NAFN Tournament Takes to the Ice in Kenora

The annual North American First Nation Hockey tournament begins tonight.

The tournament will be played at both the Keewatin Memorial Arena and the Kenora Rec Centre.

This year 10 teams, some from as far away as Alberta, will be competing

The OCN Penguins from Manitoba are returning to defend their title.

Weekend passes and individual game tickets are available.

Play gets underway tonight at 6:00 inside the Rec Centre.

Canucks Girls End Season With Bronze Medal

The Atom Rep Canucks Girls Hockey team are celebrating their bronze medal.

The Canucks wrapped up their season this past weekend in Winnipeg at the All Girls Spring Classic.

In the bronze medal game the Canucks faced off with the Manitoba Hurricanes and needed a strong 2 goal 3rd period to take the victory.

To cap off the year Coach Jeff Favreau says "the entire coaching staff is very proud of each and every one of them."

Membership Votes on Credit Union Merger

Copperfin and Superior Credit Union are expecting members to support their plans to amalgamate.

Dennis Alvestad is the CEO of Copperfin and says so far feedback has been great.

Alvestad says once this weeks vote passes it's on to the integration phase of the process.

Alvestad says that both credit unions already run the same banking system so the process should go fairly smoothly with no interruptions to services.

Event Centre Committee Wants Public Opinion

Public opinion is goal number one for the event centre committee.

Colleen Neil is the cities recreation manager and says they will give everyone an opening to offer strong opinions.

Neil says the committee is meeting upwards of 3 times a month.

The committee has not set a date yet, but will be holding an open house meeting this spring.

Safety Measures Before Starting Electrical Work

With spring around the corner many people are preparing to do some work around the house.

And Steve Smith with the Electrical Safety Authority, says if your preparing to do electrical work it's best to hire a trained professional.

Visit www.esasafe.ca for more information on certified electricians, risk rating tools, and information on certified electrical products.

High School Students Are Needed at the MNR

The options are endless for local high school students wanting to work with the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Applications for the Youth Ranger Program are being accepted until this Friday.

Spokesperson Karen Boultbee says program is for eight weeks during the summer.

For more information on requirements and how to apply, visit www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en.

Social Media Highlights Day 1 of Response Forum

Social media has forced the provincial government to play the balancing act in terms of emergency management.

That message was delivered by Allison Stuart, the Chief of Emergency Management Ontario at the Northwest Response Forum in Dryden yesterday.

Stuart says they now need to ensure the correct information is getting out right away.

Stuart stresses government and emergency organizations can no longer ignore social media.

Severe Crimes Escalate in Treaty 3 Service Area

Financial pressure is hurting the Treaty 3 Police Service in their battle with high crime rates.

The treaty 3 Police service area currently has the worst crime severity index in the province.

Terry Armstrong is the Deputy Chief of Police in charge of operations, and says they are doing everything they can to lower the index.

Along with the Severity crime index Armstrong says the force has also seen a 41 percent increase in calls for service.

Treasury Metals Looks for Employees

The options are endless with Treasury Metals.

Vice President of Operations Norm Bush says work continues on the Goliath Gold Project, east of Dryden and that they are looking for the best and brightest workers.

Bush adds they will be looking for engineers, miners, and plant operators.

Bush notes the minimum education required is a high school diploma, with college level math and English.

A Sharing of our Stories

An opportunity to learn about the history of the region first hand.

Lori Nelson says that the event "a sharing of our stories" will give people a chance to share their knowledge of the region.

"A sharing of our stories" is on April 13th at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Tickets are now sold out

Province Funds Area Festivals

The snow can't clear soon enough for most of us as northerners are no doubt ready for summer weather.

And of course Summer means Festival season across the region.

5 major Festivals are receiving provincial funding this year, 3 of them in Kenora.

Harbourfest is getting $75,000, the Kenora Bass International $40,000, and The Look Up Way Up Festival is also receiving $40,000.

