Hospital in the Black

Lake of the Woods District Hospital managed to finish the 2009/2010 fiscal year in the black.

The hospital posted a surplus of about 116 thousand dollars last year.

President and CEO of the hospital, Marc Belcaen says it hasn't been easy to keep their books balanced.

This is the third time in the past four years the hospital has managed to post a surplus on
its operations.

The hospital had a budget of almost 44 million dollars last year.

Show Us Your Colors

The first ever Show Us Your Colors fundraiser for local cancer patients gets underway this

afternoon.

Irma Milko is one of the organizers of the event and says they noticed a definite need in
the community to help out cancer patients who have to go to Winnipeg for treatment.

Tonight's supper is already sold out.

There are a number of other events taking place all day at Norman Park, including
Dragon Boat rides.

Hospital Chair Elected

Debbie Baldwin is back as chair of the hospital board for a second year

in a row.

The executive of the board was elected last night at the Annual General Meeting.

Baldwin becomes the first chair of the board under its new corporate model.

She says under the new model, the board has been reduced from 20 members down to
just 13.

Fred Richardson was elected as vice-chair of the hospital board last night.

Northern Ontario Party a go

The Northern Ontario Heritage Party is one step closer to gaining official party status.


Party spokesperson Ed Deibel says they're waiting for a letter from the Ontario Elections Commission.

More than 1 thousand one hundred and fifty signatures in favour of the party were sent to the commission.

Deibel says they hope to have as many as 11 candidates in place for the next provincial election in 2011.

Pikangikum fire grows

Sun and windy conditions  over the past couple of days continue to fan out a large forest fire burning northeast of Pikangikum First Nation.


The fire has grown to 44-hundred hectares in size and is considered not under control.

A number of hotspots continue to smoke and fire crews are on scene.

The good news for the MNR is that there have not been any new fire starts reported
in the region in the past five days.