Police Push Summer Safety

The OPP is gearing up for another busy summer on the Lake.

The local police are wrapping up Summer Safety week, which is a chance to remind local residents how to stay safe while on the water or in the bush.

Mike Barclay from the OPP says if you run into problems on the Lake, be prepared and don't panic

The theme of Summer Safety week is Expect the Unexpected.

Rickford not sorry to see Penny go

The Canadian one cent piece is going the way of the dodo bird today.

The Royal Canadian Mint in Winnipeg produced its final penny today.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says the penny has really outlived its usefulness and cost

the federal government more than it was actually worth.

Rickford says the penny will still be able to be used as long as they remain in circulation.

Flash Mob Hits downtown Kenora

Its not often traffic in downtown Kenora is brought to a halt.

But that's what happened this afternoon when Kenora's largest ever flash mob took place.

About 600 students from eight elementary schools in Kenora danced to Katy Perry's Firework on Main Street and the Canadian Tire Parking lot today.

There was an anti-bullying message behind the flash mob, and the students all wore pink shirts with the message EPIC, which stands for Every Person is Cool.

26th Home and Leisure Show Opens Today

A busy weekend in Kenora, with the Kenora Home and Leisure Show taking center stage at the Rec. Center.

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is staging the event once again this year, and president, Andy Scribilo says its going to be one of their biggest yet.

The 26th Annual Home and Leisure Show starts this afternoon and will wrap up Sunday afternoon at 3:00.

A portion of the door proceeds will go to the Habitat for Humanity build in Kenora. 

Hospital Not Expecting a Big Increase in Its Budget

Hospital budgets are going to be tight this year.

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network has sent out letters with initial budget projections for each hospital in the region.

Chief Executive Officer Marc Belcaen from Lake of the Woods District Hospital says they don't have all their numbers yet, but they do know they will have less than one percent more to work with in the 2012/2013 fiscal year.

Belcaen says with increased inflation and labor costs, they are going to have to find ways of cutting their expenses and see if there are any areas to increase their income from other sources.

New Campaign to Save Tourism Centers

The campaign to save tourist information centers in Kenora, Fort France and Rainy River is going to be stepped up today.

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell will be heading out to the Visitors Center at the Ontario/Manitoba border to launch the latest initiative this morning.

Yesterday in the Ontario legislature, Campbell asked Minister of Tourism Michael Chan in the to explain the reason behind the closures.

Minister Chan was evasive in his answer but did says the provincial government has put more than 68 million dollars in tourism initiatives in

northern Ontario since 2003.

Beaver Brae set to Launch Hockey Academy

Call it Hockey 101.

Beaver Brae Secondary School is planning to launch a hockey academy next fall as part of its curriculum.

Dave Tresoor is one of the teachers who will be involved in the program and says the academy won't replace their high school hockey program.

Tresoor says they will be able to accept about 28 students in the first year.

The deadline to apply to the program is May 18th.

Spring Gathering this weekend

Its being called a spring gathering.

The Treaty Three Grassroots Citizans Coalition will be meeting under the big tent on the Harborfront this weekend.

Kelvin Chicago-Boucher is helping to organize the event and says this type of event has its origins in traditional aboriginal culture.

The spring gathering will start this afternoon and will wrap up tomorrow.

Richards scores again for the Kings

The Los Angeles Kings had to win a four-team battle last month just to grab the last Western Conference playoff spot.

Now, they're one win away from the conference final.

The Kings are up 3-0 in their conference semi after beating St. Louis 4-2.

Mike Richards scored the Kings first power play goal of the series and added an assist.

Richards says that before the series, they never thought about sweeping the Blues.

The Kings can now wrap up the series at home on Sunday.