reward

A local stand up comedian is asking for donations from the public to help offer a reward to find the men who allegedly abducted and sexually assaulted a First Nation's woman last month.  Ron Kanutski's posted a 5-hundred dollar reward for what he calls solid information forwarded to the police for the names and arrest of the two men who are believed to be involved in the crime. Several people have already vowed to donate to the cause on Kanutski's Facebook page.

OPP RIDE Program Results

Northwestern Ontario was one of the few areas that saw a decreased number of impaired drivers this holiday season.  From November 24 till January 2, police charged 46 people with having a blood alcohol concentration over 0.08.  This is in comparison with 57 people during the 2011 RIDE season.  Officers also issued 14 warning range suspensions to drivers with with a BAC between 0.05 and 0.08, which is up from 11 in 2011.

PM Says Yes To Meeting

The Prime Minister has agreed to sit down with a delegation of First Nation leaders next week. The news came from a statement from Stephen Harper that says he and Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan will take part in a meeting on January 11th to discuss treaty relationships and aboriginal rights. Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence has been on a hunger strike for over three weeks as away to garner the attention of the Prime Minister and ensure a meeting between First Nations and the PM.

Jobless Rate Goes Down

Thunder Bay's unemployment rate is going down.  Statistics Canada released it's latest jobless rate figures that show the City went from 5.6 percent in November to an even 5 percent in December.  The national unemployment rate was 7.1 percent last month.

Solid Start For N.D.C.

A pair of National Team Development Club team members will represent Canada during an international cross-coutnry ski event next month in the Czech Republic. 21 year old Andy Shields from Kitchener was first in his age category during yesterday's skiathlon at the Lappe Nordic Ski Centre. Lakehead University star and fellow N.D.C. team member Andrea Lee, from Black Creek, B.C., topped her age group during the women's skiathlon. Both will represent Canada in the Czech Republic next month. Races continue this morning with the Ontario Cup Sprints.

Mac's Store Robbery Probed

City police are looking for a man who reportedly robbed a Mac's convenience store using a knife early this morning. Just prior to 4:00 a.m. Thunder Bay Police Service responded to Mac's Mart on the 7-hundred block of Simpson Street regarding a robbery. Police say a man entered the store with his face covered, armed with a knife and then subsequently fled the scene with an undisclosed amount of money. The man was last seen heading into the East End on foot. No injuries are reported in this incident.

Timbers Restaurant Closed After Fire

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office is being called in to help determine the cause of a fire overnight at Timbers restaurant  at the Valhalla Inn. 5 trucks and 22 personell were called to a fire that apparently originated in the ceiling of the restaurant just after 1:00 o'clock this morning. Timbers will be closed until further notice pending the results of the investigation and repairs. Damage is said to be extensive but the rest of the hotel at the Valhalla Inn is open.

L.U. Teams Back In Action

A new year brings with it the start of the second half for Lakehead University sports teams. The men's hockey team is at home this weekend for a pair of divisional games against the Guelph Gryphons. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Fort william Gardens. The women's volleyball team begins their second half at home as well tonight as they take on the visiting Waterloo Warriors in game one of a two game series. The first serve is scheduled for 7:00 o'clock at the L.U. Thunderdome. Meanwhile the men's and women's basketball teams begin second-half divisional play on the road tonight in Waterloo against the Warriors.

OPP Probing Local Police

The OPP are looking into an allegation by a 19 year old First Nation man against Thunder Bay Police Service. It's alleged that a Thunder Bay Police Service officer transported the 19 year old male to a location outside of the city limits. The man reported that he was dropped off and left to walk back to his residence in Thunder Bay. The incident is said to have occurred in the evening hours of December 2nd. The Thunder Bay Police Service is cooperating with the Ontario Provincial Police in their investigation.

Chicago Tourism Show Eyed

Thunder Bay is going to be represented at a major tourism show in Chicago later this month. City Tourism Manager Paul Pepe says we will be promoted as a stepping off point for the tourism camps in the region. Pepe says part of the plan is also to help promote the United Airlines link the city will soon have with Chicago. He adds,  the trip will be paid for with provincial tourism dollars, not the city's.

No School Board Amalgamations Planned

School Boards in northwestern Ontario have dodged a bullet.  The Ministry of Education has sent a letter out indicating it will not be going ahead with any School Board amalgamations.  Phylis Eikre is the director of education with the Kenora Catholic District School board and says they weren't in favour of merging with another board. There had been talk the Kenora Catholic and the Northwest Catholic School Boards might have to amalgamate.

New Year Resolutions

Start off the new year on the right path.  Julie Slack is a dietician with the Northwestern Health Unit, and says that a big reason why people give up on their new year resolutions is because they are setting the bar too high.  Slack says it's important to start off small, and work your way to the top. Slack adds it's a good idea to find a friend who has the same goals.

Thunder Bay Is 43

Mayor Keith Hobbs wants the City to come together after 43 years of amalgamation.  Thunder Bay's birthday  is  Years Day and Hobbs says it's about time we act like it.  Hobbs is also calling on residents to drop the Fort William/Port Arthur mentality and just refer to the two sides by their ward names.  Hobbs thinks there will be an official celebration on the 50th Birthday 

OPP Looking For New Recruits

The Ontario Provincial Police is looking for the best and brightest. The Thunder Bay Detachment is hosting an information session on January 30th.  Constable Erin Huckell says they are looking for those interested in the auxiliary program. Huckell adds that there will also be information about constable positions.

Former ELA Director Gets Award

The former director of the Experimental Lakes Area has received a top honor.  Dr. Ray Hesslein is 8th person from the ELA to receive the Frank H. Rigler Award.  In addition, Hesslein stresses the importace the research facility has not only on the country, but all of North America.

ETFO On Imposed Contracts

The local President of the Elementary Teachers Federation isn't surprised the Provincial Government is imposing new contracts on tens of thousands of teachers and education workers in the public schools.  Ellen Chambers says she's devastated.  Education Minister Laurel Broten is using Bill 115 to impose the new collective agreements on elementary and high school teachers, to freeze wages and stop strikes.

Officials To Address Assef Court Concerns

District housing officials are planning to meet with residents of Assef Court about their concerns. It follows news that some tenants are afraid for their safety and that neither police nor housing officials are listening. Bill Bradica of the District Social Services Administration Board says many of the concerns are news to him. Bradica says tenants will be reminded of the steps they should take to make complaints.