Missing Snowmobiler Found Safe

A missing sledder is safe and sound after spending the night on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP were contacted about a snowmobiler who was reported missing around 7:00
last night.

The Emergency Response Team was dispatched along with a Search and Rescue Aircraft
from Winnipeg.

Around 6:30 this morning, a fire was spotted on Bigsby Island, about 80 kilometers south of
Kenora.

An OPP snow machine was dispatched and the sledder was picked up.

He was cold but otherwise in good health.

Police say the sledder became bogged down in slush at the south end of the lake and
became disoriented.

Save ELA Forums Tonight

Its Save the ELA day in northwestern Ontario.

Two separate forums are taking place:  one in Kenora the other in Sioux Lookout.

Peter Kirby helped organize the Kenora gathering and says the morale at the Experimental Lakes Area isn't very good right now.

Kirby says the have four former scientists and some area political figures attending the forum.

The forum is at the Knox United Church and starts with a spaghetti dinner at 5:30 and discussions at 6:30.

NOMA Declares Victory in Battle Over ESA

Proof that working as one can pay off!

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association has won its battle against the province and proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield is Vice-President of NOMA and says the appeal period ended on February 25th and says the changes have been left out.

Canfield says the revisions would have impacted the rebound that the forest sector is starting to see.

Northwest Business Center Brings in Guest Speaker

International Women's Day will celebrated in Kenora a little early this year.

Tomorrow, Zahra Al-Harazi,, originally from Yemen, will be a keynote speaker at an event being put on tomorrow by the Northwest Business Center.

When her teaching degree was rejected in Canada, she return to school, later becoming the owner of marketing firm she help start in Calgary.

She is also a Chalelaine's Magazine Woman of the Year.

Tickets can be purchased through the city's web portal at Kenora.ca or at the door.

The  breakfast will take place at 8:30 tomorrow morning at the Super 8 Minis Hall.

NAN Raises Concerns About FASD

NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler says the government's inaction over the issue of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder will cause irreversible damage to future generations.

Fiddler says that FASD is an issue faced by all NAN communities, and that it is unacceptable that the regions most affected by it are ignored.

He also states that the only NAN children who receive proper care for FASD are the ones in foster care or involved in the criminal justice system.

Lakehead Opens Mining Center of Excellence

Lakehead University is moving with the times as it launches a new Mining Center of Excellence.  

Founding Director Peter Hollings says researchers at the insitutiton are coming together to make the transition into the new economy in northern Ontario a little less confrontational.

The centrer will look at three areas, mining and exploration, the environment and First Nations.

Saints Wrap up OFSAA Round Robin Today

The Thomas Aquinas senior girls volleyball team is still in the mix at the All-Ontario Single A Championships in Lakefield, near Peterborough.

The Saints split their games on day one of the OFSAA tournament and have
a 1-1 record entering day two.

Yesterday T.A. beat Le Caron from Penetanguishene in two straight sets.

That after opening with a straight sets loss to the host team from Lakefield.

This morning, the Saints play two more games, one at 7:30 against Greenwood
College from Toronto, and again at 10:30 against Marymount Academy from Sudbury.