Igance Re-Instates Kennerd as Mayor

Ignace Council is going back to a familiar face as Mayor.

Council has agreed to appoint Lee Kennard as Mayor, citing the significant cost of a by-election as one of the reasons behind the decision.

A delegation asked Council to put Kennard back in the top position, citing his huge electoral win last October and his strong performance as Mayor.

Kennard resigned on January 27th, but had a change of heart 5-days later.

Council legally deemed the position open, prompting a debate on what should happen next.

He will be sworn back in as Mayor on March 13th.

Province withdraws land from exploration near Big Trout Lake

The Provincial Government is withdrawing over 23-thousand square kilometers of land around the Big Trout Lake First Nation from any new mining activity.

The First Nation recently asked for a moratorium on mineral exploration and

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci says they have taken action.

Bartollucci says God's Lake Resources mining lease and claim are not affected by the withdrawl.

Saints win first two games at OFSAA

The Thomas Aquinas Girls volleyball team is off to a good start at the All-Ontario Single A championships taking place in downtown Toronto.

The Saints have won their first two games of the round robin, beating two of the host teams.

T.A. just finished off a two set sweep over University of Toronto Schools by scores of 25-22 and 25-17.

Earlier in the day, the Saints started off with a straight sets win over Toronto District Christian School.

Up next for the Saints is the 5th ranked team in the tournament, Chippewa Secondary School from North Bay.

Tonight, T.A. wraps up the round robin against Acton.

OPP Investigate Hit and Run in Lakeside

The OPP are investigating a hit and run collision in the 3rd Street South area of town.

Police say the incident took place around 8:30 Friday night after an older model white pick-up truck lost control and struck a GMC Sierra that was parked on the street.

The white truck left the scene without stopping.

Anyone with information about the accident is asked to contract the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Winter Carnival Called a Big Success

Organizers of Kenora's Winter Carnival are hoping to build on this year's event.

Tourism Development Officer, Heather Paterson says they were pleased with the turn-out, but would like to expand in the years to come.

Paterson suggests that attendance was up at most events this past weekend and wants to Winter Carnival to be a feature event in the city in the years to come.

Winter Carnival Winners announced

The Kenora Winter Carnival Charity Challenge is going to the dogs.

Its a Dog's Life ran away with the fundraiser for the second year in a row.

It's A Dog's Life sold over 25 hundred of the two dollar buttons.

Triple Play was well back with 800 buttons sold.

In the snow sculpture contest, Laura Cotton's team from KACL won best overall with their Tobagganers, while Lori and Lyn Grey had the best theme with their ice fishing sculpture.

Polar Paddlers win Great Canadian Canoe Race

The Polar Paddlers are return champions of the Great Canadian Canoe Race.

The team braved deep snow, slush and lots of broken ice en route to victory yesterday.

Jordan Charlebois says this year's race was definitely a challenge.

The Flying Trappers finished second.

Only three of the four boats entered actually finished the gruelling race.

Fraser Institute released annual report on Elementary Schools

Mixed results for elementary schools in the Kenora District in terms of academic achievement.

The Fraser Institute is out with its yearly rankings.

Spokesperson Michael Thomas says there are some low with Lakewood and Pope John Paul II getting 3.5 out of 10. 

At the other end of the scale, Ste. Margarite Bourgeoys topped the list in this region with a score of eight out of ten, and King George saw the biggest gain, moving up to 7.2 out of ten, from 4.7 last year.

Bronco Girls beats Dryden to advance to OFSAA Hockey Finals

Beaver Brae's Girls hockey team seems to be peaking at just the right time.

The Broncos knocked off the Dryden Eagles in the best-of-three NorWOSSA final last night at the Kenora Rec. Center 3-0.

Beaver Brae wins the series two games to none.

Rylee Smith, Hannah Rose and Kaitlyn Sparkman each scored for the Broncos, while Aryn Puls was named player of the game with the shutout.

Beaver Brae now travels to Belleville for the OFSAA championships starting March 21st.

Meanwhile, the Bronco boys hockey team were unable to solve the Fort Frances Muskies.

Saints head to OFSAA Volleyball and Basketball championships

The Thomas Aquinas senior girls volleyball and senior boys basketball teams are in southern Ontario today for the start of the All-Ontario Single A championships.

The Saints girls squad has won silver the last two years at OFSAA and are gunning for gold this year.

