Thunder Bay gets award

Thunder Bay's Environment Division was awarded a 2010 Environmental Stewardship award.  The Lake Superior Binational Forum honoured Thunder Bay for eliminating chlorine in its Treatment Water Pollution Control Plant.

Thunder Bay people honored

Two Thunder Bay residents are being honored by the Canadian Diabetes Assocation. Andrew and Derek Lawrence won the 2010 National Advocacy Leadership award.  The two were honored for their insulin pump campaign with the provincial government.

Hobbs wants in on meetings

Mayor Elect Keith Hobbs is meeting with the City Manager today to discuss the wind farm and other important issues.  Hobbs says he wants to be in on any critical meetings happening before he's sworn in.  He wants to know the city's perspective and thoughts on the wind farm lawsuit.  Hobbs says he and the other new members of council are going to have to live with any decisions made before December 1st.

Poverty Free a reality

As we were the first to report last week, Poverty Free Thunder Bay has been launched in the city. The organization is a political group designed to focus on poverty issues in the city. Organizer Aaron Park says while it will take an activist stand, the coalition has other goals as well.   Park says the goal is to work towards the elimination of poverty in Thunder Bay.  Pictured:  Councillor Rebecca Johnson helps launch Poverty Free Thunder Bay

Boshcoff won't give up federal run

Ken Boshcoff says he will leave his city council seat to run in the federal election when it's called. Boshcoff has been chosen to run for the Liberals in Thunder Bay-Rainy River, but his election to Thunder Bay council this week had put that into question. Boshcoff says his decision should be no surprise to anyone. He says the 23 thousand people who voted for him knew it was a possibility. Boshcoff says he wouldn't be the first sitting councillor to jump to federal politics

A local town hall stop for Iggy

Thunder Bay is Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's latest stop on his cross country tour. He brought his Open Mike Town Hall to Confederation College.  He addressed the issue of FedNor by promising to strengthen the regional development agency, which he says has lost it's importance under the Harper government.  He says it's part of his strategy to help get Liberal MP's elected from here.   Ignatieff's visit included a trip to the Bombardier plant.

Private members bill scrapped

A private member's bill aimed at ensuring mining companies respect environmental and human rights standards abroad was narrowly defeated in the Commons last night. At final reading, MPs voted 140 to 134 against the Bill, sponsored by Liberal MP John McKay. Red Lake Mayor Phil Vinet says the Legislation would have crippled the mining industry in Northwestern Ontario. Had the bill passed, complaints from the public would be examined to determine whether violated social, environmental, health or human rights guidelines.

Healthy Halloween for Diabetic kids

When your handing out candy this Halloween, don't forget that some kids are diabetic.  The Canadian Diabetes Association is offering some suggestions on how to keep Halloween healthy.  Spokesperson Richard Boon says there are a number of treats you can dole out such as stickers, yo yo's, or halloween themed pencils.  Parents can trade with their kids for the candy for a new movie, or a toy.

Attawapiskat gets sporty

Canadian Tire and the Provincial Government are teaming up to build self-esteem in First Nation youth.  A Canadian Tire Jumpstart Youth Wellness Worker will be helping create sports activities for youth in Attawapiskat.  President Dan Thompson says the wellness worker will bring along an activity kit full of items that will help start sports activities.  As part of the program, Olympic Athlete Sami Jo Small will speak to youth in Kashechewan, Attawapiskat and Fort Albany.

New Superior North EMS Headquarters finishes design stage

The Design for the new Superior North EMS Station has been completed.  The design was created by Thunder Bay's Habib Enterprises and will now go to tender.  Officials say the building will meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design to the gold standard.  Construction is set to begin in the spring.

Bentz happy to be back on council

Mark Bentz says he's looking forward to another four years serving as Northwood Councillor. Bentz won back his seat in Monday's election.  However, he admits some scepticism about the waterfront project may have caused a slight backlash against him.  He says the election of Keith Hobbs as mayor isn't a concern for him.  He calls the returning council members a "great group" who will be happy to work with him.

Accident injures one

One person is recovering after being injured in an afternoon traffic accident on the Trans Canada Highway. It took place just west of the Terry Fox Lookout at around 2 o'clock. A dump truck collided with the rear of a flatbed transport truck. OPP say that the injured man was not seriously hurt. There was a fuel spill as well, after a gas tank split open. Traffic had to be reduced to one lane for a few hours.

Crews respond to fire in West Fort

A person has been sent to the hospital after a fire broke out in West Fort.  The cause of the house fire in the 900 block of Crawford Place is not yet known.  The blaze originated in a rear bedroom where the man in his fifties was found.

Fort Hope First Nation Update

Police in Fort Hope First Nation say there aren't enough officers to fight high crime.  The Reserve says crimes such as arson are out of control so it has declared a state of emergency.  Sergeant Jackie George says the community needs patrols 24 hours a day, but there just isn't enough funding.  The reserve's chief says people are so afraid of arson, they sleep with a fire extinguisher.

Pepe provides update on Tourism Zones

It will still be several month's before the new Northern Ontario Tourism Zone is officialy incorporated. Thunder Bay's Paul Pepe is a member of the transition team and says a lot of legal work remains.  Pepe says they have decided to break-up the North zone into 3 sub-region's.  A total of 1.54-million dollars has been allocated for tourism-related initiatives in Northwestern Ontario.

Thunder Bay Hydro still dealing with outages

Most of Thunder Bay has its lights on today but Thunder Bay Hydro is still dealing with a few outages. Spokesperson Eileen Dias says a poll fire knocked out power to around 300 customers in the Balsam and Huron area, but that should be back by this evening. Dias says hopefully the worst is behind us. She says crews will also be working on a number of isolated outages across the city.

Kids deliver critical message

The message of preventing child abuse is being spread across the city by children themselves.  Over 12 hundred grocery bags have been decorated with prevention slogans by local school students.  The grocery bags are being distributed by Quality Market.  Pictured:  Hailey Madigan of Crestview School

Windy conditions are a nuisance

People may have had a hard time chasing down errant garbage cans and other items that got caught up in the high winds yesterday.  One person had to grab their trampoline after it became airborne and hopped over a fence.  Trampoline made its way over the fence in Parkdale.  Winds yesterday were gusting up to 70 kilometers an hour. 

Local Liberal eager for Federal Leaders visit

Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is paying a visit to Thunder Bay on Thursday.  Yves Fricot is the Federal Liberal Candidate for Thunder Bay Superior North and says the state of the economy will be just one issue that he will address.  The Liberal Leader will be speaking for an hour and a half at Confederation College.  Ignatieff will also tour the Bombardier facilities in Thunder Bay and hold court with Liberal faithful at Gargolyes in the evening.

Spence acquitted of manslaughter

A man facing manslaughter charges has been acquitted.  23 year old Marvin Spence was facing the charges in connection to the December 2007 death of 44 year old Scott James.  A bouncer at the time, Spence kicked James out of a bar on Simpson street, James died shortly after.  The Judge found insufficient evidence to prove Spence landed the blow that killed James and acquitted him.