The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has a new curator

The Thunder Bay Art Gallery has a new curator. Nadia Kurd has taken over the post and made it through her first day on the job Monday. The 31 year old has a bachelor degree in fine arts from the University of Ottawa and a Masters from York University. Kurd says Thunder Bay is a beautiful community and is enjoying her time here.

Potts apologizes to Privacy Commissioner

A senior administrator at the Health Sciences Centre is saying sorry to the Privacy Commissioner. Scott Potts says there was no intention on the hospital's part to not tell Ann Cavoukian about the private health records that were found blowing around on a city street last week. He says if it was the expectation of her office to have been contacted about the situation earlier the hospital apologizes for that. While there is no legal requirement to tell the Privacy Commissioner, Cavoukian was upset she had to learn about the story through media reports

Housing starts continue to stay strong

Thunder Bay is having a solid year for housing starts. So far this year there has been 101 starts, during the same time last year there was 85 starts. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Warren Philp says July did see a small dip in numbers with 28 single starts last month compared to 2009 which saw 37 starts.  Philp says so far this year there has been a total housing start increase of just under 20 percent.

Police say robberies are similar

City police are wondering whether the same person is responsible for two robberies at the Apple Community Credit Union on North Cumberland Street. The second robbery happened on Friday afternoon, the first on April 29th. Both getaway vehicles were similar in description, a silver or grey minivan, and the robberies took place by one person on a Friday at about the same time of day.  Top:  surveillance photo from August 6th robbery.  Bottom:  surveillance photo from April 29th.

Privacy Commissioner to probe health records fiasco

Ontario's Privacy Commissioner has her sights set on the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Ann Cavoukian has launched a formal investigation into how private health records were found littering the street around the old Port Arthur General Hospital. Covoukian tells our newsroom it's unacceptable.
Covoukian is also upset that her office discovered the matter through media reports. Commission spokesperson Bob Spence says the decision to start the investigation came after gathering some preliminary information from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.  He says the probe will collect evidence to find out what happened, how it happened and the steps needed to make sure it doesn't happen again.  Spence can't say how long the investigation may last.

NAN likes Aboriginal Affairs pick

The Nishinawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief has confidence in the new Aboriginal Affairs Minister. British Columbia MP John Duncan now heads the portfolio. Stan Beardy says he looks forward to working with him and notes they had a good working relationship with former minister Chuck Strahl. Duncan was the parliamentary assistant to Strahl.

Hyer on cabinet shuffle

Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer is pleased the Prime Minister removed John Baird from the Transport Ministry.  Hyer says Baird didn't really solve any transportation issues and notes Chuck Strahl might do a better job.  He would like to see the new minister help bring back passenger rail service to the Northwest.  Hyer will be meeting with Strahl in the near future.  Baird adds back bencher John Duncan is the sixth minister of Aboriginal Affairs in the last six years.

Northern Credit Union awards thousand dollar RESP

The Northern Credit Union wants to know what the region's future looks like. The credit union is holding a calendar contest where kids and high school students compete for RESP's. Thunder Bay Manager Susan Olnyk says the winners will receive a thousand dollar RESP, and the runner ups a 500 dollar RESP contribution. Submissions can be made up to September 22nd.

Peregrine Falcon population rebounds

Nature enthusiasts are encouraged to keep an eye out for peregrine falcons in the Thunder Bay area.  The once engangered species is making a comeback in the Northwestern Ontario. MNR Spokesperson Lisa Nyman says they want to hear from anyone who spots the birds. New nest sites were found in the Thunder Bay area.

Dragster deal sealed in Thunder Bay

People driving on the Harbour Expressway near Memorial were treated to the sight of a top fuel dragster this morning. Jim Fersch of Alberta came to Thunder Bay to meet a Quebec man halfway to buy the racer.  He says he purchased it over the internet and arranged to meet the seller here to complete the transaction.  Fersch says the 945 horsepower vehicle is worth 35 thousand dollars used and about 60 thousand new.

Car hits a house on the south side

A house in the 100 block of south court street had it's front steps driven into. City police responded to the call at 4pm yesterday afternoon and have charged a 51 year old with impaired driving. The car left the road smashed through a fence and hedge before hitting the front stairs of the house.  The driver and the passenger recieved only minor injuries and were released. 

Camp Quality helps kids with cancer

Northwestern Ontario's Camp Quality is up and running again this summer on East Loon Lake. Spokesperson Jeanna Faykes says they're glad they can offer this camp to kids who are living with cancer. Faykes says they want to thank their volunteers and people who make the camp possible.

