Youth Charged For Child Pornography

A local youth is facing child pornography charges.

On January 12th police were notified that explicit photographs of a 17 year girl were discovered.

OPP investigated and found that the pictures were electronically distributed by a 16 year boy from Kenora.

As a result the boy, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with distribution of Child Pornography.

He will answer to the charges in Kenora court later this month.

Supreme Court Rules On Release Residential School Documents

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is pleased the Superior Court has ordered the Federal Government to release documents relating to abuse at a residential school in Fort Albany.

Surviors of that school have called for the documents since they first found out they existed in 2003.

The ruling says the Government of Canada has to produce documents to claimants and survivors and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission relating to a 1990’s criminal investigation into abuse at St. Anne’s Residential School.

The Superior Court hearing took place in December, but the ruling was just released yesterday.

Kenora Skiers Excel at Falcon Lake Biathlon

Good results for Kenora skiers at a Biathlon competition in Falcon Lake over the weekend.

It was a sprint race with two shooting competitions.

Katie Lockhart is competing for a berth at the Canada Winter games and placed second in the junior girls division.

In the girls 11 and 12 age group, Elise Hummelbrunner didn't miss any shots and topped the division, followed by Olivia Ura.

Tim Wehner was first in the Masters men's division, while Elizabeth Hartwick placed third in the Masters women's race.

Osisko Rejects Goldcorp Offer

Osisko is resisting a takeover bid from Goldcorp.

Earlier this week, Goldcorp made an offer of 2.6 billion dollars in cash and stock for Osisko.

Osisko calls the offer very low and opportunistic.

The board of the mining company is urging shareholders to hold off from accepting Goldcorp's
offer until they have a chance to make a recommendation on the proposal.

Another Attempt to Gain UNESCO Designation

Another attempt is going to be made to have a vast area spanning the
border of Ontario and Manitoba declared a UNESCO World Hertiage site.

Pimachiowin Aki is an area of boreal forest that Ontario and Manitoba want
to have recognized by the United Nations.

Last year the World Heritage Committee deferred its decision and now the
Manitoba government says its re-working its application.

The deadline is February 1st, but if they can't make that they will have to
wait until 2016.

KPDSB Looking to Move Board Office in Kenora

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is close to signing a 10-year lease agreement with Seven Generations for the new site for the Board Office in Kenora.

The new office would be more visible and central at the former Lakewood School.

Director of Education Sean Monteith says there are a number of reasons behind the move.

The new lease agreement is pegged around 200-thousand dollars a year, but renovations are expected to be factored into the price.

Monteith says there will be no provincial funding for the move.

Council Concerned With Rising Social Service Costs

Kenora City Council is raising alarm bells about the rising costs of social services.

The city's contribution to the Kenora District Services Board will increase by 1.6 percent this year.

Mayor Dave Canfield says when the government started uploading services again, the cost of the DSAB was supposed to go down, not up.

Canfield says their infrastructure deficit is the result of aging social housing units, and a land ambulance system which has to cover a huge territory.

Rabbit Lake Possible Venue For National Rowing Competition

Kenora is hoping to play a key role in the 2017 Canada Summer Games.

Winnipeg will be hosting the games, but Kenora has been approached about being a venue for the rowing competition.

Property and Planning Manager Charlotte Caron says Rabbit Lake is an ideal location
for the rowing events.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the city had a chance to be the rowing venue for the 1999 Pan/Am games,
but the decision was made to go with Minnedosa instead.

Toronto Man Arrested In Dryden For Kidnapping Sons

A Toronto man who allegedly kidnapped his 3-year-old and 4-year-old sons from Alberta has been arrested in Dryden.

The Edmonton Police Service alerted Ontario Provincial Police and the man was spotted driving through Dryden around 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon.

Police arrested 29-year-old Ilhami Butin.

Butin faces 2-counts of child abduction, 2-counts of kidnapping and 1-count of uttering threats.

He remains in custody and is due in court today.

The two young boys were unharmed.

NAPS Seizes Illegal Firearms

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service has seized prohibited weapons from a northern first nations home.

Officers searched a Mattagami First Nation residence last Friday and found two sawed-off rifles, one sawed-off shotgun and several types of ammunition.

Police are still investigating and more information will be released once charges have been laid.

Carnival Snow Sculpture Contest Launched

A chance to be an Olympian.

The theme for this years snow sculpture competition is the Olympics.

Crystal Stokes is the Special Events Coordinator and says the event will get underway next month.

Registration forms can be found around town and are being accepted until February 3rd.

Plane Crash Survivor Files Lawsuit

The sole survivor of a plane that went down at North Spirit Lake is suing the airline and the estate of the dead pilot, claiming negligence.

Brian Shead has filed the lawsuit in Winnipeg court.

Three passengers and the pilot were killed in the January, 2012 crash.

A Transportation Safety Board investigation concluded poor weather, ice on the wings and the pilot’s inexperience landing in icy conditions contributed to the deadly crash.

The lawsuit also alleges that Keystone Air Service was negligent because it failed to provide proper training to the pilot, didn't provide a plane that could handle the winter weather and applied pressure to its pilots to complete flights in adverse weather conditions.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages for pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life.

Shead is also seeking undetermined out-of-pocket expenses, as well as compensation for loss of income,
belongings that were destroyed in the crash and damages for future costs of care.