Thunder Bay business honoured

A Thunder Bay business is being recognized as an outstanding employer.  Toromont CAT is being honoured by the province for their dedication of training new, skilled workers. Toromont, along with fifteen other businesses across the province will receive the Minister's Award for Apprenticeship Training come June.

Nipigon gets new OPP detachment

Construction on the new OPP detachment in Nipigon is now underway. The new facility is being built as part of a promise made by the Province to upgrade or replace OPP facilities. The new building has evidence vaults, seven holding cells, a fingerprint room and many other features. The construction of the detachment will create 50 jobs for construction workers and trades people.

MOE's clean up order upheld

The Ministry of the Environment gets to keep the heat on Superior Fine Papers in Thunder Bay.   Ministry spokesperson Lisa Brygidyr says the Environmental Review Tribunal has upheld a clean up order the ministry issued to the paper mill almost 2 years ago.  Brygidyr says there were 4 major concerns including a lagoon inspection and maintaining electricity to the site.

Mauro announces funds for Atikokan

Atikokan is getting help to improve its sewage treatment system.  The province is providing the town with 700-hundred thousand dollars towards the upgrade of its plant and sewage pumping stations.  Total cost of the project is slightly more than a million dollars.   Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro made the announcement on Wednesday. 

Alzheimer Society likes new Silver Advisory

A new program to help find missing seniors with dementia is being applauded by the head of the local Alzheimer Society. Alison Denton says the Silver Advisory program would likely be similar to a system called the Amber Alert that is used to find missing children.

Cancer Care Northwest sees improvements

Cancer Care Northwest has made improvements to its colorectal cancer programs. That's one of the areas they saw improvements in a province wide cancer index. Vice President Michael Power says even though they did well they will continue to work towards improvement. Survival for colorectal cancer increased from 51.9 percent to 62.6 percent. The screening rates for that cancer are below the provincial average and came in at 26 percent.

Rafferty expects no budget surprises

The Conservative Majority Government will deliver a post election budget on June 6th. Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty says he expects the same sort of budget that was introduced before the election which included billions of dollars in cuts.    Rafferty also expects the Harper government to begin the process of axing of party subsidies.  He calls that an infringement on democracy.

Province helps area First Nation

Long Lake First Nation is set to build a new multi-purpose centre thanks to a million dollars from the Provincial Government.  The centre is expected to open its doors in December.

Fish study conducted in Nipigon

The health of area lakes and fish populations will be determined this summer as the Ontario Government prepares for a water monitoring exercise.  Fisheries staff will conduct surveys on 8-lakes in Sioux Lookout, Nipigon and north of Red Lake.  Officials stress that all nets will be clearly marked and ask that recreational activities around the buoys be avoided.  Information gathered will help in setting season and size limits for anglers. The surveys will also help staff check for invasive species.

Forest Fires in the Northwest

It was a fairly quiet weekend in terms of forest fire activity in northwestern Ontario, with just a couple of new blazes reported in the region.  But one fire in particular kept MNR crews hopping.  Fire Information officer Debbie McLeans says the fire broke out late last week in Wabakimi provincial park. On Saturday, the tiny community of Allanwater along the CN main line had to be evacuated.  By Sunday evening, the residents were allowed to return to their home.

Fort Frances area fatality

A Morley Township man has been identified as the victim of a collision involving a vehicle and a train near Fort Frances last Friday night.  92-year-old Donald Robert Bolen was killed in the mishap that occurred at a CN Rail crossing on Highway 617 in Stratton.  Both OPP and CN Rail Police have determined the red lights at the crossing were flashing and operating property at the time.  A post mortem examination is taking place in Kenora at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Drowning on Lake of the Woods

One person is dead and another is still missing following a fishing expedition on Lake of the Woods.  The OPP say they were contacted Monday night about two overdue anglers near Morson.  The OPP's Marine Unit was dispatched to the scene, and officers managed to locate the body of one of the men on shore. His boat was located a short distance away and had capsized.  The Northwest Emergency Response Unit is continuing to search the shoreline for the other missing man. The OPP's Underwater Search and Recovery Unit is expected to be on the scene later today.

Quality Market helps local charities

Quality Market has donated 11 thousand dollars to three local charities.  Every time a customer opted against using a plastic bag the company made a ten cent donation to the charities.  Shelter House, Habitat for Humanity, and An Eagles Cry Life Centre are sharing the cash.

Alzheimer Society awards research grant

A Lakehead University student is the winner of a local research grant from the Alzheimer Society.  Stephanie Hendrickson will be using a thousand dollars to improve communication between support workers and patients about death.

LeBlanc to run for PC's

Thunder Bay Superior North has a Progressive Conservative Candidate for the upcoming provincial election.  Ice Edge Holding CEO Anthony LeBlanc has been acclaimed as the candidate for the PC's.