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.