NOSM Hosts European Dignitaries

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is hosting an international recruitment conference tomorrow.

Dean Dr. Roger Strasser says northern European countries are coming to Thunder Bay to learn how to attract health care professionals to under serviced areas.

Strasser says later in the afternoon they'll listen to the delegates from the European nations on what they're doing to attract Doctors.

Resolute Set For Paper Machine Shutdown

The last operating paper machine at Resolute Forest Products mill in Fort Frances will go silent at the end of the month.

The company says paper machine number 5 will stop running January 31st because of poor market conditions.

Spokesperson Xavier Van Chau says it's not certain when or if the machine will run again.

About 150 employees will be impacted, leaving about 60 other workers to manage operations afterwards.

OPP Offer Ice Hut Drinking Reminder

Provincial Police are reminding folks that it's illegal to drink booze in an ice shack.

Police say they know it's happening and add they have received several complaints.

Constable Erin Huckell says their main concern is drinking and driving.

Anyone caught drinking alcohol in an ice hut could be hit with a fine.

Huckell says officers will be patrolling area ice roads.

Council Enters Final Year of Four Year Term

It's the beginning of the end for Kenora City Council.

This edition of council begins it's fourth and final year of the
current term today.

The first committee of the whole meeting of 2014 is just getting
underway.

A new council will be elected in October.

So far, only one person has entered the council race.

Kelvin Chicago-Boucher, who ran in the last federal election as an independent, filed his nomination papers last week.

CUPE Challenges School Board to Accept Contract

The Canadian Union of Public Employees is calling on opposition parties at Queen's Park to reject new legislation being fast-tracked by the provincial government.

Fred Hahn is president of CUPE Ontario and says Bill 122 would allow the government to collectively bargain for all school boards across the province.

Hahn says the government still hasn't honored legislation it drafted last year dealing with school support workers.

Hahn says the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is one of 12 across the province that hasn't signed onto a collective agreement reached last year with CUPE.

BIZ Bullish On Shop Local Campaign

A shop local campaign launched just before Christmas seems to have paid dividends for local business.

The Harbortown Business Improvement Zone says it's pleased with it's
Black Friday promotion.

Mort Goss is chair of BIZ and says they'd like to carry out similar campaigns during special events in 2014.

Goss says they are looking at tax free shopping events attached to events
like the Winter Carnival, Canada Day and Harborfest.

Northwestern Ontario Skater Heading to Olympics

Balmertown's Eric Radford is headed to the Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia.

Radford, who trained briefly in Kenora and his partner Meagan Duhamel have been named to the Canadian Figure Skating team.

The pair defended their title and won the pairs competition at the Canadian nationals over the weekend in Ottawa.

Radford says it's a dream come true.

The pairs short program is set for February 11th, with the free skate taking place the next day.