Festival of Trees Launches Tonight

A good chance to pick up your Christmas Tree this weekend.

The annual Festival of Trees kicks off tonight at Lake of the Woods Museum.

Linda Wideman is chair of the festival and says things get underway with their Seniors night.

The Festival of Trees wraps up on Saturday with family day.

The festival has become a major fundraiser for the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation.

Healthy Food Basket Cost Continues to Rise

The cost to feed a family of four in northwestern Ontario is keeping pace with the inflation rate.

The Northwestern Health Unit says this year, their Healthy Food basket costs about 941 dollars a month.

That's up about 23 dollars from last year, or about 2.6 percent.

Public health nutitionist Julie Slack says that might not sound like a lot, but social assistance rates have only increased by five percent in the last 14 years.

She says the cost of eating healthy is outpacing the budgets of people on low incomes.

Elk Population Stable in NWO

The elk population in northwestern Ontario seems to be stabilizing.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Natural Resources suggest the elk population is between 35 and 45 animals.

Murray English is the co-chair of the elk restoration coalition and says the goal is to increase the population  and perhaps re-open a hunting season in a few years.

English says the calf survival rate appears to be improving and that's good news for the future of the species in this region.

Salvation Army Gets Ready to Launch Christmas Cheer

The Salvation Army says its looking for some volunteers to help out with its annual Christmas Cheer Campaign.

The Kettles will be out soon and Christmas hampers are also being put together.

Captain Roy Blaton from the Kenora office says the deadline to apply for the hampers is fast approaching.

He says they will be wrapping up their interviews by December 7th. 

The Salvation Army's Christmas Cheer Campaign will get a big boost this weekend with the 22nd Annual Christ Miracle Marathon on CJRL.

OPP Investigate Another Fatality in Fort Frances

OPP are investigating another death in Fort Frances.

Police say the body of a man was discovered inside a residence at the Elizabeth Street Manor yesterday morning.

His identify and cause of death are still being determined.

A post mortem exam was conducted yesterday at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Meantime, police are still investigating the death of 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow, found dead inside a Fort Frances motel two weeks ago.

High School Teachers Begin Job Action

High school teachers with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board have started their job action.

That after talks between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and the public school board broke off earlier this week.

Paul Elliott is a vice-president with the OSSTF and says even though they aren't allowed to strike, they can still exercise some of their labor rights.

Elliott says teachers are being urged to withdraw from their administrative duties, until a new contract can be negotiated.

Meanwhile, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board feels contract talks with its high school teachers had been going well.

However, the OSSTF shut down all negotiations this week after the provincial government refused to approve a couple of contracts that had already been negotiated with school boards in southern Ontario.

Union negotiators are scheduled to meet on Monday to decide their next steps.

Save ELA Releases new Video

The Coalition to Save the Experimental Lakes Area has released an online video.

It features interviews with members of the coalition, scientists and researchers.

It calls on the Harper government to stop it's "war on science".

The video was launched yesterday at a special luncheon in Winnipeg.

The federal government is currently in the process of finding a buyer for the 58 lakes between Kenora and Vermillion Bay.

Provincial Policy Statement Panned

The provincial government has drawn the ire of some northern Ontario municialities with its latest planning review.

The Provincial Policy Statement looks are where future development will be able to take place.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says the revised policy basically allows unlimited development in southern Ontario, while putting shackles on the north.

Canfield says ideally, northern municipalities should have more say where development can take place, rather than bureaucrats from Toronto.

November 23rd was the final day to make comment on the Policy Statement and Canfield is

hopeful provincial bureaucrats will pay attention to their concerns.

STR Prepares for another Sled Season

Sunset Trail Riders will have their trails open as soon as mother nature will let them.

Director Bruce McGregor says they are hard at work to get people on the trails.

This year the early bird cost for a trail permit is 210 dollars.

If you purchase a trail permit after December 1st, it increases to 260 dollars.

You can visit sunsettrail riders.ca for more information on the trails and to purchase your snow mobile permits.

Copenace Appointed to LHIN's Board

There is now a voice for the Kenora area on the board of the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

Tina Copenace from the Dalles First Nation has been appointed to the LHIN's for a three year term.

Her appointment was confirmed recently by Health Minister Deb Matthews.

