NAN holds Conference on Energy

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is hosting a three day conference on First Nation energy needs.

Area Chiefs will talk about energy issues, and what needs to be done to improve the energy distribution.

Speakers at the conference will include reps from the Federal and Provincial Governments and First Nations.

Northwest LHINs ready fro expanded role

Ontario's Liberal government will give more power to local health agencies as it looks to overhaul the health system to lower costs.

Local health integration networks, or LHINs, will be given responsibility for family doctors.

Laura Kokocinski is CEO of the Northwest LHINs and says they are will to take on an

expanded role. 

Kokocinski, says the organization is prepared to make it work.

Relay for Life Town Hall Wednesday night

Wanted: volunteers for the annual Relay for Life in Kenora.

Tomorrow night a town hall style meeting will take place for anyone interested in helping out.

Lois Bailey is one of the co-chairs and says they have a number of positions that need to be filled.

The meeting will take place in the Kenora Rec. Center starting  tomorrow night at 6:30.

Comfort Inn re-opens following flood

The Comfort Inn in Kenora is getting an unexpected makeover.

The Sunset Strip motel sustained extensive water damage over the weekend after a water main broke causing extensive flooding.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department was called out around 5:00 Sunday morning to help deal with the situation.

In the meantime, crews have been called in to replace damaged drywall and carpeting.

The motel has since re-opened its doors. 

Kenora Residents Digging out from overnight snowfall

It took a while, but Old Man winter has finally hit northwestern Ontario.

The Kenora area has received about 10 centimeters of snow since last night.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the good news is the winter weather will be short-lived with warmer weather on the way. 

Local highways are described as snow-covered with some slippery sections.

Crews are out this morning clearing local roads and sanding.

Caution is still advised, especially on secondary roads and side streets which haven't been plowed yet.

Feds pull the Plug on the EcoEnergy Program

Environmental groups in northwestern Ontario say they are surprised that the Federal Government has cut short its registration period for the ecoEnergy for Houses program.

The program provides money to homeowners who make improvements to their home that will save energy.

Ellen Mortfield of EcoSuperior says the program was supposed to end in March.

People already signed up for the program have until June 30th to have their follow up home evaluation.

Tourism Kenora gets new sign

Tourism Kenora now has a little higher visibility outside the city.

A large sign was erected at the Ontario Tourism bureau at the Manitoba border last week advising motorists that they can get visitor information at the Discovery Center in Kenora.

The sign was jointly funded by Tourism Kenora and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership.

Its hoped the new sign will bring visitors into town, who would normally just stay on the by-pass and sell them on the local attractions.

New Federal Riding Boundaries Expected this year

New boundaries for federal ridings could be re-drawn later this year.

The federal government passed third reading of legislation to increase the number of ridings across Canada just before the Christmas break.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says its too early to say how the riding re-alignment will affect northwestern Ontario.

The Federal Riding Boundaries Commission is expected to begin the process of riding redistribution in February following the release of the Census.

Fort Club Wins Sunset Country Figure Skating Competition

A good weekend for local figure skaters.

Kenora hosted the Sunset Country Regional Interclub Figure Skating competition.

The host Kenora Skating Club won 14 individual gold medals, five silver, six bronze, while the Keewatin Figure Skating Club earned 9 gold medals, 14 silver, nine bronze.

The Border Figure Skating Club from Fort Frances won the high point total trophy.

Broncos and Saints in Action tonight

The Beaver Brae Girls hockey team will be looking to carry some momentum into their  game tonight against Dryden.

The Broncos beat the Eagles in a tournament final over the weekend.

It was the Eagles first loss this season.

The two teams will play at the Thistle rink starting at 7:30 this evening.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team has a tall order tonight.

The Saints travel to Fort Frances to take on the league-leading Muskies.

 Game time is 7:00.