ONA CCAC reach deal

The Ontario Nurses Association has reached a tentative deal with the Northwest Community Care Access Centre. The agreement was reached early Friday morning after a marathon mediation session. The collective agreement covers the eighty eight employees working in Northwestern Ontario. Details of the agreement are confidential until ratified, a series of ratification meetings are being held across the province Friday night.

New website launches

Thunder Bay's two school boards have patnered with a number of community groups to launch a mental health website.  Children's Centre Executive Director Tom Walter says the site will give our young people a place to go to get mental health help if they need it.  You can visit the website http://www.superiormodel.ca/.

Transit talk on Monday

City lawmakers are going to get an earful about transit routes at their weekly meeting Monday night.  A report rationalizing routes from a ridership and operating perspective is being presented.  The Master Transit Plan will also be discussed.

Research Community continues to grow

Thunder Bay's research community continues to grow.  Lakehead University and Regional Research Institute have added Doctor Mitchell Albert as the first ever Research chair.  TBRRI CEO Michael Power says they've also added Scott Gillis to commercialize our home grown innovations.  Power says by bringing in these two individual it continues to send the message that Thunder Bay is only looking for the best as it moves forward. 

Teens threatened at knife point

A young man and women were threatened at knife point on Thursday by three other teens.  Police say a teen male and female were approached behind Churchill High school.  The three young men asked for cigarettes and then money.  The victims were not harmed.

ATU applies for conciliator

The Amalgamated Transit Union is asking the Labour Board to provide a conciliator for their negotiations with HAGI transit. Local Union Spokesperson Charlie Brown doesn't feel HAGI is bargaining in good faith. Brown says they won't go on strike until they give conciliated talks a try.

City gets another funding request

A local First Nation program could be without funding soon if City Council doesn't chip in.  Currently, the Neighbourhood Capacity Building Project receives funding from the Urban Aboriginal Strategy which is set to expire in March.  A request for three years of funding for after school programs is being made to council.

Matawa Chiefs have concerns

Matawa Chiefs are concerned about the Environmental Assessment process that's being used to determine the impacts of two projects in their territory.  The Chiefs feel a joint review panel would provide a safeguard for their lands.  The First Nations are concerned with Cliffs Chromite project and Noront Eagle's Nest project.

Kenora hunter mauled by bear

A moose hunter was attacked by a black bear in the bush north of Kenora.  The Ministry of Natural Resources confirms the attack took place this past Monday near Chase Lake, just south of Woodland Caribou Park.  MNR Spokesperson Leo Heyens says the hunter managed to fire an arrow at it but was still mauled.  Heyens says parts of the bear have been sent away for  testing to find out what kind of condition the animal was in.

Chamber and Council get survey results back

The Chamber of Commerce is pleased with the results they've received from the provincial election candidates.  President Harold Wilson says they've asked the local candidates how they'll help business.  Wilson encourages the public to check out the results on their website at http://www.tbchamber.ca/ Meanwhile, almost all of the provincal election candidates returned City Council's survey.  The only hold out was PC Candidate Fred Gilbert.  Questions ranged from establishing an Aboriginal Affairs office in the city, to building the Multiplex.

October is Child Abuse Prevention Month

A program aimed at teaching parents how to handle heated situations with their kids is reaching out to the community.  Child Welfare Spokesperson Susan Verrill says the Triple P program is training several agencies to help parents.  October is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Verrill hopes the program will help put an end to those type of situations.

Run for the Cure set for Sunday

One of the top charity events of the year is taking place Sunday morning in Thunder Bay and right across Canada. It's the CIBC Run for the Cure. Money raised goes towards breast cancer research. The event takes place at Fort William Stadium starting at 9 o'clock with closing ceremonies at 11 am.

Local woman in Seth Rogan movie

Thunder Bay's Marie Avgeropoulos is back on the screen, this time in Seth Rogan's 50/50 which opens at Silver City today.  The movie is a comedy about a young man with cancer. Watch for Avgeropoulos  in the bar scene with Rogan and co-star Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Credit Union strike O-V-E-R

A four week strike at the Northern Lights Credit union is over after over a dozen workers voted to accept a new contract. They are members of Communication, Engeryand Paperworkers union.

Sawmill auctioned for scrap

It's another sign of the region's slagging forest industry.  Today is the second and final day for an auction that will sell off the assets of Buchanan's Northern Sawmill in Thunder Bay. Everything at the waterfront mill is being sold for scrap to anyone that's interested.  The money will be used to pay off secured creditors who were left unpaid when the  sawmill went to a financial abyss.

Hyer to push for Via service

The move is on to get Via Rail service back through Thunder Bay.  MP Bruce Hyer has re-introduced his motion to restore passenger rail service to the area.   It's been about 20 years since the Mulroney government axed the service to save money