They are the second ranked team in the tournament and take on the host team, Toronto District Christian School at 8:00 this morning in their first round robin game.

The Saints boys meanwhile are down the QEW in St. Catharines.

T.A. is ranked 13th at the OFSAA basketball championships and play their first game at 7:00 tonight against Ecole Secondaire Lejeunesse.

Torch Relay for Life comes to town

An ambitious campaign to sign up one million organ donors in Ontario hit the ground running in Kenora today.

The Torch Relay for Life started at Beaver Brae before heading to City Hall.

George Marcello is spearheading the campaign and says they've been working a long time on increasing organ donations across the country.

The campaign moves to Dryden on Monday and then Fort Frances and Thunder Bay later next week.

Changes in Store for Land Ambulence Service

Some changes to the way land ambulence service is provided in the region.

Chief executive at Lake of the Woods District Hospital says non-emergent ambulence transfers could become a thing of the past.

He says its an issue the District Services Board is currently looking at.

Belcaen says they currently have about 300 non-emergent transfers to hospitals in Winnipeg each year, and that doesn't include local transfers between the hospital and local long term care facilities.

He says northwestern Ontario isn't like southern Ontario and a different solution is needed.

Bronco Boys and Girls aim for NORWOSSA Gold

Two long-time rivals meet again for the Girls High School Hockey title.

The Dryden Eagles entertain the Beaver Brae Broncos tonight in Game 1 of the Best of 3 Final.

The Eagles finished just ahead of the Broncos for first place in the standings.

The two teams have met in every single NorWOSSA Final.

Puck-drop is 6:30 at the Memorial Arena in Dryden.

Meanwhile, Beaver Brae's boys team travels to Fort Frances tonight for game one of their best-of-three final against the Muskies.

Torch of Life Relay Begins this Morning

A cross-province campaign to sign up one million organ donors gets underway in Kenora today.

The Torch of Life Relay will begin this morning with an assembly at Beaver Brae Secondary School.

The Torch will then make its way to city hall, where the Torch will be passed to Kenora mayor Dave Canfield.

The relay will visit 75 communities across Ontario over the next four months.

Hospital Worried About Impact of Drummond Report

Lake of the Woods District Hospital says it doesn't know how much more it can cut without affecting services.

Chief Executive Officer Marc Belcaen says they are worried about the impact the Drummond Report will have on their finances this year.

The Drummond Report recommends a wide array of cost-cutting measures for the provincial government, including capping health spending at one percent.

Canfield returns from ROMA/OGRA Conferences

Still no guarantee of funding for Kenora's aging bridges.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield has returned from the Ontario Good Roads Conference in Toronto with out any promise from the provincial government.

Canfield says while they received mixed messages on the infrastructure front, they did have a very positive meeting with Glen Murray, the Minister of Colleges, Training and Universities.

Canfield is hoping to get more government ministers to come to Kenora in April, when the city hosts the annual Northwstern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.

Youth arrested in Sandy Lake School Fire

Nishnawbe-Aski Police have arrested a 13-year-old boy for allegedly starting a large fire at the Sandy Lake First Nation elementary school.

The February 19th fire caused extensive damage to Thomas Fiddler Memorial School.

Police arrested the young teen on Wednesday.

The boy has been charged with break and enter as well as arson.

He has been released on conditions and is due in Court on April 17th.

The school will be closed for the remainder of the school year due to the damage it sustained.

Kenora Winter Carnival Begins this evening

Just in time for the Winter Carnival, its starting to look like a winter wonderland in Kenora.

The carnival kicks off tonight with a fireworks display at 7:00.

Crystal Stokes is one of the organizers and says over the weekend, most of the activities will be in or around the big tent on the Harborfront.

There are also other activities throughout the community, including the Blues Fest, which starts tonight at the Lake of the Woods Hotel.

Premier Vague on Future of the NOHF

The Premier is not saying if the Drummond Report will have any effect on funding levels for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Speaking in Thunder Bay today Dalton McGuinty would only commit to keeping it in existence

The fund currently has an annual budget of 100 million dollars.

ORNGE Scandal Expands

The former President of Confederation College is getting a rough ride over her appointment to the board at the province's scandal plagued air ambulance service.

Progressive Conservative critic Frank Klees says Pat Lang should never have been put on the board because of her past connections to ORNGE CAO Rick Potter, who was working for her at Confederation College.

Potter is coming under fire after he admitted he lied about his university credentials