NOVA Awards Set For January

The Northwestern Ontario Visionary Awards are going to be held January 18th.

Shift, Thunder Bay's Young Professional Network is one of the organizations behind the awards and Spokesperson Keith Anderson says he's pleased they've had 72 nominations.

The NOVA top 20 under 40 celebrates area residents who have accomplished great things in their community.

Annual Christmas Traditions Light Up the Night

Christmas begins today with 2 annual traditions in Kenora.

At 1:00 today the 15th Festival of Lights begins with a service by Pastor Cathy Giroux and Carols by the group Sideways.

Following the service thousand of ice candles will be lit at the Lake of the Woods Cemetery starting at 1:30.

In the mean time the 26th annual Tree of Life is glowing at the Lake of the Wood District Hospital.

The Hospital Foundation runs the campaign every year and is set light the star on Christmas Day.

Family Fundraiser Tonight At Shooters

Christmas spirit will be flowing tonight at Shooters.

Wes Romaniuk with the Lake of the Woods Hotel says they are holding a fundraiser for the Zroback/Skillen family after last week's fire on Drewry Drive.

Romaniuk says the night will feature country music and also includes a Chinese auction full of prizes donated by local businesses.

Entry fee for the fundraiser is a $5 donation with all proceeds going to the family.

Doors open at 8:00.

KPDSB Celebrates Successes of 2013

2013 proved to be a big year for the Keewatin Patricia District School Board.

Director of Education Sean Monteith says they've completed some big changes in Kenora including the expansion and french immersion program at Valleyview and the integration of Grade 7 and 8's at Beaver Brae

Monteith also highlights the closing and sale of Lakewood School.

Going into the new year he hopes to see Dryden High School install their new rubberized track, and a new high school for Sioux Lookout.

KCDSB To Continue Capital Work in 2014

Schools in the Kenora area are continuing to expand.

Director of Education at the Kenora Catholic District School Board Phyllis Eikre says they got 2 capital projects started in 2013.

Eikre says the expansion at Ste. Marguerite will be the focus of capital work next year.

She also made note of research going into a telecom entrance system for local schools.

Province Offers Up Recreational Funding

Provincial funding is being made available for local sports and recreational organizations

The Ontario Sport and recreational communities fund is looking for applications for 2014-2015.

Bill Mauro is the MPP for Thunder Bay and Atikokan and says last year the program supported over 350 thousand participants through 150 programs province wide.

In Kenora almsot 28 thousand dollars went to the Mount Evergreen Ski Club.

Any organization wishing to apply has until February 20th.

Follow the link for an application form visit http://www.grants.gov.on.ca/GrantsPortal/en/OntarioGrants/HowtoApply/index.htm

Campbell Calls Out Transportation Minister

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is calling on the government to take action on winter road maintenance.

This has been one of the most deadliest years on record and Campbell says it's one of the worst years for road maintenance.

Campbell says it's time for Transportation Minister Glen Murray to pay us a visit as he promised last month.

Campbell says alarm bells should be raised now that Iron Range Bus Lines has refused to travel Highway 502.

Rickford Frustrated at Trans-Canada Twinning

Kenora MP Greg Rickford calls it one of the most difficult portfolio he has ever dealt with.

Rickford is growing frustrated with the province and its lack of action on twinning the Trans Canada Highway between Kenora and the Manitoba boundary.

Rickford says the province is sitting on all of the resources that the feds have invested.

He notes the project has been stalled for way too long.

Midget Thistles Remain and .500

The Kenora Triple "A" Midgets can't seem to break the .500 record.

This weekend at the rec centre the Thistles split a pair of games with the Norman Northstars.

Dylan Gosselin-Archer and Tristan Salesse each scored a pair of goals on Friday on route to a 4-2 victory.

However Saturday night Norman would take a 3-2.

Tristan Salesse and Josh Brunton scored for Kenora in the loss.

The Thistles now enter the holiday season with a 13-13-0-2 record.

KCDSB Speaks Against Ideas For New System

Over half a million students could be effected if the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation gets their way.

The Kenora Catholic District School Board's director of Education Phyllis Eikre says the plan to move to a 2 board system has huge implications seeing as over 600,000 students attending Catholic education every day.

The OSSTF says the change would allow them to reinvest more money into the system.

Eikre disagrees stating that funding would still be based off the total number of students.

The OSSTF suggested a system based English and another in French in their education platform earlier this month.

Cold Weather Not Going Anywhere

The winter wonderland will continue for the region.

CJRL Meteorologist Bill Laidlaw says we won't see any change to the cold weather this weekend.

