Friday, January 14, 2011

NOMA Executive Meets in Thunder Bay

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association plans to appoint an Interim President today.


NOMA is meeting in Thunder Bay this afternoon.

Atikokan Mayor Dennis Brown is the current acting President and says he would like to keep the job if no one else wants it.

Government makes changes to Forest Tenure System

The Provincial Government continues to work towards modernizing the forest tenure and pricing system.


The government plans to launch a pilot project of two local forest management corporations which will manage crown forests.

Minister Michael Gravelle says they're also launching enhanced shareholder sustainable forest licences.

Forest Industry organizations were against the proposed changes in the Spring, but Gravelle says they've taken in their concerns and made the necessary changes.

Panel on Northern Health stopping in Dryden

A provincial panel examining rural and northern health care is due to stop in Dryden next month.


That's the only stop in the region for the panel according to co-chair Rick Johnson.

They want to get feedback on a report on the issue

Johnson says all the information relating to the process can be found online

City Council planning for KDMA

The new edition of Kenora City Council has already given indications

that it plans to be more politically active than the last one.
The city is planning to send as five members of council to the
annual Kenora District Municipal Association Conference in Red Lake next
month.

Last year, only one member of council was sent to the KDMA conference, and
none attended the three years before that.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield has indicated that he also plans to be active in
the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, and is travelling to
Thunder Bay for a NOMA executive meeting.

Public School Board Approves new Lodging Policy

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has approved a new policy to
help out students who have to travel a long distance to go to school.

The public school board says its willing to help out with board, lodging and
transportation for students in Pickle Lake and Upsala who go to high school
in other communities.

Dean Carrie is the superintendant of business and says the policy only covers
certain students.

The school board will provide up to 500 dollars a month for room and board
and 100 dollars for transportation.

City of Kenora Signs on as Allan Cup Sponsor

The City of Kenora is getting ready to sign on as a major corporate sponsor
of the Allan Cup Senior Hockey Championships.

Council is expected to approve a recommendation to become a platinum sponsor
of the event, which will take place in April.

The sponsorship will cost eight thousand dollars, and will include advertising
in TV view.

TSN is committed to airing at least two games from the Allan Cup this year, including
the final.

Target to buy up Zeller's

Will Kenora soon be the home of Target?

That's to early say. The US retailer is purchasing over 200 Zellers stores for 1.83 billion dollars.

Spokesperson Amy Riley says the company is really excited about coming to Canada.

Riley says once that process is complete the company will begin evaluating possible locations with the goal of opening as many as 150 locations by 2013.

Busy Day in NorWOSSA Court Sports

It wasn't a great day on the courts for Beaver Brae.


The Broncos managed just one win in four games against Dryden yesterday.

The Beaver Brae senior boys basketball team had the lone win, a 47-43 decision
over the Eagles.

The Bronco junior boys dropped a 47-36 decision to Dryden.

In girls volleyball action, both Beaver Brae's junior and senior teams lost in
three straight sets to the Eagles.

Over at Thomas Aquinas, it was a different story, where the Saints took three of four
games played against Red Lake.

The T.A. junior and senior girls volleyball teams won in three straight sets, while,
the Saints junior boys basketball team cruised to a 65-34 decision.

The Thomas Aquinas senior boys basketball team suffered the lone loss of the day,
falling 73-43 to the Rams.