Mac's Mart robbery

There's been another Mac's Mart robbery. According to Thunder Bay Police, a man wearing a disguise and carrying a weapon took cash and other items from the Mac's Mart on Simpson street around midnight last night. No one was hurt. The man was described as over six feet all and between 200 and 220 pounds. He was wearing  black jogging pants,a red shirt and had a yellow hood around his face.

Short handed Chill fall to Timbers in championship match 4-2

After a phenomenal season—winning a total of 12 games— the Thunder Bay Chill fell to the Portland Under-23 Timbers in last night's championship match 4-2. The Chill were forced to play a man down when Rafa Heck earned a red card for a foul in the 16th minute. The Timbers didn't hesitate to seize the opportunity, scoring the first goal of the game in the 29th minute. Oliveira Araujo answered for the Chill, scoring Thunder Bay's lone goal before the end of the first half. The two teams hit the field in the second half with a tie game. With the exception of a close call for Thunder Bay on a free kick, the Timbers controlled the field for the remainder of the game putting 3 more up on the board.

Cats have claws, beat Stingers 7-2

 It could have been called the Tanner Nivens show last night. Nivens had 4 RBI, a home run and a wild dive for a fly ball in the fifth. Nivens had some help from pitcher Garret Yount who worked through seven innings; one of his longest starts of the season. Yount got out of a bases loaded situation with 2 consecutive strikeouts in the seventh before being relieved in the eighth.

Credit union robbed

Thunder Bay Police are saying a man robbed the Apple Community Credit Union on North Cumberland Street yesterday afternoon. A tall man dressed in a grey sweatshirt, a black mask and a tilly hat pointed a gun at staff and demanded cash. The suspect then left the scene in a minivan that has been described as either grey or silver with an undisclosed amount money.

Chill advance to final

The Thunder Bay Chill won their semifinal match against the Baton Rouge Capitals last night in Portland 2-1. The game was scoreless until Baton Rouge got on the board 75 minutes into the game. The Chill responded by scoring twice in quick succession for the win. The Chill will face the Timbers for the Premier Development League final tonight.

Cats fall to Stingers 5-3

Despite some aggressive play yesterday, the Cats couldn't hold on to an early lead over the division leading Wilmar Stingers. As the regular season winds down the game was important for both teams: Wilmar wanted to maintain their lead and Thunder Bay needs wins desperately to have a shot at the playoffs. The two teams face off again tonight at Port Arthur Stadium.

Health Sciences Centre feeling the heat

Officials at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre are scrambling for answers.   It's because some patient's  pharmancy papers from the old Port Arthur General Hospital have been found around the site of the building which is now being demolished.   Hospital officials are trying to determine how the papers were disposed of and why the confidential health records were exposed to public view

The "Iceman" among 6 new Hall of Fame inductees

There will be 6 new inductees into the Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame. World curling champ "The Iceman" Al Hackner, BMXer Jay Miron, hockey star Greg Johnson and free style skiier and two time Olympian Dave Walker will be inducted in the athlete category. Being inducted as builders are hockey coach George Gwozdecky Jr. and baseballer Fred Bragnalo. The Hall of Fame induction dinner takes place Saturday, September 25th at the Valhalla Inn.

Gravelle talks forest tenure reform

Minister of Forestry Michael Gravelle is defending his government's forest tenure reform plan.
The plan suggests putting wood allocation into the hands of local management forestry corporations.  Gravelle says he understands that many stakeholders have voiced their concerns over the idea.  He vows they will use input from stakeholders in making final decisions.  Gravelle adds a new forest tenure system won't be in place for another 3 to 5 years.

Review of Ontario's workplace safety

A report on improving work place safety is set to be released in December. Tony Dean is the Chair of the government appointed review panel and says they received input from Thunder Bay and across the province. Dean says they want to beef up training for new employees and will report back to the Minister of Labour this fall.

OPP comment on being forced out of Pikangikum

Members of the community of Pikangikum forced 11 OPP officers out of the town on June 30th.  An investigation is ongoing and not much more is known about the incident.  Superintendent Ron Van Straalen says many people in Pikangikum rely on the OPP.  Van Straalen says they have a good relationship with the community and notes the community is not necessarily upset with the police.

NOSM Staff could soon strike

Labour unrest for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine in Thunder Bay and Sudbury. Clerical, administrative and technical staff have voted 97-percent in favour of a walkout if contract talks break down.  Overtime, workload, sick leave and job classification are the issues of contention.

