Friday, September 24, 2010

Broncos lose first game in WHSFL

A reality check for Beaver Brae's Football team.

The Broncos lost their first game of the season yesterday afternoon, a 29-10 decision to Kildonan East.

Head Coach Chris Penner says he wasn't surprised by the result.

One of the bright spots for the Broncos was running back Scott Morgan, who ran for 171 yards on 16 carries, including a 70 yard touchdown run in the
second quarter.

Up next for Beaver Brae is Miles MacDonnell.  The Buckeyes will be in Kenora next Thursday.

Take back the Night

About 50 people braved wet conditions for the annual Take Back the Night March in Kenora.

The march started at the Museum last night and made its way down Second Street South to the Kenora Metis Office.

The annual event is an effort to eradicate violence against women.

New contract for Contact North

Contact North is now providing distance education and training to teach more remote First Nations youth how to govern in their communities.

Contact North's Maxim Jean-Louis says an agreement with the National Centre for First Nations Governance, is helping to bring workshops to addional communities.

Jean-Louis says the program has the potential to go nationwide.

Compton appointed to LOW Foundation Advisory Group

Kenora mayor Len Compton may be leaving office later this fall, but he'll still have some association with city council.

Council has appointed Compton as the city's community liason to the Stakeholder Advisory Group for the Lake of the Woods Water Sustainability Foundation.

Compton will be asked to act as a liason between the group and the city.

The city is also being asked to cover any travel costs Compton may incur to participate in the meetings.

Council says it also support the development of a bi-national water Quality management
board for the Lake of the Woods Watershed.

North Spirit Hydro Dam Proposed

The Provincial Government is spending 100-thousand dollars to help the remote Northern community of North Spirit Lake explore clean energy possibilities.

The First Nation is looking at developing a small hydro-electric generating station on Flanagan River, about 175-kilometres north of Red Lake.

The study will determine site conditions, water level variations, plant capacity and energy production.

Cost savings and ecological benefits will also be determined.

Parks, Trails and Beaches Report Released

A lengthy report on how to improve Kenora's Beaches, Parks and Trails has been tabled

before city council.

The 93 page report was compiled by the consulting firm of Scatliff and Miller and Murray.

Mike Scatliff says if the city decided to implement all the suggestions in the report, it would
cost almost 15 million dollars.

The report looks at refurbishing Garrow, Anicinabe and Coney beaches, as well as
improvements to Portage Bay, and downtown Keewatin.

Scatliff says the report is based on broad consultations with local residents over the
past year.

Kenora and Dryden finalize Recycling agreement

Kenora City Council has laid the groundwork for a deal with the City of Dryden to haul its recyclables to Winnipeg.

The city is getting funding from the Continuous Improvement Fund to help puchase a truck which will haul recyclables from both communities.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says if the system proves effective, its possible they could come to similar agreements with other communities in the region such as Red Lake and Fort Frances.

Under the agreement, the City of Kenora will send a truck to Dryden twice a week to pick up recyclables.

The other three days a week, the truck will be used to take Kenora's recycling to Winnipeg.

Far North Act Passes Third and Final Reading

Business leaders in northern Ontario are joining First Nations in expressing disappointment with today's passage of the Far North Act.

Harold Wilson, chief operating officer of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, says the bill will make it harder for companies and First Nations to do business in the north.

Some First Nations leaders have warned of unrest and uncertainty in the north because of the passage of the Far North Act, which they say violates treaty rights.