Hockey Day In Canada Update

By: Tim Davidson

2009-05-14

08:10:27

Kenora is still in the running for CBC's Hockey Day in Canada.

The city was notified yesterday afternoon that Kenora was one of three finalists in the running to host the day long TV special in 2010.

Councillor Chris Van Wallenghem says CBC officials will be in town either May 25th or 26th for a site visit. 

Kenora was one of six potential sites selected for nexts years event, and the CBC says it will decide within 10 days of its tour where Hockey Day in Canada will take place. 

---

New School Dryden

By: Tim Davidson

2009-05-14

08:09:30

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is still hopeful that construction can begin this year on a new elementary school in Dryden.

The board had to go back to the drawing board after the last design came in way over budget.

Dean Carrie is the Superintendant of Business and says they are trying to stay within the 14.3 million dollar allocation from the Ministry of Education. 

The initial design had room for as many as 600 students.

The project is expected to go out for tender by the end of June, and construction could begin before the end of summer.

---

LOW Hospital Energy Audit

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-14

08:08:13

The Lake of the Woods Hospital has hired Honeywell Corporation to look for energy efficiencies in their building.

The company will be conducting an energy audit this month.

C.E.O. Marc Balcaen says the report should be ready some time in June.

The hospital is paying Honeywell 32 thousand dollars for the audit and study.

Meanwhile, the hospital is also one of 25 facilities to undergo a purchasing protocol audit by the Ministry of Finance.

---

 

Recreation Centre Plan

By: Tim Davidson

2009-05-14

08:07:25

The City of Kenora is planning to spend up to 50 thousand dollars on a recreation plan.

Councillor Chris Van Wallenghem says they not only want to find ways of streamlining costs at the Kenora Rec. Center, they also want to maximize usage.

Van Wallenghem adds that the study can also be used to tap into infrastructure money announced by the federal government recently, which will be used to fix up aging recreation facilities. 

---

Cancer Care NWO

By: Tim Davidson

2009-05-14

08:00:12

Northwestern Ontario residents have a higher incidence of cancer than other parts of the province.

That's according to Dr. Michael Sherar, who is the vice-president of regional programs for Cancer Care Ontario.

He was in Kenora yesterday for the annual spring forum.

Sherar says there are a number of reasons for the higher cancer rate in this region.

Dr. Sherar says fortunately, this region has very good cancer treatment facilities.

He adds that despite the large distances between hospitals, patients can often get treatment in their home communities thanks to the tele-health system. 

---

Visitor Restriction Birchwood Terrace

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-13

09:33:10

You won't be able to visit any of the residents at Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home this week.

A respiratory outbreak has been declared at the long term care facility in Kenora.

The Northwestern Health Unit and home staff are working together to control and prevent the spread of the illness.

A visitor ban has been put in place to help manage the spread of the illness to residents and staff.

---

Boat Crash LOW

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-13

09:28:49

It's not even summer yet, and the OPP's Marine Unit has already seen its first collision on Lake of the Woods.

Yesterday, a vessel struck a reef in the area of Canoe Channel near the Keewatin Channel.

8 people were travelling in the 21 foot Doral when they came in contact with the reef.

The occupants were able to paddle to a near by island before the boat sunk.

The boat was destroyed but thankfully no one was injured.

OPP are reminding boaters to proceed with caution when you are in unfamiliar waters.

---

Highway 17 Construction

By: Mike Ebbeling

2009-05-04

06:23:45

Construction on safety improvements on the Trans-Canada Highway just east of Thunder Bay are to begin next year.

But the timing on the entire four-laning of Highway 11-17 between Thunder Bay and Nipigon remains a big question mark.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the government is committed to four-laning the entire 100-kilometre stretch.

---

OPP New Commander

By: Mike Ebbeling

2009-05-04

06:23:10

Rainy River District will be getting a new OPP Detachment commander this month.

Staff Sergeant John Kendrick will take over the job from Inspector Dave Lucas, who relocated to Kenora in January.

Kendrick is currently the O-P-P's regional traffic manager in Thunder Bay.

---

Teacher Deal KPDSB

By: Mike Ebbeling

2009-05-04

06:22:35

Done Deal!

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has now secured contract's with all of its staff.

The final deal was ratified with the Union representing Elementary Occasional Teachers.

The 4-year agreement includes a 10-percent wage hike over the life of the contract.

Officials say an additional 3.5-percent increase in the 2009-2010 school year has been applied to bring the rates into parity with High School Occasional Teachers.