Copenace will take over from Gary Phillips, whose term expired last week.

Deadline to Renew Outdoor Cards Approaching

The provincial government is Ontario is reminding anglers and hunters to renew their Outdoors Cards.

An Outdoors Card, along with a hunting or fishing licence tag, allows hunting or fishing in the province.

The card is valid for three years and all cards expire on the same date at the end of the three-year term -- December 31st.

Outdoors Cards can be renewed online, or in person at a Service Ontario centre or private issuer at a cost $9.68 for three years.

Bronco Hockey Teams Win Tuesday Night

Both of Beaver Brae's hockey teams were victorious last night.

The Bronco Girls upended Red Lake 7-3 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Kait Sparkman had a pair of goals to lead the offense, while Eve Charlebois scored the game winner midway through the third period.

The Broncos next game is against their cross-town rivals from Thomas Aquinas on Sunday night.

Meanwhile, the Beaver Brae boys needed overtime and a shootout, but the managed to eke out a 3-2 win over the Dryden Eagles.

Jed Rattai had a goal in regulation and also scored the game winner in the shootout.

It was the Broncos second win of the season.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas Boys Hockey team suffered its first loss of the season.

The Saints were in Fort Frances last night and dropped a 2-0 decision to the Muskies.

NorWOSSA court sports

The second season of NorWOSSA court sports saw Thomas Aquinas start off on the right foot.

T.A. hosted Whitefish Bay Tuesday afternoon in junior boys basketball along with junior and senior girls volleyball.

The junior boys basketball team cruised to a 62-9 victory.

The junior girls volleyball team swept their game in 3 straight sets.

The TA senior girls volleyball also won in three straight set. 

The season continues tomorrow with all four Saints teams facing Rainy River.

Beaver Brae starts the double "A" season against Fort Francis next Wednesday.

Whitecap Pavillion Skating Rink Starting to Take Shape

Crews are starting to build the Whitecap Pavillion skating rink.

The work began today with the installation of the boards and the liner the ice will sit on.

Special events coordinator Mark Duggan says that flooding will begin later this week and the target of opening in mid-december is right on schedule.

Catholic Board Wins Award

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is showing off some new hardware.

The separate school board has received the Bette Stephenson Award from the Education Quality and Accountability Office.

The award recognizes the work of the board in its EQAO test scores and use of the data to improve their results.

Staff from Thomas Aquinas School and board administration were presented the award earlier this month.

Visitor Restrictions Lifted at Hospital

Visitors are once again being allowed into a couple of wards on the second and third floors of Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The hospital yesterday lifted its visitor restrictions on the Second East Ward and the Third floor ICU inpatient Unit.

Some staff and patients had been experiencing a gastro-intestinal illness.

But vice-president of patient care Kathy Dawe says there haven't been any new outbreaks in the past five days.

Dryden Man Faces Luring Charges

A 19 year old Dryden man is facing charges after he tried to lure a minor online.

Dryden Police say that the investigation invovles incidents from 2010 and 2011, which were recently reported.

The man is charged with contacting a person under 14 years old with regards to luring, and one count of invitation to sexual touching.

Local Elementary Teachers Could Take Job Action

Elementary teachers with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board could start a new job action next month.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario met with a conciliator earlier this month and a no-board report was issued on November 19th.

That's means that they could take jobs action as early as December 10th.

While new provincial legislation prevents any teacher strikes, the union is looking at its options.

Local president Anne Saltel says they will be meeting with their stewards on Friday to decide what actions they might take.

Canfield Not Sympathetic with Toronto Mayor

Mayor Dave Canfield says Kenora City Councillors won't make the same mistakes that Toronto Mayor Rob Ford has.

Ford was removed by a judge ruling over a conflict of interest case.

Canfield says city council is firm on following the rules.

Ford is appealing the decision that has removed him as Mayor and prevents him from running for 2 years.

Noront Committed to Ring of Fire Project

Noront Resources remains confident production of its Ring of Fire mining project in northern Ontario will begin on time.

President Wes Hanson says even though Cliffs Natural Resources has delayed the start up date for its own mining project by a year, Noront still has its sights set on starting production in 2016 or 2017.

While not mentioning a possible financial partner, Hanson said they're optimistic they can put together a package which will meet their start up target