The Regional Research Institute gets its' city funding

The Thunder Bay Regional Research Institutes' funding request has been approved by city councillors. They voted that the city set up a capital account of 1 and a half million dollars to help fund two major initiatives over the next three years. City Manager Tim Commisso says the benefits from this investment will be huge.  He says it will help put the pieces together to make the city a centre of excellence in medical research.  Commisso also says it positions the city to move forward in the delivery of health care to the region.

RFDA has a place to call home

The Regional Food Distribution Association finally has a home. City Councillors approved spending 330 thousand dollars so the organization can buy the old A & P store on South Syndicate Avenue. Association chairman Larry Brigham says the city has taken a vital step by giving them new place to work from. The RFDA distributes food to the food banks in the region

Earthwise presents first report

The volunteer organization that is charged by the city to monitor how the city uses energy has released it's first report. Earthwise Thunder Bay says it's biggest success has been gathering together separate environment related groups in the city under the umbrella of the Community Environmental Action plan. Lynn Duffield chairs the action plan and says its been a huge effort.Duffield says the group would also like to work with city administration to achieve the goal of sustainability.

Irwin says gold was a dream come true

Haley Irwin says it's better than she ever imagined. She says winning an Olympic gold medal as part of Canada's women's hockey team is extraordinary. They defeated the United States to capture the top prize. She says it's a dream come true, something she wished for when she was a little girl.   The team felt some heat however from the International Olympic Committee for drinking beer on the ice while celebrating the victory.   Irwin says the team came out and apologized, so for her, the situation is over and done with.  Meantime she hopes to be back home in Thunder Bay this week.

Outbreak at St. Joseph's Hospital

Officials at the Health Unit and St. Joseph's Care Group have declared an illness outbreak on 5 South at St. Joseph's Hospital on 35 North Algoma . Offcials say all admissions, transfers and discharges will be decided on a case by case basis. Visitor restrictions are also in place. Relatives and friends can call 343-243for further information.

Local actress gets first supporting lead role

Thunder Bays' Marie Avgeropoulos is continuing her climb up the acting ladder in Vancouver. She has just completed her first supporting lead role in the action movie Hunt to Kill along side "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. Avgeropoulos says she's happy with having a bigger role, saying it means more responsibility and being in almost every scene. She says Steve Austin was great to work with adding, "he's a total redneck at heart". Avergeropoulos says the movie is in post production and isn't sure when it will be ready for release.

Nice weather is store this week

It appears that March is coming in like a lamb in Thunder Bay. Environment Canada meteorologist Geoff Coulsen says the rest of the week will be the nicest we've seen in some time.  He says normal daytime highs for this time of year are minus 2, but we are forecast to get to plus 8 on Friday with highs between plus 2 and plus 4 the other days.   Coulsen credits a high pressure system from the west for giving us the unseasonable temps.

Red Cross accepting donations for Chile earthquake

Over two million people have been affected by this weekend's devastating earthquake in Chile and the Thunder Bay Branch of the Canadian Red Cross is open for donations. Fund Development Manager Rob Zuback says the situation in Chile isn't as dire as it was in Haiti since the infrastructure situation is far more advanced in Chile. Zuback says so far the Chilean government hasn't request foreign aid but donations are being accepted online.

Kidney Health Month kicks off

The local Kidney Foundation is again teaming up with Wendy's Restaurants in Thunder Bay. The two locations will be donating 25 cents from every bowl of chili sold this month to the foundation. Spokesperson Lisa Cashin says this fundraiser will be run at the same time as the door to door campaign.   The objective is is to raise 35 thousand dollars, the same as last years total.   Cashin says the generosity of the people in the city makes the fundraiser a success.

The first annual Ball Hockey for Health is a success

Around 50 kids came out to the first annual Port Arthur Chiropractic Centre's Ball Hockey for Health yesterday. Doctor James DiGiuseppe says Heart and Stroke Foundation numbers peg an alarming 38 percent of Thunder Bay residents are physically inactive so the event was created to promote physical activity. Also on the day a van load of clothing and hockey equipment was collected is support of Precious Bundles.

Stabbing leaves one man in Hospital

A stabbing left one man in the Health Sciences Centre this weekend. Early Saturday morning a man was walking down Brodie Street when four men started chasing him. The victim was cornered behind City Hall and was beaten and stabbed. No arrests have been made at this time.

Friday night was a busy one for Thunder Bay Police

Police had a busy end to last week. Friday members of the Integrated Crime Unit seized over 40 thousand dollars worth of Marijuana at a south side house and arrested on man. Later that day Police arrested a man on the Northside for concealing a BB gun that resembled a real handgun. Then Saturday morning two teens tried to break into the McKellar Park School.

Thunderwolves advance to Western Conference Final

Matt Dias was the overtime winner as the Thunderwolves moved passed the Guelph Gryphons 5-4 Friday night to advance to the Western Conference Final. Next up for the Wolves is arch rival Western Mustangs who will be in town Wednesday for game one of the best of three series. Lakehead split the season series with Western this year with two wins apeice.

Eric Staal wins Olympic Gold

It was a story book ending for Eric Staal and his team Canada team mates. They had the entire country on their shoulders and none other than the face of Hockey Sydney Crosby came through to score the overtime winner to put us over the top. When the dust settled it was Canada three US two and a new record for most Gold medals by a nation at the Olympic games with 14. The win capped of 17 days of greatness as the Vancouver games official ended last night.