OPP Gives Safety Advice For Long Weekend

People boating irresponsibly is one of the many things Provincial Police will be on the lookout for this long-weekend. Sergeant Shelley Garr is also reminding motorists to slow down and not drive distracted. OPP will also be cracking down on impaired drivers across the region.

Cross Canada Rollerblader Visits Thunder Bay

A cross Canada rollerblader is stopping in Thunder Bay this weekend. Kevin Ebra is following the footsteps of Terry Fox and is determined to travel from Toronto to Vancouver in 120 days. Ebra leaves our city on Sunday with his next stops being Kaministiquia, English River, Dryden, Vermillion Bay, and Kenora.

Blind Man Bikes For Charity

Thunder Bay is going to be a popular stop for people on cross Canada fundraisers. Craig Aucoin is doing a back to back bicycle tour across the nation in support of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind. Aucoin is blind and will be riding his bike through Ontario this weekend.

Pigeon River Border Backup

You can expect long line ups at the Pigeon River Border Crossing this weekend. Canada Border Service Agents say the peak traffic times are Sunday from 4 pm to 7 pm and Monday from 11 am to 7 pm. To help move the process faster your asked to bring your travel documents and receipts.

LU Looks For Homestay Hosts

Lakehead University is looking for people in the City who want to host an international student coming to Canada to learn English. It's part of the Homestay program which last 15 weeks at a time from September to December, January to April or May to August. Homestay hosts receive 700 dollars per month when they provide a room and meals or 475 dollars a month when just providing the room

Coast Guard Rescues Boaters

Two people are safe and sound after a water rescue on Lake Superior Friday.  The rescue coordination centre in Trenton says that the Canadian Coast Guard in Thunder Bay brought the two back to shore after their 26 foot boat took on water about a mile south of the city.

Forest Fire Update

There were no new fires reported in the Northwest Region August 30. The forecast is calling for more rain for the next several days and the forest fire hazard is expected to be low across the region. The rain will help with lightning strikes that have started fires. The Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services program has a lightning-locator system that helps track strikes of lightning that have potential to start new wildfires.

Water Rescue On Superior

 A water rescue on Lake Superior.    A spokesperson at the rescue coordination centre in Trenton says that a 26 foot Bayliner boat started taking on water Friday about a mile south of the city and the two people in there called for help.   A rescue unit from Thunder Bay picked them up and brought them to the yacht club unharmed.

Poverty Free T.Bay To Rally

Poverty Free Thunder Bay plans to rally at MPP Michael Gravelle's nomination meeting Tuesday night. Chair Terri Carter believes Premier Wynne will be in attendance and she wants to greet her with three demands.  Carter is looking for the Premier to demonstrate a commitment to reducing poverty.

NOHFC Programs Under Review

The Provincial Government is conducting a review of the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.  It means new programs will be created and launched at the end of October.  Applications for funding through the old program will be accepted up until September 30th.  The changes are being made to reflect the priorities set out in the Northern Ontario Growth Plan.

Hospital Family Rooms To Become Patient Rooms

The overcrowding problem at the Health Sciences Centre is at a new level.  The hospital is now renovating family lounges to make more room for patients.  The fire department told the hospital they could no longer house patients in hallways which spurred the decision.  CEO Andree Robichaud says the rooms only need a little tinkering.  The decision will mean 14 patient spots, which is two more than what the hallways were providing.  Robichaud hopes to have the new patient rooms ready by mid-October.

Baby Boomers Not Ready For Retirement

More and more seniors in Northwestern Ontario are digging deep to make ends meet.  Recent studies show that debt levels are on the rise across the country, especially for the elderly.  Frank Fabiano is a local trustee in bankruptcy, and says many seniors depend on their old age security or pension plans.  At the same time, Fabiano says baby-boomers are also feeling the crunch, as many of those born between 1945 and 1964 say they haven't saved enough for retirement.

Transit Still Experiencing Problems

Thunder Bay's Transit Service is still having technical difficulties with their scheduled arrival time phone line isn't working.  Bus riders are being asked to use the paper schedules, the transit website and Nextbus dot com.

NOSM Gets Award

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is on the receiving end of an award that recognizes good work in medical education.  The ASPIRE award was given to NOSM at a medical conference in Prague.

Victim Fleeced For 25K

Police in northwestern Ontario are releasing details about a scam that has left one resident owing 25-thousand-dollars. The victim was told to cash a cheque for the scammer without realizing it was a trick designed to leave her on the hook for the entire amount. Police say the sender of the cheque had befriended the victim over several months, gaining her trust.

Police On School Buses

Kids of all ages will be heading back to school Wednesday. City Police are reminding motorists to pay close attention to students crossing streets and getting off buses. Sgt. Glenn Porter says they'll be on area school buses looking for bad drivers.  Porter reminds college and university students that they'll be staging RIDE checks as well to look for drunk drivers.

Man Gets 60 Days For Breach

A 32 year old Murillo man is  serving time for disobeying a Manitoba court order not to be in the company of anyone under 18.    In a Thunder Bay court this week Tony Barnes was given a sentence of 60 days in jail and a years probation on the charge.  Barnes was also given credit for the time served since he was taken into custody in late April.

LU Prof Says Syrian Attack Certain

A Lakehead University Professor says it's  almost certain that Syria will be attacked.  Laure Paquette, who sometimes does research for the U-S military,  says that the only question is how the United States will lead the attack and when. She believes it will come in the form of a drone or stealth  attack.   Paquette says there is no other option but for the world to react to a chemical weapons attack.

LRCA Flood Watch

The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is issuing a flood watch for the Thunder Bay area including O'Connor, Conmee, Gillies, Shuniah and Dorion.  The LRCA is putting the watch in effect because of the heavy amounts of rain expected tonight.  Staff are continuing to monitor the weather conditions.

Fed Funding For Mining Project

The Federal government is handing out 87-thousand dollars to two groups to allow them to participate in the environmental assessment for the Griffith Iron Ore redevelopment project in Ear Falls.  Wabauskang First Nation is receiving 50-grand, while the Metis Nation of Ontario is getting 37-thousand dollars.  Both groups will be able to review and provide comments on the Environmental Impact Statement and draft Environmental Assessment Report.  Northern Iron (Corp.) is hoping to reopen the once prosperous Mine, with hopes of cementing a 20-year mine life.