Bending Lake Iron Ore plant approved

The provincial government is approving a plant that will breath new life into the former Steep Rock Mine near Atikokan. Bending Lake Iron Ore Group is proposing a processing facility for ore from a planned mine at Bending Lake while Brett Resources would use it to dump tailings from a nearby gold mine. Henry Wetalainen of Bending Lake Iron Ore says approval allows their plans to enter the environmental assessment process.  Wetaliainen estimates the project will cost about 900-million dollars and create about 700 construction jobs and another 300 when up and running.

Treaty Three critical of SIU Report

Grand Council Treaty #3 continues to be critical of the OPP response to a shooting incident in downtown Kenora. The Ontario Special Investigations Unit released a report into the shooting of 39 year old Grassy Narrows resident last week clearing an OPP officer of any wrong-doing. Grand Chief Diane Kelly says she's disappointed with the finds in the report and also the policies and procedures of the OPP. Kelly says if she can't get answers from the OPP Commissioner or Ontario's Solicitor General, she will file a complaint with the Independant Police Review Director.

Fire season more active that last

The 2010 forest fire season appears be to more active than in previous years. However, Debbie Mclean of the Ministry of Natural Resources says it's only because those previous years were very slow in the Thunder Bay District.  She says last year by this time there were 35 fires while this year there have been 54.  In the region there have been slightly over 323 fires

Outbreak over

The respritory outbreak at Roseview Manor is over. All visitation restrictions that had been in place on the Primrose Wing have been removed.

Combined Forces Drug Unit makes two busts

The Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit made a big bust in Geraldton yesterday. Officers search a home and seized over 400 grams of hash, 39 grams of marijuana, and 202 oxycodone pills which have a street value of over 25 thousand dollars. A 53 year old Geraldton man is facing a number of charges.  Meanwhile the Unit has charged a 55 year old Thunder Bay man after discovering a grow op last week. Officers found over 60 thousand dollars worth of marijuana in a house on Francis street last Wednesday and have charged the home owner with unlawful production of marijuana.

Cascades damaged by Vandals

The Cascades Conservation Area has been hit by Vandalism for the second time in recent memory. Over the August long weekend someone tried to set fire to the interpretive panels. The Panels were installed last week to replace the ones that were destroyed over a year ago. The new panels received some minor smoke and fire damage to the corners.

The midway is going up

The midway for next weeks Canadian Lakehead Exhibition is now being set up. That's earlier than usual according to CLE President Lawrence Timko. He says that gives those in charge the time to set up the rides, get them inspected properly and licenced from city hall making everything go smoothly. The CLE starts on Wednesday

American visits to NWO on the decline

Tourism officials are pointing to the Canadian border as a contributing factor to the decline in American visitors to Northwestern Ontario. Executive Director of Ontario Sunset Country Gerry Cariou says Americans with prior drunk driving convictions are continually being turned away at the border at a huge cost to the tourism industry. Cariou feels enforcement of the rules appear to be more pronounced at the Fort Frances and Rainy River crossings than anywhere else.

Northwest MNR helps out B.C.

Another 100-Ministry of Natural Resources firefighters are making their way to British Columbia.  There will now be over 200-MNR personnel in that province as well as Saskatchewan and Manitoba.  Information Officer Debbie MacLean says more personnel will be provided if called upon.  75 of the 100 fire personnel that left yesterday are from Northwestern Ontario.

Rafferty weighs in on forestry report

Natural Resources Canada has released new numbers regarding Canada's forest industry. They show significant job losses over the past 4-years. Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says the report is discouraging. Rafferty says part of the blame falls on the Harper government for failing to provide any significant support towards the industry.

Gravelle announces funding for forest company

Wincrief Forest Products is getting some financial help from the provincial government.  Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Minister Michael Gravelle announced just over 1.2 million dollars for the facility near Kenora.  The modular home construction facility has been open for just over a year and is a partnership between Moncrief Construction and Wabaseemung First Nation.

Red River Ward has another candidate for council election

Recent Lakehead University grad Jay Stapelton has added his name to the race for City Council. Stapelton is running as a councillor in the Red River Ward and says he's concerned about the city's financial situation. Stapelton says he would put an end to construction costs running over budget. Stapelton filed his nomination papers this morning at city hall. Incumbant Brian McKinnon is also running for the Red River ward.

HMS Bounty says goodbye

The HMS Bounty is gone. After entertaining thousands of people, the famous tall ship left Thunder Bay for Green Bay, Wisconsin this morning. Kerry Berlinquette organized the visit and says the response exceeded all expectations and the public cooperated.  Ship officials say they counted about 55 hundred visitors.

