Kenora VCARS Receives provincial Honor

Years of work has paid off at the Sunset Area Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Service of Kenora.

Executive Director Monika Huminuk, who created an E-learning program, has received an Award of Distinction.

Huminuk says it has taken a long time and incorporates e-learning with in-house training to allow victim services to work with area service providers.

Over one thousand users have taken advantage of the province.

Ontario's Attorney General, John Garretson presented a 2013 Award of Distinction to Huminuk
last month.

More Concern Raised With 2011 Census Numbers

A Northwestern Ontario MP is wondering if the latest Canadian census will accurately reflect the region.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty says the results need to be close to dead on in order to help, but it'll be hard to monitor since the census was voluntary.

Rafferty it will also be difficult to compare the latest data to previous years.

He is worried that small communities and minority populations will suffer as a result.

Training For First Nation Students in the Ring of Fire

A handful of students from a Northern Ontario First Nation have completed a Mining Essentials Training Program.

Cliffs Natural Resources along with Oshki Training and Education Institute offered the program to 14 youth from Webequie.

Oshki Executive Director Rosie Mosquito says the students were able to learn about what it's going to be like to work in the Ring of Fire.

Mosquito says Cliffs has made a commitment that there will be an intent to hire the students who graduate
from the program.

Metis Nation of Ontario Urges Action by Feds

Ontario Metis are looking for action from the federal government in response to a pair of recent court cases that favoured Metis people.

It includes a land claims issue in Manitoba.

Ontario Metis president Gary Lipinski says the ruling is only a first step towards the feds actually dealing with land claims issues.

Lipinski is also disappointed with the feds wanting to drag out another court ruling that recognizes Metis being under federal jurisdiction the same way First Nations are.

Legion Gets New HVAC System

A breath of fresh air for the Royal Canadian legion in Kenora.

The legion unveiled its newly installed HVAC and Air Conditioning unit over the weekend.

Building Chairman Jerry Lava says it couldn't have come at a better time.

Lava says the replacement was made possible due to a Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of over 89 thousand dollars.

Borderland Rage Continue Hockey Season

Believe it or not, still some local hockey going on.

The Borderland Rage, an under 10 regional girls hockey team, with players from Kenora, Dryden and Emo, took the c-side championship of a tournament this past weekend.

The Rage routed a team from Wisconsin 9-2.

Their next action will take place in June in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Update on Infrastructure Projects in City

Mayor Dave Canfield says the city is right on track to complete 2 big infrastructure projects in the city.

Canfield says work on the West Branch Bridge will start this month with the Phase 3 downtown revitalization plan to follow in 2014.

Canfield said an announcement regarding funding for the 4 million dollar bridge project will likely be coming soon.

The city selected a tender without any government funding but that the province had the project high on it's list of priorities.

Emergency Prepardness Week

If an emergency were to happen, would you be prepared?

Information Officer Reagan Breeze with the Kenora District Fire Mutual Aid Association says folks should set up a 72-hour survival kit.

He says that emergency responders may be dealing with other situations before they can get to you.

Breeze recommends having dry goods, water, toiletries and cash.


The Northwestern Health Unit seconds the notion that you can never be too prepared.

Manager of Infectious Diseases Donna Stanley is encouraging folks to update their emergency kit, as a part of Emergency Preparedness Week, which runs from May 5th to 11th.

Stanley says even having a checklist is helpful, so you can grab what you need right away.

Health Coalition Upset With Budget

Some mixed feelings regarding the provincial budget.

Director of the Ontario Health Coalition Natalie Mehra says it's great that the government is investing 260-million-dollars into home care for seniors, but there's more then meets the eye.

Mehra adds that hospitals across the region won't see any increase, which could lead to possible cuts in beds and services.

It's Music Monday

Don't be afraid to sing in your car today.

That's because it's the national holiday Music Monday.

Beaver Brae student Alisha Morphet says anyone can take part.

Morphet says students from Beaver Brae will be performing all day at various school and the docks beside the Banister Centre.

Another Large Drug Bust in Kenora

Another large drug bust in the city.

Yesterday, Provincial Police stopped a vehicle for speeding on Highway 17A in the area of Redditt Road.

