Kenora's Population is aging

Senior citizens now represent 17.2 per cent of the population of Kenora, a ratio higher than the national average, according to the latest census figures.

Newly released census information on age and sex makes it clear that Canadian society is getting older.

The census showed that just over 26 hundred people in Kenora were aged 65 or older.

Kenora's senior population of 17.2 per cent compares to a national average of 14.8 and a provincial average of 14.6 per cent.

Treaty Three National Assembly Starts Today

Members of Treaty Three are making their way to the Big Island First Nation today for their National Assembly.

The three day gathering will feature the traditional selection of the grand chief.

Diane Kelly, who is the first female grand chief of Treaty Three is expected to stand for election once again, and there may be at least one challenger.

The selection of the grand chief will take place tomorrow, while the National Assembly will wrap up on Thursday.

Northern Chiefs Bail on Student Housing Project

The Director of Education for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says he will continue to work with northern chiefs and other First Nation organizations to ensure equal access to education for all students.

Jack McMaster is reacting to an announcement Friday by the chiefs that they have withdrawn from a project to renovate Pinewood School in Dryden and create a First Nations learning and housing facility.

McMaster says the Board will also go back to the drawing board in an effort to utilize the vacant Pinewood School.

City Seeking More Funding from the Province

The City of Kenora has its hand out for more money from the province.

Council has endorsed a resolution calling on the government to increase its payments in lieu from the government of Ontario.

Kenora gets just over 29 thousand dollars from the province for payment in lieu of taxes on the hospital, college and correctional institutions.

Councillor Rory McMillan says the last time that was increased was 1987.

He says based on inflation, the province should actually be paying more than 56 thousand dollars.

CP workers being Legislated Back to Work

Local CP rail workers are less than enthused about back-to-work legislation introduced by the federal government.

Lisa Raitt introduced the bill yesterday in the House of Commons.

Mike Wallace is a local union representitive and says their concerned that issues surrounding fatigue management and their pensions won't be addressed.

The government says it plans to limit debate on the back-to work legislation and will fast track the bill through the House of Commons.

Freight trains could be moving again by Thursday.

Police Forced to kill a wild dog

Wild dogs continue to pose a problem in the community.

Sunday evening, the OPP were contacted about a pack of wild dogs that brought down a fawn near Miikana Way.

Officers were able to locate the pack and managed to shoot and killone of the dogs.

The others managed to escape into the nearby bush.

Police say any dogs posing a risk to public safety may be killed if required.

Broncos Hand Out Sports Awards

Beaver Brae's top male and female athletes were honored last night at the Broncos annual Awards Banquet.

More than 60 awards were handed out by each of the sports teams at the high school.

The Male Athlete of the Year honors went to Andrew Marks, while Manon Magnon was selected as the top Female Athlete.

Shark Youngsters Excel in Thunder Bay

Some of the younger members of the Kenora Sharks Swim Club got to strut their stuff this past weekend in Thunder Bay.

 Natalie Peterson took top spot in the 10 and under 200 meter Individual Medley, while Gabe Mastromateo won the 10 and under 800 meter freestyle.

Amy Warner also won gold in the girls 12 and under 800 meter freestyle event.

The 10 and under boys relay team came 2nd in the 200 Medley Relay, while the girls 12 and under relay team placed first.

A number of the swimmers managed to secure themselves a place in the Man/Sask championships in Regina this July.

Ontario Mayor's Concered about the high cost of Policing

Municipal leaders are starting to raise the alarm bell about the high cost of Policing.

A new steering committee has been set up called the Mayors Coalition for Affordable, Sustainable and Accountable Policing.

Kenora City council has agreed to support the new group.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says policing costs in much of northern Ontario is much higher than southern Ontario and thinks the province should try levelling the playing field.

He says Kenora's costs are about one thousand dollars per capita, while some communities in the south are paying less than half that amount.

Fire Crews Battle Cabin Fire on Lake of the Woods

All the rain this weekend has helped keep the fire hazard low across

northwestern Ontario, but MNR Fire Crews were called out to help

battle a cabin fire on Lake of the Woods.

The fire broke out Saturday afternoon and gutted a cottage in the

Palisade Island area.

