Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Speed Limit Proposed for Cameron Point

Kenora's Police Service Board is suggesting a speed limit in the Cameron Point area of Lake of the Woods.

The Board has received a letter from concerned residents about boats speeding through that area.

Inspector Dave Lucas from the Kenora OPP says its something they have been looking at for some time.

A limit of 9 kilometers an hour has been suggested, but Lucas says they will have to go through Transport Canada to have any kind of speed regulation in that area.

Police Release Details of Weekend Boat Blast

The OPP have released more details of a boat explosion on Lake of the Woods.

Police say the incident took place around 7:15 Monday evening in Bald Indian Bay.

Four people from Winnipeg were transporting gas cans from the Bare Point Marina, when the explosion took place.

The 5.6 meter fiberglas boat was destroyed in the blast, and all four occupants ended up in the water.

They were rescued by people who were at the marina at the time.

The four ranged in age from 22 to 59 and are recovering in hospital in Winnipeg.

The Ontario Fire Marshall's office has been contacted and the investigation is continuing.

Local Union Rep Embraces Merger of CEP and CAW

Canada's newest and largest private sector union is ready to hit the ground running.

The Canadian Auto Workers and Communication,
Energy and Paperworkers Union officially merged to become Unifor this weekend.

Local National Unifor rep Stephen Boone says first Unifor President Jerry Diaz has promised to get away from playing defence.

Unifor now represents almost 310-thousand Canadians, including 7-thousand in the northwest, in 20 key sectors.

Tourist Numbers Up this Summer

A mainly warm summer translated to increase visitor numbers
in Kenora.

Tourism Kenora says they saw over 20 thousand people pass through their doors at the Discovery Center and the Thistle Pavillion.

Acting Tourism Services Manager, Mark Duggan says this is the second year they have been able to track visitor numbers for a full summer at the Discovery Center.

While more people visited the Discovery Center, the biggest increase in visitor traffic was seen at the Thistle Pavillion, with more than 15 hundred more tourists this year than last year.

Wynne Committed To Twinning Highway 17 West

Premier Kathleen Wynne says she's fully committed to the twinning
of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Kenora.

But she admits she doesn't know when the project might ever get underway.

Former Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty and prime minister Stephen Harper announced the funding for the 100 million dollar project four years ago.

That was the last time, until this weekend, that a sitting premier has visited Kenora.

Rickford Has Mixed Feelings on ELA Deal

A new deal is in place to keep the Experimental Lakes Are open and Kenora MP Greg Rickford couldn't be happier.

Rickford says the federal government put a lot of time and effort into talks with the province and the International Institute for Sustainable Development.

However, Rickford isn't mincing words when voicing his displeasure with the province on the way it handled the announcement.

He is accusing the government of playing games.

Rickford says the province released a statement with no mention of the federal government.

Northern Harbor Wins First Game of Ladies Slo-Pitch Final

Northern Harbor is a win away from another Days Inn Ladies Slo-Pitch Championship.

Northern Harbor took game one of its best-of-three A-Side final last night 13-5 against Dunit Contracting at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Northern Harbor has yet to lose a game this season.

Game two goes tonight at 7:00.