Sioux Narrow/Nestor Falls Budget

Residents of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls can expect to pay a bit more in taxes
this year.

The town council recently passed its 2010 budget and is looking at an overall
increase of about one percent.

Mayor Bill Thompson says while they have been able to hold the line on municipal
spending, other costs are beyond their control.

Thompson says while the education portion on the tax bill has gone down,
assessments in his community are up about seven percent, so that has offset
any savings local property owners might have enjoyed.

Training and Education Strategy

The City of Kenora is being asked to embrace higher learning in order to
build out local economy.

An Education and Training Strategy has been developed by the Lake of the Woods
Development Commission.

Chair of the sub-committee, Geordie McEwan says there are lots of opportunities
in the education field.

McEwan says they have hired an intern to do a study on the opportunities
in Education and Training.

That report is scheduled to be presented to council in September.

Hudson's Bay Presentation at Museum

Northwestern Ontario residents are being given the opportunity to get a glimpse into history of the one of the oldest companies in the world.

Winnipeg is home to the archives of the Hudson's Bay Company, and archivist James Gordon is travelling the region to explain how they can be accessed.

Gordon says the material dates back to the company's incorporation in 1670.

A presentation will be made tonight a the Lake of the Woods Museum.

Local High Schools Rated

High schools in the Kenora-Rainy River district are ranked well below many of their counterparts in southern Ontario according to the Fraser Institute's latest study.

The Conservative Think-Tank ranks schools based on the results of annual provincial testing.

Spokesperson Michael Thompson says its fair comparison.

St. Thomas Aquinas School in Kenora was in the middle of the pack at 350 out of 722 schools rated.

Beaver Brae placed 640th overall.