Crime Stats down so far in 2012

The OPP say they've been trying to crack down on drug related crime in Kenora and that effort seems to be paying off.

Through the first six months of 2012, the amount of crime in the city is down slightly compared to the same period last year, with a significant drop seen in the number of break and enters, mischief complaints and minor thefts.

On the other hand there have already been six thefts over five thousand dollars this year, compared to none for the first half of last year.

The OPP have also noticed an increase in the number of sexual assaults and Inspector Dave Lucas says they are looking into why those incidents have gone up this year.

Waiting list for Social Housing in Kenora District lengthens

There was a slight increase in the Kenora District for social housing last year.

That's a trend that's pretty similar to the rest of the province.

Shared Karur of the Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association says there has been some help from the provincial and federal governments to decrease that list.

The Association says there was an increase of 69 families waiting for social housing in the Kenora District in the past year.

Funding Continued for Aboriginal Youth

A key initiative for aboriginal youth is being continued by the Federal Government.

Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan is renewing the Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth program.

The program encourages youth to get involved in cultural development, community engagement and leadership programs.

Duncan says the programming helps aboriginal youth with job readiness skills and prepares them to enter the labour market.

The program is run through Friendship Centres across Canada.

Canfield Appointed to AMO Board

Dave Canfield's daytimer is starting to get filled up.

The Kenora mayor has returned from the annual Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa with some new duties.

Canfield is now a member of the AMO board.

He will sit on the northern caucus.

AMO is responsible advocating on behalf of towns and cities across Ontario to both the federal and provincial government's.

Federal Government begins Pre-Budget Consulations

The Federal Government is already working on the 2013 budget.

Parliamentary Secretary to Finance Shelly Glover toured northwestern Ontario last week for pre-budget consultations.

Glover says they still want to hear from local residents.

Glover says the budget will focus of maintaining and creating jobs as well as growing the economy.

Fire Crews Heading Home from B.C.

Forest Firefighters are coming back today from British Columbia.

All personnel that went to British Columbia on August 19th will be back in Ontario by the end of today.

British Columbia has had a chance to recycle their staff and the fire situation has decreased.

Typically, FireRangers and other fire response personnel can be out of province on deployment for up to 19 days.

OPP Investigate Ignace Break-Ins

A rash of thefts in Ignace has Provincial Police searching for answers.

Seven reports of break, enter and thefts have been reported in the past few days.

Someone entered a Pine Street home and stole 4-thousand dollars, while someone entered an unlocked garage on Davy Lake Road and stole 5 jerry cans of gasoline and loose change.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers or Ignace OPP.

A Good Turn-Out for Ride For Memories

A big weekend for the Alzheimer Society for Kenora and Rainy River.

Initial estimates show that over 36 thousand dollars was raised in the 10th annual Ride for Memories.

This year, the ride ended up in Sioux Lookout, with a total of 160 motorcyclists taking part in the fundraiser.

Next year, the Ride For Memories will head to Dryden.

Ontario AMBER Alert

The Peel Police Service has issued an AMBER ALERT for two abducted children in the Peel Region. Here are the details:

Vehicle Information: 2006 Dodge Caravan silver




Victim’s name: Louis GALLEGO-HAMMADIEH
Date of Birth: 13 OCT 2002 (Age 9)
Physical Description:
Height- 4’10”
Weight- 85lbs
Hair color- black short hair above ear
Eye color- brown
Clothing: T shirt and jeans, Round eye glasses with metal frames

Victim’s name: Benny GALLEGO-HAMMADIEH
Date of Birth: 01 Jan 2004 (Age 8)
Physical Description:
Height- 4’
Weight- 60lbs
Hair color- black short curly hair above ear
Eye color- brown
Clothing: T shirt and jeans



Both are believed to be in the company of: Randa HAMMADIEH (female)

Date of Birth: 27 NOV 1978 (Age 33)
Physical Description:
Height- 5’5”
Weight- heavy build
Hair color- black hair
Eye color- brown eyes
Tanned complexion – white dress

Details of Incident:

At 11:20am, Biological Mother abducted two children from foster home, in the company of 2 unknown males driving the vehicle used in the abduction. Headed towards highway 410 in Brampton.

Unions Warn Of Possible Work-To-Rule

Three powerful unions fighting government efforts to impose new contracts on Ontario teachers say school will start uninterrupted in September.


But they aren't ruling out labour disruptions later in the school year.

The unions say it will be up to their 191,000 members to

decide whether there will be strikes or work-to-rule campaigns.

