Harbourtown Biz Ice Rink opens this Saturday

The much awaited skating rink under the whitecap pavillion opens tomorrow.

Special Events Coordinator Mark Duggan says the Harbourtown Bic Ice Rink the will open at 9:00 tomorrow morning.

Duggan also wants to remind the public that rink will be for skating only.

Fort Frances High School Locked Down

The presence of what turned out to be a replica firearm put the Fort Frances High School into a lookdown situation yesterday.

OPP Acting Sergeant Anne McCoy says the measure was necessary to secure the area while police searched for the person seen carrying it.

The lockdown was lifted about an hour later after a 16-year-old boy was taken into custody without incident off school property.

Elementary Teachers to Hold One Day Strike

Job actions by public school teachers are starting to hit close to home.

The Elementary School Teachers Federation says it will be staging a one day strike on December 11th.

All local elementary schools will be closed as the teachers head to Dryden to hold a rally there.

Yesterday, Education Minister Laurel Broten indicated she would not stop the one day strikes.

Local elementary school teachers are in a legal strike position as of this Monday.

Public School Board Suspends Extracurricular Activities

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has also announced that it will be suspending all extracurricular activities at their high schools because of the teachers job action.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation says it will not be participating in after school programs starting on Monday.

As a result all NorWOSSA League play is being suspended until further notice.

Jack McMaster says he regrets having to make that decision.

McMaster says the suspension of extracurricular activities will also affect drama productions, arts and travel clubs and any noon hour activities that require teacher supervision or coaching.

Theory of a Deadman to Headline Harborfest

Harborfest is still eight months away, but the entertainment for the summer festival is starting to come together.

Theory of a Dead Man and Faberdrive have been confirmed for the Saturday night concert.

Entertainment Director Dave Blake says they are now working to fill the Friday night and Sunday night shows.

Blake says they are hoping to confirm more acts before Christmas.

Tickets will go on sale for the Saturday show tomorrow morning.

Fire Crews Battle Chimney Blaze

A fire in a chimney is being blamed for a blaze at a home in the Lakeside area.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Services Department was called out last night.

While no-one was hurt, damage is said to be extensive, expecially in the attic area.

Fire crews were finally able to leave the scene around 9:00 last night.

NOMA Wants More Autonomy for Northwestern Ontario

Queens Park doesn't understand the needs of the North.

That's the message from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Assoication, which is asking for more regional authority to enchance economic development in the region.

Vice President David Canfield says that policies that are developed in Queens Park do nothing for Northwestern Ontario.

NOMA will be working with all provincial parties and local party canidates to bring this issue to the forefront, in preparation for a possible 2013 election.

Conservatives Planning to Take a Run at the Kenora-Rainy River Riding

Progressive Conservatives intend to focus a lot of attention on the Kenora-Rainy River riding in the next election.

The riding has been an NDP stronghold for many years, but MPP Garfield Dunlop believes there's enough support out there for the Tories to grab.

Dunlop was in the Fort Frances area to talk to area leaders about ways to get more young people interested in the trades.

Craft Market Making a Winter Comeback

A summer staple is making a winter come back.

The Matiowski Craft and Market show will be expanded in the new year.

Special Events Coordinator Mark Duggan says they will be holding the Craft Markets in the Discovery Center three times in the new year.

Duggan adds the idea was spiked by the vendors who normally participate in summer events.

The dates for the shows are January 12th, Febuary 9th, and March 2nd.

Broncos Beat Up on the Rams

It might be the last regular season high school game for several weeks.

And Beaver Brae's boys hockey team made it count.

The Broncos defeated the Red Lake Rams 14-2 in yesterday afternoon's matinee at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The Broncos started off quickly and didn't take the pressure off the Rams until late in the game.

Trillium Foundation Hands Out Grants

The Trillium Foundation has announced yesterday that 16 non profit groups in northwestern Ontario will be getting funding.

The only local group to receive funding is the Rat Portage First Nation which is getting over 14 thousand dollars to purchase chairs, tables, and outdoor sound equipment for the youth and elder centre in the community.

A total of 16 groups across northwestern Ontario received funding.

Government Will Allow One Day Teacher Strikes

The Ontario government will not block planned one-day walkouts by public elementary teachers starting next week.