Officers located 40-pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $188,000.

OPP say a 23-year-old Calgary man has been charged with trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

This follows a $750,000 cocaine bust two weeks ago.

Prescription Drug Abuse Rate on the Rise

Parents need to talk to their kids.

More teenagers then ever are using prescription drugs to get high and only 14 per cent are talking to their parents about the risks involved.

Patti Dryden-Holmstrom from the youth addiction program says more parents need to initiate talks with their children.

Although it's believed that Prescription drug abuse is safer, they can be just as deadly as illegal drugs.

For more information visit any of these area addiction and prevention services.

http://www.lwdh.on.ca/index.php/Programs-and-Services/addictions-services-kenora.html

http://substanceabuse.kenora.ca/

http://www.drugandalcoholhelpline.ca/Directory/Organization/1612

Mayor Canfield Selected as NOMA President

Mayor Dave Canfield has been elected the president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association.

Canfield says he hopes to do a lot of work with the government and that there is no time to be politically correct with the mining and forestry sectors expanding.

Canfield was selected as president last week at the NOMA Annual General Meeting in Dryden.

Mixed Local Reactions to Budget

The Provincial budget is getting some mixed reactions.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says it is a bit concerning.

Campbell says the Liberal's are fine with spending five times the amount the NDP suggested for home care, but there is still no commitment to service.

She adds there was also no mention of the Ring of Fire and mining opportunities in Northwestern Ontario.


Meanwhile, Nishnawbe Aski Grand Chief Harvey Yesno is giving the provincial budget a thumbs down.

Chief Yesno says he's disappointed there is nothing new about building transmission lines for the Ring of Fire project or all weather roads.

Chief Yesno says he will take a closer look at the budget and form his opinion on the Liberals from there.


And, despite the negative comments about the Ontario Budget, the Minister of Northern Development and Mines says the North will benefit.

Michael Gravelle says keeping industrial electricity rates down in the north remains a priority

Gravelle further emphasized the government's commitment to the 100 million dollar fund for roads and bridges.

Hertiage Fund Makes Money Available for the Region

The province is out with new funding opportunities for northwestern Ontario.

Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Executive Director Bruce Strapp is hoping to hand out 30-million dollars this year for various projects.

The Heritage Fund had a budget of 291-million dollars last year and Strapp says 681 jobs were created or retained.

For more information on Heritage Fund programs go to www.nohfc.ca.

New Cell Tower to go up in Keewatin

Calling it a cell tower may be a little misleading.

A new T-Bay Tel tower going on top of the water tower in Keewatin will just be a minor extension.

Mayor Dave Canfield says unless you look at a before and after picture you won't notice a difference.

He added that the tower will just be some new metal infrastructure that looks like railing.

PC Leader Annoucned Plans for the North

Progressive Conservatives are out promoting their plan for northern Ontario.

Leader Tim Hudak says it includes bringing back more decisions about the north by northerners

Hudak says Conservatives would work to permitting at least 10 new mines and introduce initiatives that strengthen the mining and forestry sectors.

Treaty 3 Police Vote for Provincial Jurisdicition

The Treaty Three Police is challenging the Federal Jurisdiction in a fight for better rights.

All employees with the service will take part in a union vote today on whether the officers should be represented under provincial jurisdiction.

Public Service Alliance of Canada Spokesperson Sandra Goodick says it's only a matter of time.

Goodick says if passed, she doesn't think the workers will see a significant difference.

Voting will be held at the Couchicing Detachment between 3-4 and 6-8 and the General Headquarters in Kenora between 3-4  and 6-8.

Tree Canada Mulches Tree in City

A new tree outside the Discovery Centre will have to wait to be planted.

This year Tree Canada held their annual general meeting in Kenora at the Discovery Centre and president Mike Rosen said the cold weather changed their plans of planting a new tree in every city the meet in.

Rosen adds that once the ground allows it TD bank will plant a tree for them.

Endless Opportunities for Youth in the Region

The options are endless in Northwestern Ontario.

Andy Scribilo is the past president of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce, and says the jobs are out there, but it's a matter of finding people to fill them.

Scribilo says schools need to let students know what is out there and let them try it.