Survey Gauging Support

True North Entertainment and Sports is looking to hear from the public on their interest in having a Winnipeg Jets affiliated hockey team based in Thunder Bay.  They have created a survey with the program Survey Monkey. The company is looking for support for their venture in the proposed event centre.  To take the survey click here.

City To Ask Feds For CBC Money

The City is asking the Federal Government to provide more funding for public broadcasting.  They made the decision following local job cuts announced by the CBC last week.  Councillor Andrew Foulds made an emotional plea last night saying the Sudbury won't be able to provide the same coverage as the local Voyage North.

EMS Gets New Equipment

The City is giving the go ahead to Superior North EMS to purchase new vehicle locator equipment. The new GPS tech will cost the city over 86-thousand dollars.  Ferno Acetech Canada will provide the equipment.

City Formalizes Agreement

The City is entering into an agreement with the local health authority.  They formalized a funding agreement with the Northwest Health Integration Network last night.  The deal will see funding continue for Supportive Housing, Meals on Wheels, Friendly Visiting operating out of the 55 plus centre and the Dialysis Transportation Program.

Boshcoff Not Giving Up

City Councillor Ken Boshcoff isn't taking no for an answer.  Boshcoff is still hopeful that one day Thunder Bay can play a role in hosting a national museum for Fox.  Councillor Aldo Roberto feels the City did the right thing by respecting the Fox family's wishes for a national museum in B.C. near where Terry was born.

Waterfront Property Saved For Public Use

The City is keeping a piece of waterfront land for the public to enjoy. The land in question is located next to the splash pad and has Muskoka style lawn chairs on it. It was to be developed for business but Council decided last night to keep it as a public use space.

DSSAB Offers Home Loan

The Social Services Board is offering low to moderate income homeowners cash to help them renovate. The DSSAB received 1.5 million dollars for the program that will help people repair their windows, doors, heating systems, chimneys, foundations, roofs, floors and ceilings among other things. Each homeowner who is eligible could get up to 25-thousand dollars in a forgivable loan.

Illness Outbreak At Lakehead Manor

The Health Unit is declaring a facility wide respiratory illness outbreak at Lakehead Manor. All admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities have been cancelled until further notice. Visitors are restricted to family members and caregivers only.

Film Project Now On DVD

The city's Walk A Mile film project is into the DVD stage now.   The locally produced five part documentary series is now available online or at City Hall according to City Clerk John Hannam for 20 dollars.  The films are intended to start a conversation about the relationship between Thunder Bay's Aboriginal peoples and the community.   You can purchase the DVD set by following this LINK

Group Wants Better Wages

Poverty Free Thunder Bay continues their crusade to help protect low income workers.  They held an event Monday that called on MPPs to pass new bills to protect vulnerable workers before an election is called. They feel several bills if passed will give all Ontario workers decent work so they can have quality lives.

F.N's Reaffirm Position

Marten Falls and Aroland First Nations are committing to the North-South Alliance. It's a deal that calls for road access to the Ring of Fire from the North to the South.  The two communities feel that the road makes the most sense and will pass through their territories.

Man Dies After Collision

A 51 year old man is dead after he was involved in last week's collision on the Harbour Expressway near the intersection of Golf Links Road. Police say Gary Soderholm suffered a medical crisis that caused him to lose control of his car. He veered into oncoming traffic and struck three vehicles.  The other two people involved in the crash are in good health and suffered minor injuries.

Courthouse Move Complete

It's a new era for the legal community in the city.  Employees from the Ontario Court of Justice on Arthur Street moved into the new consolidated courthouse on Brodie Street over the weekend, joining their colleagues from the Superior Court who moved in last week.    It means that all court business in the city can now take place in one location.  

Foulds Goes To Bat For CBC

The city will consider a motion from Councillor Andrew Foulds this evening that would see Thunder Bay endorse more Federal funding for public broadcasting. It comes following significant job cuts announced by the CBC last week. The cuts will mean the loss of two jobs at the local station after the afternoon program Voyage North is replaced by programming from Sudbury.

Rydholm Wants FCM Position

City Councillor Linda Rydholm is asking for her fellow members support. She plans to apply again to be a board member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Council will hear her request tonight.

Fox Museum Not Likely

It doesn't look like Terry Fox's family wants to loan some artifacts to the City for a museum exhibit. The City spoke to Terry's Brother Darrell who says Thunder Bay, St. John's and Ottawa would be logical locations for a museum but notes they favour a museum and research centre in the Vancouver area.