Education Minister Laurel Broten says she won't use a new law to stop the strikes, because the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario is giving parents three-days notice of the walkouts.

So long as the strikes last only one day, she says she's prepared to let it go.

Broten says if the strikes moves beyond one day, the government will immediately reassess the situation and has already prepared the necessary legal documents to end it.

Broten says she knows it will be an inconvenience to parents, but it's a decision that strikes the right balance.

The teachers' union said the walkout is in protest of Bill 115, which gives the government the power to stop strikes and impose a collective agreement if it doesn't like what the union and local boards negotiate.

ETFO To Take Job Action Next Week

Local members of the Elementary School Teachers Federation will be stepping up their job action next week.

The teachers will be in a legal strike position starting December 10th.

Anne Saltel is the local union president and says there is also the possibility of a one day walkout before Christmas.

Saltel says initially their job action will include withdrawal from all extra-curricular activities and refusal to do any administrative duties.

MNR Getting Feedback on Winnipeg River Fishery

Maintaining quality fishing on the Winnipeg River.

Thats the goal of the Ministry of Natural of Resources, which is using public feedback to change regulations on the water system.

Leo Heyens with the Ministry says a number of species will have new regulations.

Heyens also says they are working on changes to walleye, bass, and pike aimed at promoting fishing tourism for years to come.

He adds that an advisory committee is still getting public feedback and the regulations won't be made official until 2014.

School Buses Cancelled Today, Schools Still Open

Slick road conditions caused by freezing rain over night has resulted in a number of school bus cancellations this morning.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says all school buses in the Kenora area as well as Sioux Narrows have been cancelled.

The freezing rain has created fairly treacherous road conditions on local highways.

Local schools will remain open today for students who either walk to school or who can get a ride from their parent or guardian.

Rat Portage also says its school bus will not be running today. 

Northwestern Ontario Has Longest Wait Times for Long Term Care Beds

A new report is critical of the way the provincial government is funding health care.

The Ontario Health Coalition says northwestern Ontario has the longest wait times for long term care beds in the province.

Coalition director Natalie Mehra says the problem could be eased with more home care, but there just isn't enough funding available.

The Ontario Health Coalition says a zero per cent budget increase for hospitals has forced service cuts across the province.

A good Turn Out for the CP Holiday Train

Holiday spirit was rolling through town today.

The CP Holiday Train stopped in Kenora in support of the Salvation Army Christmas Cheer Campaign.

Along with donations collected from local residents, CP representatives also donated to the local cause, presenting a cheque for 25 hundred dollars. 

The train also entertained the huge crowd with performances by Miss Emily and The Brothers Dube.

Ice Candle Festival Celebrates 14 years

A big honor for Kenora's ice candle festival.

The event has just been listed by the province as one of the top festival of lights in Ontario.

Barb Manson says they place thousands of ice candles in the Lake of the Woods Ceremony just before Christmas each year.

Manson says she'd like to see as many as six thousand ice candles this year.

This year will mark the 14th annual ice candle festival.

Saints Hockey Teams Split their Games

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team has improved to 3-1 on the season thanks to a 7-1 win last night at the Kenora Rec. Center over the Red Lake Rams.

Tanner Kapera led the way with two goals and an assist while Daniel Thomson also had a pair of goals.

The Saints are on the road this weekend for a tournament in Killarny, Manitoba.

The T.A. girls weren't as fortunate.

They were shutout 7-0 last night by the Muskies in Fort Frances.

Broncos Begin Second Court Sport Season

Beaver Brae's court sport teams picked up just one win in four games to open their second season.

The lone win on the day came from the Broncos junior boys basketball team, which came back from six points down heading into the fourth quarter and beat Fort Frances 57-43.

Jackson Penner led the offense with 21 points.

It was a high scoring affair in the senior boys contest, with the Muskies earning a 98-69 victory over the Broncos.

In girls volleyball, Beaver Brae's senior squad lost three sets to one to Fort Frances, while the junior team lost in three straight sets to the Muskies.

Over at Thomas Aquinas, the Saints had an easy time with Red Lake, sweeping both the junior and senior games three sets to none.