Lots of Snow, But Not A Record

The Kenora area has seen about twice as much snow as normal this
winter.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says while it hasn't been a record year, there's no doubt there's been a lot of snow.

He says the snow level at the Kenora Airport is 60 centimeters, almost double the normal amount, which is 32 during an average winter.

Laidlaw says that's still a far cry from a record.

The most snow at the end of January was back in 1966, when the snowpack was 102 centimeters deep.

Making Kenora Home Cool To Minimum Wage Hike

An increase in the minimum wage in Ontario is getting a luke
warm response from Making Kenora Home.

Nan Normand is a spokesperson for the group, and says they aren't opposed to the minimum wage rising to 11 dollars an hour.

But she feels there are more efficient ways of tackling poverty.

Yesterday, Premier Kathleen Wynne confirmed the government is going  ahead with a 75 cent an hour increase in the minimum wage.

The minimum wage will rise to 11 dollars an hour on June 1st.

Canadian Rangers On Surveillance Patrol

The Canadian Rangers says they are battling bitterly cold conditions on their two thousand kilometer surveillance patrol.

The mission began on Sunday at the Ontario/Manitoba border along Hudson's Bay.

Captain Mark Rittwage says their snow machine trek is in part to celebrate 20 years
in northern Ontario, and is the longest one they've ever attempted.

The patrol will last two weeks and will hit the halfway mark on Saturday in Cochrane.

Rittwage says they've battled bone chilling conditions, as cold as -55 with the windchill.

OPP Investigating youtube Accident Video

OPP are looking into a viral video that shows a near head on collision on a winter road in the region.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says they're following up on the chilling dash board footage.

Garr says they're trying to identify the driver of the offending truck and charges could be laid.

The video posted on youtube says the incident happened on Highway 11 past Nipigon.

Osisko Battles Goldcorp Takeover Bid

Osisko Mining is taking a stand against a hostile 2.6-billion dollar take-over bid from Goldcorp.

The company says it's in the process of mailing its recommendation to shareholders, urging them to reject the offer.

Officials call it "opportunistic and financially inadequate".

Osisko is also taking legal action against its rival.

It alleges that Goldcorp misused confidential information prior to making the bid.

Vets to Protest Office Closures

It's a day of mourning for veterans in Northwestern Ontario.

They are holding a memorial service today over the loss of the local Veteran's Affairs Canada Office in Thunder Bay.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says he's spoken to local vets and they're not pleased with Minister Julian Fantino.

Vets will now have to travel over 12 hours away to the North Bay office where half their case files are being transferred, the other half will be transferred to Winnipeg.

Cancer Society Readies for Relays for Life

Residents across northwestern Ontario are being encouraged to help get behind one of eight relays for life to be held this summer.

This year, Kenora's Relay will move back down to the Harborfront on June 20th.

The Society's Regional Manager Maria Cabral says a partnership will continue to see some of the money raised staying in this region.

Last year's Relay for Life raised 62 thousand dollars, and this year's fundraising goal is 74 thousand.

Dryden Edges Broncos in NorWOSSA Hockey

A tough loss for Beaver Brae's boys hockey team.

The Broncos were edged 6-5 last night in Dryden by the Eagles.

Logan Ginn and Coel Forsythe led Beaver Brae's offense with a pair of
goals each.

Saints Take 3 of 4 from Red Lake

Thomas Aquinas took three of four games against the the Red Lake Rams in NorWOSSA single "a" action.

The T.A. junior boys cruised to a 51-28 win over Red Lake, while the Saints senior boys suffered the lone loss of the day, dropping a 63-22 decision.

In girls basketball, both Thomas Aquinas senior and junior girls swept the Rams in three straight sets.

Broncos Prepare for Annual KIT

A tough day on the courts for the Beaver Brae Broncos.

The Broncos junior boys basketball team had the lone victory with 53-37 win over the Muskies.

A much different story however as the senior boys fell 65-22.

The senior girls volleyball squad lost in straight sets.

Meanwhile, the Broncos don't have a lot of time recover.

Beaver Brae is hosting it's annual KIT senior boys basketball tournament.

This year, there will be an international flair, with the Lake of the Woods Bears from Baudette, Minnesota entered.

The Broncos will face the Bears in the first game of the day at noon.

Local Rink 0-2 at Northern Bantam Curling Playdowns

A tough start for the Jaron Hoppe rink at the Northern Ontario Bantam
Curling playdowns in Sault Ste. Marie.

The foursome from the Keewatin Curling Club dropped both of it's games yesterday.

Hopped was beaten 9-1 by Tanner Horgan from Sudbury in the first draw
of the day, and then was beaten 5-2 by Christopher Perozak from
Thunder Bay.

Next up for Hoppe is the Chris Silver rink from Fort Frances.