Mike Richards Charity Golf Tournament Coming Back for a 3rd Year

The Mike Richards Charity Golf Tournament is coming back for another year.

Its been announced that the one day tournament will be back at the Kenora Golf and Country Club on July 12th.

Over the past two years thousands of dollars has been raised for both the Canadian Cancer Society and the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation.

Last year RBC came on as a corporate sponsor.

Richards is a member of the Los Angeles Kings.

Council getting ready to set tax rate

Local residents will have to dig a little deeper to pay their property taxes this year, but how much deeper still isn't known.

Kenora City Council is reviewing its operating budget today.

Right now the city is proposing an increase of just 0.4 percent.

However, some councillors are worried that not enough money is being set aside for infrastructure projects.

Its possible the final figure could increase another one or two percent depending whether council feels like it can afford an increase in 2012.

Deliberations are continuing this afternoon.

NAN Report

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is out with a report on the critical underfunding of First Nation schools. 

Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose says the current funding system is inadequate and calls it a crisis. 

Waboose says the Federal Government needs to start matching education funds for First Nations at the same level the Province funds public school boards. 

Waboose says education under the Indian Act has failed remote First Nation communities.

The Kenora Skating Club

The Kenora Skating Club sent 5 skaters to the Festival of Stars competition this past weekend.

Julia Withers finished 2nd in the Jr. Silver Ladies and the Silver Triathlon event.

Kelsey Scribilo finished 3rd in the Gold Ladies Triathlon, both girls have now qualified to represent the Northern Ontario Section at the Trillium Provincial Starskate Championships in March.

 Emily Whiting won a Silver medal in the Introductory Interpretive and both Josh Cariou and Lauren Mack just missed qualifing finishing 4th and 5th in their events.

2011 Census

We should get a better understanding of life in northwestern Ontario beginning tomorrow.


That's when StatsCan will start releasing information from the 2011 Census.

First figures to come out will be population, how many people live in cities and rural areas, which areas are growing and which aren't.

The Hardy Dam

The Ministry of Natural Resources will conduct an environmental asssessment to halt seepage of an earthern dam near Atikokan.


The Hardy Dam was constructed as part of the former Steep Rock Mine's water diversion project.

Spokesperson Michelle Novak says they're aren't ruling out a complete collapse.

The condition of the Hardy dam is part of an ongoing study to rehabilitate the former Iron ore mine site.

Ring of Fire

The Federal Natural Resources Committee will meet for two days next week to discuss the Ring of Fire in Northern Ontario.


The hearings were requested by NDP Natural Resources critic Claude Gravelle.

Gravelle says we have to be sure to do this project right and that the proposr consultations take place.

Gravelle says First Nations support the project but want to ensure that treaty rights are respected.

KMTS Citizen's Prosperity Fund

The City of Kenora will be dipping into the KMTS Citizen's Prosperity Fund once again to pay for a number of large capital projects.

Council yesterday agreed to borrow over 7.9 million dollars to pay for the new fire hall, the Discovery Center and a couple paving projects.

Councillor Ron Lunny admits the three percent interest on the loan is less than the city is currently making on their investments through the Prosperity Fund.

Council learned yesterday the Citizen's Prosperity Fund earned 5.37 percent in interest last year on the 42 million dollar trust.

Kenora's Deer Hunt

The city's inaugural bow hunt for deer is being called a success.


Councillor Sharon Smith says a total of 34 deer were killed during the
month long hunt last fall.

She says they also asked the hunters to fill out a survey to gather more information about the deer population in Kenora.

Smith says she'd like to bring the bow hunt back next year and possibly extend it by a couple of weeks into the last part of November and the early part of December.

Kenora District Municpial Association Conference

The MPP for Kenora-Rainy River is promising more cooperation with Municipal leaders.


Sarah Campbell addressed delegates attending the Kenora District Municpial Association conference last Friday. Campbell says she wants to broker a new infrastructure deal for area communities.

She also claims the Province has been delaying development in the Ring of Fire, which is preventing new jobs from reaching Northern communities.

