Government Plans to Look at Flooded Communities

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the federal government is focused right now on helping First Nations repair damage caused by flooding.

MPP Gilles Bisson is calling on both levels of government to start looking at moving some communities in the far north to higher ground.

Rickford admits it is an issue that should be looked at.

He notes moving some communities would be part of a long term plan.

More Questions on ELA

More discussions are continuing about the future of the Experimental Lakes Area.

In the legislature Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell asked the government why scientists were not allowed back into the ELA.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Laurel Broten says the governmental is still working on a deal to take over the facility.

Broten says the province does understand the urgency surrounding the ELA and is working as fast as it can to re-open the facility.

Three Killed in Wunnumin Lake House Fire

Tragedy in the remote northern community of Wunnumin Lake First Nation.

Three people are dead following a house fire early yesterday morning.

All three were females and aged 1, 6 and 21.

The cause of the fire is not known at this time.

Officials say the community of roughly 600-people is devastated.

Crisis teams from surrounding communities have been sent to Wunnumin Lake.

The First Nation is located 360-kilometres northeast of Sioux Lookout.

Forest Fire Season Heats up in Kenora District

What a difference a week makes.

After a slow start to the forest fire season, the Kenora District has seen a rash of blazes over the past couple of days.

Fire information officer Debbie McLean says they've responded to five blazes in the past two days, all of the which have been human caused.

McLean says a fire about 10 kilometers from the Kenora Airport is listed as being held today, after it grew to over six hectares yesterday.

Taxes Going Up in Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls

Its going to cost more to pay your property taxes in Sioux Narrows/Nestor
Falls this year.

The town council approved a 3 percent increase in the mill rate in 2013.

Mayor Bill Thompson says they wanted to to be able to put more money into
reserves this year.

Thompson says the mill rate also reflects the increased cost of paying for
the Kenora District Services Board.

Rickford Oversees Evacuations

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is in Kapuskasing today on behalf of the Prime Minister overseeing the evacuation of flood victims from Kashechewan First Nation.

600 people have been forced from their home and have been relocated to Thunder Bay, Kapuskasing and Cornwall.

Rickford says it's been a fairly smooth transition.

Rickford says it's not yet known how long the evacuation order will remain in place.

Kenora Not Expecting Flood Evacuees

The City of Kenora has not been asked to be an evacuation center for residents from the  far north displaced by flooding.

Fire chief Warren Brinkman says no requests have been made so far.

Last year, Kenora agreed to be an evacuation center after wild fires forced hundreds of
people from their homes in remote first nation communities.

So far evacuees have been sent to Cornwall, Sudbury, Kapuskasing and Thunder Bay.

Firefly Celebrates Children's Mental Health Week

Firefly is celebrating Children Mental Health Week.

Jackie Mitchell is the board chair and Firefly and says they have one big initiative this week to raise awareness about mental health.

Mitchell encourages anyone who takes part in the challenge to send pictures to Firefly.

More information on mental health week is posted on the news section of 895 the lake.ca.

Health Unit Issues Water Advisory in Red Lake

The Northwestern Health Unit is advising residents in the Red Lake area about the potential of heavy metals in well water.

Due to the mining developments in the area, heavy metals are found also in the soil.

The health unit encourages residents to sample water to test, treat or not drink water that contains heavy metals and avoid tailings and slimes for play areas.

NorWOSSA Soccer Season Starts Today in Fort Frances

The short NorWOSSA double "a" soccer season gets underway today in Fort Frances.

Both the Beaver Brae boys and girls teams will be on the road for games against the Muskies and the Dryden Eagles.

The games will act as a warm-up for this weekend's soccer tournament being hosted by Beaver Brae at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

Thomas Aquinas begins its Single A soccer season next week.

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.