The unions also say there was never any threat of strikes at the start of the school year, despite what the government is telling parents.

They say the minority Liberals are simply creating a crisis to win two September 6th byelections that give them a shot at a majority government.

(Photo: Sam Hammond; President of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario)

Possible College Strike Looming

School and union officials are warning Ontario's 24 colleges, including Confederation College, could be closed by labour strife as early as the middle of next month.

The colleges say the Ontario Public Service Employees Union could trigger a strike by 10,000 college faculty as early as

September 15th if a strike vote goes ahead on September 10th.

And OPSEU says the colleges will be in a position to lock out faculty on the same date.

A strike would disrupt the start of the school year for hundreds of thousands of students across the province.

Issues are a wage freeze demanded by the colleges, academic

freedom, the treatment of partial-load faculty, increased workload from online courses and other staffing requirements.

Stolen Banners

Members of the Kenora OPP detachment have recovered all of the stolen banners and flags from the Whitecap Pavillion on the Kenora Harbourfront.

The Banner commemorating the 1907 Stanley Cup win by the Kenora Thistles had been taken sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning prior to the Mike Richards Stanley Cup celebration.

The Kenora Thistles 1907 Stanley Cup banner has been returned to the City of Kenora and the Los Angeles Kings Stanley Cup flag which was also missing will be returned it's original owner.

Uniform officers and members of the street crime unit were assisted by the Forensic Identification Unit. All three teams continue to investigate the circumstances.

10th Annual Ride For Memories Tomorrow

This Saturday marks the Alzheimer Society's 10th annual Ride For Memories.

Riders will leave Kenora and will hit Dryden, Ignace and finish off in Sioux Lookout with a dinner and awards ceremony

Executive Director Lynn Moffatt encourages the public to come out and support the cause.

Moffatt says they are hoping to raise $40,000 and all money raised supports 1,000 people living with the disease in the Kenora and Rainy River District.

Riders will also participate in a poker derby.

Members Of KI Embark On Canoe Trip

Another campaign to protect traditional land is being launched by the KI First Nation in northern Ontario.

14-paddlers, including several youth, embark on a 300-plus kilometre trip today on an ancient trading route.

Richard Anderson is the Watershed Coordinator for KI and he says mining companies continue to threaten their way of life.

The paddlers are calling on Ontario to respect their land before it gets poisoned by the companies.

Anderson says elders still use the water and the land.

The journey is expected to conclude on September 7th in Fort Severn.

Complete List Not Being Released

Privacy concerns are preventing the RCMP from gaining full access to a list of murdered and missing women compiled by the Native Women's Association of Canada.

It lists about 600 unsolved cases, some of which include women from northwestern Ontario.

RCMP were given about 100 names, but the Association says confidentiality guarantees given to family members who provided much of the information prevent it from giving up the full list.

Cruisin' For A Cause At A&W

Staff at A&W in Kenora are Cruisin' for a Cause today.


It's a Canada-wide campaign to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

$1 from every Teen Burger sold will be donated to support people with M.S. as well as research.

Classic cars will also be on site later in the day.

Three People Injured In Boat Crash

Three women have been injured in a boating crash on Rainy Lake.


Provincial Police say eight people were on a jet boat when it struck an island near Twin Falls just before midnight Sunday.

Two people had to be airlifted to hospital.

None of the injuries are said to be life-threatening.

The cause is under investigation.

Welfare Cases On The Decline In Kenora District

The number of people relying on welfare in the Kenora District is dropping.


The Kenora District Services Board says its seen a decrease in its Ontario Works caseload over the past couple of years.

At of the end of June, there were 576 cases compared to 660 at the same time two years earlier.

The KDSB says so far in 2012, they have seen 104 Ontario Works recipients leave to pursue employment opportunties.

2013 KDSB Budget

Municipalities in the Kenora District could be looking at another increase in the amount it pays for social services.

The Kenora District Services Board says its initial draft budget for 2013 shows an increase of 1.2% in the municipal levy.

The Board says it is committed to reducing that number.

A final budget is expected to be tabled by December.

The District Services Board pays for such things as land ambulance, social housing, and Ontario Works.

NOTO Reporting Strong 2012

The Northern Ontario Tourist Outfitters Association is reporting a slightly better tourism season this summer.


Executive Director Doug Reynolds says camp owners are seeing better turnout than in previous years.

Reynolds says there's still challenges but notes there's also more optimism.

Reynolds says it seems American anglers are less nervous about their economy and are coming back to vacation in Northwestern Ontario.

The warm summer has also helped efforts.