Event Centre Parking Could Be Nixed

Parking at the proposed event centre remains to be a hot topic for city councillors.  Councillor Andrew Foulds says potentially removing the parkade,  at the proposed event centre, as recommended by administration, would help the city financially and help to leverage funding from other levels of government.   Foulds adds that keeping the project under 100-million dollars is the goal to making sure  provincial and federal funding is available.

Shipping Season Delayed

Normally by now the shipping season is underway, however due to a colder than normal winter, it will not begin until possibly later this week.   That would make it the latest start to the season on record.  The ice on Lake Superior has  made it difficult for ships to get through causing the delay

Commitment Award Given To Thunder Bay Woman

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is announcing this years Community Celebration Volunteer Award winners. Thunder Bay's Michelle Blackburn is receiving the CIBC Run for the Cure Commitment Award. Blackburn was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and says the Run for the Cure is how her and her family let people know that they are not backing down from the disease. Blackburn says her fundraising team, The Leopard Pack, have already begun brainstorming fundraising ideas for Octobers Run for the Cure event. Anyone with questions are urged by Blackburn to contact: Bonnie Tittaferante at 807-333-4428.

Local Reservists Earn Recognition

Three Thunder Bay Army Reservists are being recognized at Monday nights Jays, Twins game in Minneapolis. Captain George Romick says the three will each be involved in pre-game ceremonies during the three game stand. Those being recognized are: Warrant Officer Craig Loverin, Master Corporal Taylor Crozier and Corporal Tucker Arnold.

Peppercorn Recall

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is expanding a recall made April 5th, to include Pusateri's Fine Foods Organic Whole Black Peppercorns. The peppercorns are being recalled due to a possible salmonella contamination and were sold in Ontario. Consumers are being asked to throw the product out or return it to the grocer they purchased it from.

Reminder To Stay Off The Ice

Thunder Bay residents are being asked to remain off all frozen bodies of water due to recent spikes in temperature. Fire Chief John Hay says its nearly impossible to tell how thick ice may be because of water currents. Hay adds that a fall through the ice could result in hypothermia, and ultimately be fatal.

Help Line For Aboriginal Women

Help is just a phone call away for Aboriginal women facing violence at home. Talk-4-Healing is a 24-hour hotline that's available to Aboriginal women living across northern Ontario. Coordinator Robin Haliuk say women get services they need in the language they need, as their services are offered in Objibway, Oji-Cree and Cree as well as in English. Haliuk says phone line was set up over a year ago.

Province Provides Help To Young Entrepreneurs

Ontario is looking to help young people succeed in today's economy. The province is announcing a new program called the Starter Company program, which provides youth with training and business skills development from local business leaders. The program is part of Ontario's Youth Jobs Strategy, and will support 18 to 29-year-old entrepreneurs across the province. 

Funding For Northern First Nation

A remote First Nation community in northwestern Ontario has received 125-thousand dollars in Ontario Trillium Foundation funding. The money will be used to renovate the Wapekeka First Nation recreation and cultural facility as well as purchase equipment. The centre and equipment will be used by community groups to offer traditional land-based recreation, culture and healing programs. 

New Councillor For Conmee

The Township of Conmee is announcing that Cathy Woodbeck has been sworn in as councillor. Woodbeck fills the seat of the late Robert Rydholm, who passed away in February. Conmee mayor Kevin Holland says Woodbeck brings vast knowledge and experience to the position. 

Hammarskjold High School Evacuation

Crews are investigating the cause of a gas smell at Hammarskjold High School this afternoon. The school had to be evacuated after the odour was reported on the second floor. Staff and students have since been allowed back inside.

Kloosterhuis Excited For Museum's Next Chapter

Mayor Lucy Kloosterhuis is excited Oliver Paipoonge is going to take over the Founders' Museum and Pioneer Village.  The Founders Museum Incorporation has decided to split up their organization. She says they've hired a liquidator who will be looking for people who are owed money.  Kloosterhuis hopes to have the museum back open for Canada Day.

Gas Is Up

Gas prices are going up in the City.  They jumped last night and today according to Gasbuddy.com are anywhere from 146.9 and at their cheapest 114.5 on the First Nation. The average price of gas in the province is coming in at 133.