Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser Cleans Up

The 8th annual CARSTAR fundraising car wash is taking place tomorrow in Kenora.

Spokesperson Jackynn Tregunno says they are raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

The event is from 10 until 2 o'clock at Crystal Clean Carwash on

Railway Street. 

Harborfront Ready for Special Event Season

Kenora is gearing up for another summer of special events.

The big tent is now up on the Harborfront in preparations for the Beach Boys concert next Wednesday.

The first event of the season under the tent takes place tomorrow with the Swingin' Seniors.

People will be coming in from Fort Frances, Vermillion Bay and Sioux Lookout for the event.

The opening ceremonies will take place at 10:45 Saturday morning and things will wrap up at 4:00.

Former Jaffray Melick Mayor Passes Away

One of the longest serving politicians in the Kenora area has passed away.


Ed Alcock was involved in municipal politics for 45 years with the Town of Jaffray Melick.

He served as both reeve and mayor of the community until he retired in 1995.

Alcock passed away at Lake of the Woods District Hospital early this morning.

He was 84 years old.

Youth Workshop in Kenora Saturday

Local youth are being given a chance talk about some of the issues that are near and dear to their heart.

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is hosting a Youth Dialogue Workshop in Kenora tomorrow.

Anyone between the ages of 12 and 25 are encouraged to come out and give their feedback for a Youth Policy Framework, being drafted by the government.

The forum will ask local youth "what's important to them" and what they need in order to succeed.

The Kenora session is the only one taking place in northwestern Ontario.

It will be held at the Days Inn from noon to 4:30 tomorrow.

Hospital Foundation holds AGM

The Lake of Woods Hospital Foundation is saying farewell to its long-time chair.

Thelma Wilkens-Page is stepping down after a number of years at the helm of the fundraising organization.

The Foundation held its Annual General Meeting last night and announced that it had transferred over 550 thousand dollars to the Hospital for capital improvements in the past year.

In addition to that funding, the Boobie Night's Fundraiser this past weekend made 30 thousand dollars, which will go towards the purchase of a digital mammography and digital x-ray unit for the hospital.

CUPE Campaigns against Hospital Overcrowding

The union representing hospital workers in Ontario wants the provincial government to open more beds not close them.

That was one of the suggestions made during a tour of northwestern Ontario by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Sharon Richer is the northern representative for the union and says over-crowding is leading to poor sanitary conditions in some hospitals.

The tour made a stop in Kenora yesterday and will be in Fort Frances later today.

More Medical Professionals Working in Kenora

The City of Kenora now has record number of medical professionals working in the community.

A report by the Chief of Medical Staff at Lake of the Woods District Hospital shows that there are currently 28 general practitioners and family doctors working in Kenora.

Depite that fact, Dr. Kerry McDonald says a large number of people in the community still have to go to the ER to see a doctor.

He says number of the physicans do not work full-time, or have a restricted practice.

In all, there are 81 medical professionals that have credentials at the hospital.

That includes visiting specialists, dentitists and nurse practitioners.

Relay for Life At Lakewood tonight

The Canadian Cancer Society has already raised 250 thousand dollars across northwestern Ontario this month through Relays for Life in a  number of communities and is expected to get another boost this weekend.

Kenora's Relay is taking place starting tonight at Lakewood School.

Amanda Witta is the co-chair of the event and says one of the highlights of the event is the lighting of the luminaries.

Organizers of this year's relay are hoping to match or exceed last year's fundraising total of over 75 thousand dollars.

The Relay for Life gets underway at 7:00 this evening.

NDP call for Gas Regulation

Andrea Horwath doesn't like how high gas prices in northwestern Ontario are compared to Southern Ontario, so she's promising price caps if elected premier.

The NDP leader also think the sytem should be regionalized.

Horwath believes transporation costs shouldn't be used as an excuse to gouge drivers

Anglican Archbishop speaks out against Kenora's Deer

Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources has received a strongly worded letter from a local religious leader.

Anglican Archbishop of Keewatin, David Ashdown has written a letter complaining about the deer population in Kenora.

Ashdown the deer have lost their fear of humans and are becoming unpredictable and agressive.

He suggests the crown has the responsibility of protecting local residents, but nothing has

been done to control the local deer population.

He goes on to say the minister has a moral obligation to take all steps necessary, including

"if necessary" a cull of the urban deer population.