Road Safety Week

National Road Safety Week starts today and OPP across our Region will be out in full force ensuring that drivers follow the rules.


16 people were killed on Northwestern Ontario roads last year and 364 injuries were reported.

9 people have died as a result of crashes on roads patrolled by OPP in the Northwest Region this year.

Land Ambulence Base in Kenora debated

The Kenora District Services Board will wait until Monday's Kenora City Council meeting before reacting to the long-standing land ambulance base debate in the community.


The issue was briefly discussed at the public meeting in Dryden Thursday.

Some Board members voiced frustration stating the issue has been on-going for roughly 9-years and has cost the Board 100-thousand dollars and that Kenora has been given enough time to make a decision.

They went on to add that the Services Board has done its due diligence in finding a suitable location and one member added that if Kenora Council can't make up its mind the Board will just build the base in unincorporat territory.

CAO Stain Leaf and Kenora Councilor Rory McMillan warned that both sides have concerns and need to sit down to discuss the issue.

By-Pass Clean-Up completed

It took a lot longer than expected to clean up a chemical spill on

Highway 17-A.

The OPP say a spill of strychnine pellets on the by-pass took over
24 hours to clean up.

The section of the by-pass between the Redditt Road and the Minaki
Highway was finally re-opened around 6:30 Saturday morning.

A Hazmat Unit from Winnipeg was called in deal with the situation.

Police say there was no danger to the public as a result of the spill.

Development Commission releases first quarter report

The Lake of the Woods Development Commission says it has a number of irons in the fire to improve the economy of the City of Kenora.

The Commission made its first quarter report to council last week and chair
Dennis Wallace says they are making positive strides in a number of directions.

He says forestry is still an important industry for Kenora and believes there will be
growth in the value-added sector.

Wallace adds that they have been able to secure a grant for 40 thousand dollars
to bring back a full winter carnival to the city next year.

Grassy Narrows wins more support

The Grassy Narrows First Nation and environmental group Earthroots are applauding a renewed commitment by Domtar to steer clear of the First Nation‘s traditional territory.


Domtar spokesperson Keith Ley says they do not procure wood from the Grassy Narrows traditional territory, nor do they intend to procure wood until the outstanding issues are resolved.

Domtar is the third major forest products company in the region to commit not to source wood from Grassy Narrows traditional territory following Boise‘s commitment in February 2008, and AbitibiBowater‘s commitment in June 2008.

However, Earthroots says Weyerhaeuser continues to press for access to wood regardless of the outcome of ongoing negotiations between Grassy Narrows and the province.