Police make arrest after early morning break and enter

Thunder Bay police have arrested a man after he broke into a house and made off with a car and a credit card. Police say a 71 year old woman woke up just after midnight and found a man in her house. He then fled in the victims car and used her credit card to purchase fuel. Charged is 35 year old Kelley Joseph Lacaria. Officers recovered the car along with other stolen property at around 6 o'clock.

Bearskin Airlines set to take over Minneapolis flight

Thunder Bay travelers may still have a daily flight to Minneapolis. Delta Airlines has announced they are cutting their flight from Thunder Bay to Minneapolis this fall and Bearskin airlines is reportedly stepping up to the plate to take over the route. Vice President Cliff Friesen says the company has begun the process and is in discussions with Delta.

Superior Fine Papers gets vandalized

Superior Fine Papers was the victim of some heavy vandalism yesterday morning. Thunder Bay Police say a guard called police around 3 in the morning after hearing glass breaking. Officers searched the area and found tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage. Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says it appears one of the assailants may have injured himself during the break in. Adams says a blood trail was found at the scene.

Public voices their displeasure with proposed project

There were plenty of people giving Horizon Wind a piece of their mind at last night's open house. Neebing area resident Barbara Smith says she's disappointed Thunder Bay Council didn't put a stop to the wind farm project. Smith says she's lived in Thunder Bay for eight years and are planning to move because they feel council isn't addressing their concerns about the horizon wind project.
Meanwhile, Councillor Linda Rydholm was impressed with last night's turn out of over a hundred people. Rydholm wants to see the wind power company answer the public's concerns. Council is currently waiting for the company to answer some of their questions before they proceed with approving the location of the turbines.

Horizon Wind holds two public meetings this week

Horizon Wind Farm expects to hear from Thunder Bay City Council by the end of the month.  The final two public consultation sessions are being held this week.  C.E.O. Tony Zwig says they're taking the concerns of the public seriously.  The wind power company President says if they hear of any legal wrong doings they will take that into consideration and make changes to their wind park proposal.  Zwig adds they'll be providing the province with the data gathered from the public meeting as part of its review process.

Meanwhile,  There was at least one man in favour of the project.  Reiner Ficker says people need to hear both the pros and the cons of the wind farm.  Ficker adds the project will bring money to the municipality of Neebing and that would be greatly appreciated.

Go Green Fair coming to Thunder Bay

Earthwise Thunder Bay wants its residents to be more environmentally friendly.  The city group is holding its first "go green expo" this fall. The event will feature workshops and exhibits from local green companies.  For more information log onto www.earthwisethunderbay.com

McKellar Place open for seniors

The Northwest Community Care Access Centre is accepting applications for its transitional housing for seniors. 75 spots are available at the seniors apartment in McKellar Place. St. Joseph's Care Group President Tracy Buckler says tenants of McKellar Place will be guaranteed a supportive housing apartment at the Centre of Excellence for Integrated Senior Services. The McKellar Place spots are partially funded by the Northwest Local Health Network.

Caribou Ride happens Sept. 12th

One of the city's newest charity events is back on again. The second annual Caribou Ride for the Northern Cancer Fund is set for September 12th. Organizer Bob Stewart says 350 cyclists will be riding 20 and 50 kilometre routes. Stewart says the goal is to raise over 20 thousand dollars. Pictured left to right: Dave Pinner, Bob Stewart and Jeff Hupka

Final open houses on Horizon Wind Farm tonight

Horizon Wind's big wigs will be in town tonight. The final two open houses for the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park are being held tonight and tomorrow. Project Co-ordinator Nhung Nguyen and C.E.O. Tony Zwig will be mingling and talking with people in attendance.

High interest in the Bounty

Thousands of people are lining up today to get a first hand look at the HMS Bounty at Pier 3 of the Thunder Bay Marina.   The tall ship is attracting interest from both locals and visitors.  In fact,  the first person in line was Steve McLean of Chicago.  He says he and his family delayed their trip just to take a look at the ship which is docked here until Thursday.    Tours take place until 8 pm this evening.

City police had a busy night

There was another armed robbery at a city Mac's mart this morning. Police say just after midnight a man held up the north May street store. No one was hurt and the man was last seen running east bound down the lane behind the store.


Police also had to 2 women who got lost in the Shuniah mines area. Police say the women were walking a dog at around 9:30 when they got lost and called police with a cell phone. Officers located the women just before midnight.