Hospital to lose V.P. of Patient Care

Lake of the Woods District Hospital will be losing one of its senior administrative staff later this year.

Vice-president of Patient Care Leslie Brown says she'll be retiring in June.

Brown has been a nurse for 40 years and has spent the past 30 years at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Muskies Dominate KIT

It was a sweep for NorWOSSA teams at the annual Kenora Invitation Basketball Tournament.

Fort Frances took top honors beating Transcona 64-58 in the A-Side final.

Thomas Aquinas took the Consolation title with a relatively easy 68-29 victory over Sioux Lookout.

Dryden placed third overall beating Red Lake 60-37 in the bronze medal game.

The tournament co-hosts, the Beaver Brae Broncos, went winless losing out to Portage la Prairie in the 7th place game 51-30.

Sharks take a bite out of the Competition in Thunder Bay

The Kenora Sharks Swim Club was as good as its word.

The Sharks claimed the team champions banner from the Northwestern

Ontario Regional Championships in Thunder Bay over the weekend.

In addition, five members of the team collected high point awards.

Rheanna Price was tops in the 10 years and under girls division, while

Gabe Mastromateo led the 11 years and under boys.

Winnie Boucha was the top point getter for 11 & 12 year old girls, while

Kira Kuzemchuk led the pack in the 13 & 14 year old girls division.

Bryce Jones had the high point total for 14 & 15 year old boys.

Highway 17 Open after an Early Morning Fire

A fire in a semi tractor trailor closed the Trans-Canada Highway between Kenora and Vermillion Bay for almost an hour early this morning.

The OPP say the incident took place about 30 kilometers west of Vermillion Bay around 3:00.

Fire crews were called to the scene and were able to put out the blaze.

Police say no one was injured in the fire and they were able to re-open Highway 17 shortly before 4:00 this morning.

Councillor Threatens Legal Action over Aging Bridges

Legal action is being recommended if the City of Kenora can't the provinicial government to come up with funding to fix up our aging and crumbling bridges.

Councillor Ron Lunny says they've talked abou the issue long enough, and its time to take action.

Its estimated that it could take up to 40 million dollars fix up our bridges and Lunny says that's money the city simply doesn't have.

Council looks at Operating Budget this week

Kenora city council will be putting the finishing touches on the 2012 budget this week.

Council is scheduled to sit down on Tuesday to go over the Operating budget.

That will dictate how much of a tax increase local residents will be looking at.

Councillor Ron Lunny says the goal is still to pass the budget by their

February 13th open meeting.

Hospital offers Pre-Dialysis Clinics

Lake of the Woods District Hospital has launched a new program to help patients with kidney disease.

The hospital has started up a pre-dialysis clinic.

Vice-president of patient care, Leslie Brown says the clinic is something that could help save the health care system thousands of dollars.

Its estimated the pre-dialysis clinic could save between 70 thousand to 110 thousand dollars a year for each patient enrolled.

NAPS Police looking for new Recruits

The Nishnawbe Aski Police is looking to hire from within.

The Police Agency is launching a two-day recruitment drive in May.

Police are targeting individuals from the Nishnawbe-Aski Nation who may or may not have thought of a policing career.

NAPS serves 35 of the 49 NAN communities.

Officials stress they need to fill the growing need for police officers in the North.

Hospital still in the Black

Lake of the Woods District Hospital is still running a slight surplus with just three months left in the fiscal year.

Vice President of finance, Cindy Gasparini says they are 125 thousand dollars in the black.

She adds that the surplus is a little lower than at the same time last year, but is still hopeful they will be able to finish the year at or above the break-even point.

Council says no to Dog Park

Kenora isn't going to the dogs.

Kenora City council met this week to go over its 2012 capital budget, but turned down a request to create a dog park.

Councillor Sharon Smith a small dedicated group has been meeting to make the dog park a reality and is disappointed council won't approve the relatively small expenditure.

She says they have a 900 name petition in favour of the dog park and suggests it would be good for the community.

Councillor Louis Roussin argues the city faces a number of financial challenges and doesn't think spending money on a dog park is a good use of taxpayers money.