The need for doctors is still a harsh reality

Thunder Bay continues to languish in a doctors shortage. There remain thousands of people without a family physician. The citys' Family Physician Recruiter presented her report to councillors last night. Norine Howardson says the goal for her has remained the same for five years.  She says the city needs 25 physicians and the objective is to recruit at least 5 a year.    Howardson says a big challenge is the number of patients who are left without a family doctor when their own doctor retires.

Johnson questions doctor monitoring

At least one city councillor isn't satisfied with how doctor recruitment is monitored. Rebecca Johnsons' comments followed a presentation from the citys' Family Physician Recruiter. Johnson questioned why the number of doctors who leave the city aren't ever counted. She wants to know if the efforts to attract physicians are paying off, adding she'd like to see results from the quarter million dollar program.   City officials say they don't have the means to track which doctors leave.

City toughs out a rough tourism year

Inspite of a poor economy the city's Tourism Manager is satisfied with 2009. In his annual report to city councillors Paul Pepe says the tourism economy showed remarkable resilience to the conditions that were present right across North America.  While there were tourism decreases Pepe says they were modest.  He adds there were bright spots like an increase in U.S. travel to the city over the summer.  Overall there were 419 thousand visitors to the city last year who spent 71 million dollars.

Habitat warns of e-mail scam

Local officials with Habitat for Humanity are warning of an e-mail scam. Board chair Andrew Campbell says it pretends to be from Habitat International and asks for money to help with earthquake relief in Haiti. He says there are no reported cases of the e-mail being received in Thunder Bay, but they're trying to make sure everyone knows about it. Campbell says the people behind the scam ask for personal information that can be used to steal your intentity.

Tentative deal on pensions struck with AbitibiBowater

AbitibiBowater employees can breathe easier. The Canadian Paperworkers Union has negotiated an agreement with the company over pensions. The CEP's Kim Ginter says the tenative deal with the company will fix the 25 per cent shortfall in the pension plan affecting retirees and active workers.   The tenative agreement will go to the workers for a vote sometime in early April once the wording is finalized. 

Calendar Parking regulations waived

Drivers don't have to worry about which side of a residental street to park on. The city has decided to lift the Calendar Parking restrictions. The by-law is designed to control which side of the street cars can be parked. It's to make snow plowing easier. However based on the weather forecast and current road conditions the decision was made to lift the restrictions immediately.

St. Joe's promotes health eating among staff

Amanda Affleck and Kim McGibbon serve up some sesame chicken with peppers at the Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital cafeteria. It's part of the St. Joseph's Care Group campaign to get staff to eat more fruits and vegetables. Staff at all four sites who are seen eating healthy will receive gift certificates to their own cafeterias or other prizes

Bayou Boogie says good-bye after 18 years

It's the end of the line for a popular yearly event that draws Canadians across the border.   The annual Bayou Boogie at the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino in Minnesota,  has been cancelled after 18 years.   It featured a wide range of  Cajun culture straight from Louisiana and was held every Labour Day weekend.   It attracted hundreds of people from Thunder Bay.  Enterprise Administrator Steven StandingCloud says the lodge was losing money on the event and decided to end its run. 

OPP call in divers in search for missing Terrace Bay man

The search for a missing Terrace Bay man on Lake Superior has taken an unfortunate turn. The OPP's Underwater Search and Recovery Unit has been called in for the search. Forty one year old Jean Steven Giguere says was last seen in the Rossport area, walking on the lake towards Cat Island March 6th, and was supposed to return home in the evening.

Haley Irwin is happy about increased funding for Own the Podium

Thunder Bay's own golden girl Haley Irwin is back home and is thrilled with the support Canadian Athletes are getting. Irwin says the government's own the podium program is a huge help to Athletes, and the 17 million dollar increase for each of the next two years is amazing.  Irwin says having funds for rent and food is a huge boost for athletes and will produce big results in the years to come.

Call for extra native student subsidies

There's a call for special subsidies for Aboriginal university students in the province. Brent Kelso the organizer of Aboriginal week activities at Lakehead University says it's important to have well educated native youth. He says this way they can be prepared confront the new economic development that is taking place in the north.

Transport truck has trouble on Dawson Road

The driver of a transport truck had trouble making the corner out of a truck stop on Dawson road.  Police had to close the one lane while the truck was safely moved onto the road. 

  

Thunderwolves are off to the OUA final

Alex Dupius came up big again for the Thunderwolves, making 28 saves to lead the wolves to a 5-2 win over the Western Mustangs Saturday to sweep the OUA Western Conference final in two games. The Wolves will now take on the McGill Redmen for the Queen's Cup at the Gardens Saturday night.

Lakehead men's basketball team down but not out

The Thunderwolves Men's basketball team may have lost to Windsor 87-66 Saturday night but they still have a chance to advance to the CIS championships. The wolves will take on the Ottawa Gee Gees in a winner take all game for a spot in the Nationals.

This year's Sleeping Giant Loppet another success

The 33rd annual Sleeping Giant Loppet went on without a hitch this weekend. The winners of the 50K freestyle were Andre Watt of Duluth on the Men's side and Karla Bailey of Thunder Bay won the women's side. Both won 1000 dollars for finishing first. In the 20K event Michael Somppi or the NTDC finished first for the men, while Anna Crawford lead the field with the women.

Family of five in Hopsital after fire at Fort William First Nation

Thunder Bay fire crews had to deal with a huge inferno that ripped through a house on the Fort William first nation Friday night. Crews from 5 stations attended the blaze just after 10 PM. Two Children and Three adults were taken to Hospital for observation because of Smoke inhalation.

Thunder Bay Police having busy morning

Thunder Bay police are having a busy morning so far. At around 3:30 this morning officers arrested a 26 year old man wanted in connection with a stabbing that happened last week. Earlier officers took a 22 year old into custody after a single vehicle accident. The man is charged with impaired driving.