---

Norman Park Funding

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-04

06:21:33

The City of Kenora has taken the next step in revitalizing Norman Park.

Council recently applied for funding under the Building Canada Fund.

Jeff Port is the city planner and says the project is expected to come in at 5 million dollars.

The project includes improvements to the Norman Community Club, the Railway Museum, Norman Beach and the development of new walking trails in the area.

---

Property Owners Meeting

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-04

06:20:53

Property Owners Meeting

"Going green at the lake" is this year's theme for the Lake of the Woods Property Owners cottage show.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn how to improve your cottage in an environmentally friendly way.

Other seminars will be on being green on the lake and toxic algae in the Lake of the Woods district.

The Property Owners Association annual general meeting will be held in the evening on Monday and the cottage show will run from 3 to 9pm.

The annual event is being held once again at the Victoria Inn in Winnipeg.

---

Dryden Emergency Site

By: Mike Ebbeling

2009-05-04

06:19:49

The Provincial Director of the Canadian Red Cross says the determination and commitment of the Mayor may pay off in the very near future.

Dryden is trying to become a "host" community for evacuated centres across Northern Ontario.

John Saunders says the Mayor has done a great job forming partners, especially with area First Nations.

Thunder Bay and Sudbury are also said to be vying for the "host" designation.

---

New SPCA Website

By: Mike Ebbeling

2009-05-04

06:19:06

Animal lovers in the North will want to check out this new website.

The Dryden and Kenora Branch of the OSPCA is on-line with updated content and a fresh new design.

Public Relations Manager Kristin Williams says the site offers a wealth of information.

Williams adds the website includes lists of adoption centre in Northern Ontario and resources for reporting animal cruelty and identifying abuse.

www.kenoradryden.ontariospca.ca

---

New Drinking Driving Laws

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-01

07:57:03

Kenora OPP are reminding the public that new drinking and driving legislation takes effect today.

Drivers found with a blood alcohol level between point-0-5 and point 0-8 will lose their licence for three days.   

A second offence brings a seven-day licence suspension and a visit to an alcohol education program.   

Three-time offenders lose their licence for 30 days and their vehicle will be fitted with an ignition interlock.

The licence suspensions cannot be appealed. 

---

Ontario Mining Act

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-01

07:44:48

The McGuinty Government is making significant strides in Aboriginal consultation in its proposed changes to the mining act.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle unveilled the new legislation Thursday.

Gravelle says the act will provide clear rules for industry and reduce the impact of mineral exploration on the environment.

If the legislation is passed, Ontario will begin putting new rules in place later this year.

---

NAN on Mining Act

By: Mike Ebbeling

2009-05-01

07:43:40

The Nishnawbe-Aski Nation is pleased the Provincial Government is starting to address aboriginal concerns but notes the proposed Mining Act doesn't meet all of their needs.

Grand Chief Stan Beardy says they are concerned that First Nations still don't have to be notified before a claim is staked.

Beardy adds the Legislation falls short of giving aboriginals a share of mining revenues.

---

Council Awards Landscaping Contract

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-01

07:41:44

Kenora City Council has awarded the tender for the remaining landscape work in the areas of the roundabout, City Hall, and Main Street.

Wilco Contracting had the winning bid, coming in at almost 574 thousand dollars.

Councillor Dave McCann says the landscaping will have a minimal impact on traffic.

That work is expected to be complete by June 30th.

---

Council Project Funding

By: Sheri Leviski

2009-05-01

07:40:46

Kenora City Council is applying for Federal and Provincial funding for a number of infrastructure projects.

One of the applications is for 7 million dollars from the Canada-Ontario Stimulus Fund.

Operations Committee Chair and Councillor Dave McCann says they want to put the funding towards repaving parts of Highway 17 east and west.

Council is also applying for money to fix up sections of Lakeview Drive as part of the Downtown Revitalization Project.

---

Bombardier TTC

By: Canadian Press

2009-04-30

06:38:27 

Toronto's contract to spend a (b) billion dollars on streetcars to be made in Thunder Bay has hit a problem.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says they haven't budgeted for their one-third share of Toronto's 1.2 billion dollar deal for Bombardier streetcars. 

Infrastructure Minister George Smitherman says he was surprised by Toronto's commitment.

The premier says they also have to talk with Ottawa about their one-third share. Toronto Mayor David Miller could not be reached for comment yesterday.

---