Thunder Bay is getting $40,000 for the Celtic Fair and $35,000 is going to the Red Rock Folk Festival.

Electricity Rate Increase

Homeowners in Northwestern Ontario will be paying more for electricity.

The Ontario Energy Board announced this week that new prices apply to most households and small businesses.

The price for off-peak electricity will go up to 6.7 cents per kilowatt hour from the current 6.3 cent rate, while mid-peak power will cost 10.4 cents, up from 9.9 cents.

Electricity used in the peak period, which is weekdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., is also increasing to 12.4 cents per kwh, a 0.6 cent jump.

The board says the higher rates will add an additional $3.63 to the monthly bill of typical households, who use nearly two-thirds of their power in off-peak hours.

The change comes into effect May 1st.

Missing Teen Found Safe

A missing teen from Dryden has been found after a 9 day search.

Police in Manitoba found 15-year old Kariya Taylor yesterday afternoon on Sandy Bay First Nation.

The Dakota Ojibway Police Service say Taylor was brought into the custody of Manitoba Child and Family Services.

Taylor was first reported missing on March 31st.

Hospital Happy with Long Term Care Bed Situation

It seems the need for long term care beds in the city is getting easier to handle.

Hospital CEO mark Balcaen says there is currently only 3 patients waiting for long term care beds.

Balcaen says it's a case of patients waiting for the nursing home of their choice.

Balcaen says even with 10 temporary beds that were set up in Pinecrest set to be closed, that there are open beds in the community.

Dryden Continues to Fight MPAC Assessment

Dryden's City Manager believes the Domtar Mill is an important part of our region.

Staff continues to request a stay from the government, regarding the mill assessment by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

Joe van Koeverden says it's ridiculous that arbitrators think the forestry sector is dying.

Van Koeverden says they have a video conference with MPAC on Friday.

Resolute Looks For Tax Break

Resolute Forest Products in Thunder Bay wants a big tax break.

It's appealing its property assessment from the province with a goal of getting a 60 per cent reduction.  

City Manager Tim Commisso says it would be a big hit on our taxes and so the city will fight it.

Commisso says to top it off, the company is asking for the reduction to be retroactive by four years.

Peewee All Stars Earn First Point

The Northwestern Ontario All-stars have earned their first point at the all-Ontario pee-wee hockey championship in Thunder Bay, tying the host Kings last night 1-1.

Jared Neniska of Kenora scored for the Stars while Matthew Booth of Fort Frances was between the pipes for the second straight game.

Stars open the tournament yesterday morning with an 8-nothing loss to Ottawa.

They face York-Simcoe this afternoon.

Search Continues for Missing Dryden Teen

Still no sign of a missing teen from Dryden.

Dryden Police Chief Rob Davis says the Winnipeg Police Service, the Ontario Provincial Police, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police are assisting in the investigation to find 15-year-old Kariya Taylor.

Police say that it appears Taylor has run away and may be with 18-year-old Courtney Harper, who may be using the alias Courtney Thompson or Courtney Falk-Harper.

Anyone with information on Taylor's whereabouts is asked to contact police.

Hit and Run on the Jones Road

Provincial Police are seeking the driver of a hit and run accident Sunday afternoon on the Jones Road.

The O.P.P say a 15 year old girl was jogging on the West side of the road when she was hit by a dark blue van heading south.

The girl was taken to the Lake of the Woods District Hospital and treated for non life threatening injuries.

Anyone with information are asked to contact the Kenora O.P.P.

Bullying Ends Here at Beaver Brae High School

A strong message against bullying.

RCMP Constable Tad Milmine was in the city on Friday to speak to students at Beaver Brae High School.

Milmine says a young boy named Jamie Hubley is his motivation behind the Bullying Ends Here campaign.

He adds that he personalizes the message he gives to students to make it hit closer to home

Milmine also offers his own contact information for youth who are looking for someone to talk to.

More information is available at www.bullyingendshere.ca.