He notes today could see temperatures peak at minus 15 with just a hint of sun later in the day.

Laidlaw says we can expect cold temperatures to continue through Christmas.

City Approves Sewer and Water Hike

Sewer and water rates are on the rise.

City council has approved a 10 percent increase for next year.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the amount of aging infrastructure is the one big issue forcing the increase.

He says that the reserves need to be increased for when the city needs to make repairs.

Canfield noted that if consumption goes up in the next few years then they can put a stop to the hikes.

Mining Safety a Priority for Province

The provincial government is conducting a sweeping review of mining safety in the province.

Mines Minister Michael Gravelle says the review will include a wide range of areas including health and safety regulations and enforcement mechanisms,.

Gravelle says starting in early 2014, the province’s Chief Prevention Officer will lead an advisory group of industry, labour, and health and safety representatives to begin the sweeping review.

The review will get underway in the new year

Bronco Teams Wrap up 2013

Some redemption for Beaver Brae's Boys hockey team.

After losing the last match up with Thomas Aquinas the Broncos skated to a 5-1 victory last night against their cross town rivals.

Eastin Gauthier lead the way for the Broncos with 2 goals.

The win keeps Beaver Brae on top the NorWOSSA standings heading into the Christmas break.

However, it was not the same story for the Bronco court sports teams yesterday.

Beaver Brae was swept by Fort Frances at home to wrap up 2013.

In Basketball the senior boys lost 59-42 while the juniors dropped a 54-42 decision.

In girls volleyball both the senior and juniors lost in 3 straight sets to the Muskies.

Police Seize Illegal Cigarettes

The Kenora OPP have taken over $10,000 worth of illegal tobacco off the streets.

Yesterday afternoon police stopped a Dodge Caravan for speeding on Highway 17 West of the city.

OPP searched the vehicle and found 107 cartons of unmarked cigarettes.

As a result the 40 year old driver from Winnipeg has been charged with possession of unmarked cigarettes, and possessions for the purpose of sale contrary to the tobacco taxes act.

He will answer to the charges in March.

Drewry Drive Fire Update

Two people have been taken to hospital for treatment following a house fire in the Drewry Drive area.

Provincial Police confirm that a 13 year old boy has since been transported to the Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg.

OPP also confirm the family pet died in the blaze.

Fire chief Warren Brinkman says at this point he says they don't know the cause of the fire, but their investigation will continue today.

Brinkman notes they are bringing in the Ontario Fire Marshall's office to assist.

The fire broke out in the living room area, but quick work from local fire crews kept the blaze from spreading to other rooms in the house.

Brinkman adds that there is extensive fire, smoke and water damage.

Sioux Lookout OPP Target Bootleggers

Some movement in the fight against bootleggers in Sioux Lookout.

Provincial Police have wrapped up a 6-month undercover operation with the arrest of three individuals.

76-year-old Robert Eby and 41-year-old Gilbert Belmore have been charged with 2-counts of unlawfully supplying liquor.

OPP say 30-year-old Christopher Singleton faces one charge.

All three are from Sioux Lookout and will appear in court at a later date.

OPP Release Name of Accident Victim Near Atikokan

Police have identified the vicitim of Tuesday's fatal collision on Highway 11 west of the city.

Dead is 76 year old Fredrick Munro of Atikokan.  

OPP says he was the driver of a car that collided with a commercial vehicle just east of Highway 633.

His passenger, a 71 year old woman from Atikokan is in the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Centre with serious injuries.  

The driver of the commercial truck, a 49 year old man from Thunder Bay, was not injured.

Health Officials In Thunder Bay Investigate Food Poisoning

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is looking into possible food poisoning following a banquet at the Moose Hall on Fort William Road.

Officials say that about 54 people who were at the event on Friday became sick.  

They hope to contact as many of the 270 people that attended the event as possible, that includes people from Greenstone, Dryden, Kenora and even Hamilton.  

Meantime health officials say charges have been laid and until further notice, the Moose Hall can't serve food.

Saints Sweep Atikokan

Thomas Aquinas court sport teams are going out of 2013 on a high note.

The Saints went 8 and 0 in games Tuesday and Wednesday in their home gym.

Yesterday, T.A. Court sport team swept Atikokan.

The Saints senior girls volleyball squad won in three straight sets, while the Thomas Aquinas junior girls beat the Voyageurs three sets to one.

In boys basketball, the T.A. junior boys eked out a 32-31 win over Atikokan, while the Saints Senior boys earned a 32-21 victory.

Today, Beaver Brae's court sport teams play their final games before the Christmas break with
Fort Frances in town.