A helicopter with a bucket provided support to fire crews on the ground to try and prevent the flames from spreading into the nearby bush.

The OPP say foul play is not suspected in the fire.

Back to Work Legislation Could come Today for CP employees

Striking CP rail workers could find themselves back to work this week.

The Federal government is expected to table legislation sending the 48 hundred members of the Teamsters back to work.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says while he'd prefer to see a negotiated settlement, keeping the trains rolling is in the national interest.

Talks between the union and CP broke down over the weekend.

CP employees have been on strike for the past six days.

Rain to ease up by tomorrow

There is light at the end of this cloudy tunnel we've been in over the past week.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says there is sun in the forecast by Wednesday at the latest.

Yesterday, the Kenora area was deluged by 21 millimeters of rain.

Health Unit Launches Bedbug Awareness Campaign

They like to come out and bite at night and like to feed on the blood of humans.

We are not talking about a real-life Vampire story, we are talking about bed bugs.

Valdine McEwen is with the Northwestern Health Unit and she says the public show be aware that the tiny bugs can cause big problems.

The Health Unit has launched a public awareness campaign to help folks reduce the chances of bringing bed bugs into their home.

Joint Forces Drug Unit Seizes a large amount of pills

The Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit is celebrating a huge drug bust in Thunder Bay.

They raided a hotel room and found more than 14-undred Oxycodone Pills worth an estimated 8-hundred and 41-thousand dollars on the street and more than 93-thousand dollars in cash.

The total value of the bust is just over 9-hundred and 34-thousand dollars, which police believe was headed to a northern first nation community.

A 22-year old woman from Weagamow First Nation has been charged and will appear in court on may 29th.

More MNR fire Crews Heading to Northeastern Ontario

More fire crews from northwestern Ontario are heading to Timmins to help battle a number of wild fires raging out of control.

The MNR says 16 more FireRangers, 15 Overhead staff and two Waterbombers were transferred over to the Northeastern Region yesterday.

Over 200 FireRangers, 90 Overhead staff and over 30 Aircraft from this region are now in northeastern Ontario.

Locally, there is only one active fire of note.

Kenora Fire #36 located on Falcon Island on Lake of the Woods is now listed as being held.

Local Companies get an power boost

A number of tourist camps in northwestern Ontario are going green.

The Northern Ontasrio Heritage Fund is providing grants to four businesses in the Kenora and Rainy River District to install new energy efficient systems.

Salisbury Cruises in Kenora is getting funding to install a solar energy system on a floating lodge on Lake of the Woods.

Kenora Fish Hawk Freightways is also getting money to upgrade an existing solar panel system.

Saints win NWOSSA Soccer Crown

The Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team is heading to the All-Ontario Single A championships next month.

The Saints won the best-of-three NWOSSA final in two straight games against Marathon.

Yesterday afternoon, T.A. cruised to a 2-0 victory.

Patrick Van Bellinghem scored both goals for the Saints.

He also had the lone goal in the first game yesterday, a 1-0 victory over Marathon.

 

Thomas Aquinas will now travel to Windsor June 7th for the OFSAA championships.

Saints Boys Soccer Team Wins Game 1 of NWOSSA Final

The Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team is a win away from advancing to All-Ontario Single A championships.

The Saints edged Marathon 1-0 in the first game of the best-of-three NWOSSA final up at Thomas Aquinas.

Patrick Van Bellingham scored the lone goal of the game early in the first half.

Game two will be played at 5:00 this afternoon.

A win will given T.A. a berth at the OFSAA finals in Windsor next month.

Name Change Requested for Black Sturgeon Island

An island on Black Sturgeon Lake could be in for a name change.

A local resident is asking the city for support to change the name of Island "A" to James Island.

The island would be named after the original trapper who first owned the island.

The resolution will be part of an application being prepared for Ontario's Geographic Names Board for the name change.

OPSEU Speaks out Against Cuts at MNR

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is sounding the alarm over the Province's plans for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

President Smokey Thomas says the government has already cut back the MNR so much that any more cuts will jeopardize our ability to respond to emergency situations like forest fires.

Thomas says the Provincial Government has left fire fighters alone but they've continued to cut their support staff.