Do One Thing Conference Underway

The CEO of the Northwestern Health Unit has officially opened the Do On Thing Conference.

In his opening remarks Mark Perrault says health is not accomplished by 1 single entity.

Perrault notes the 3 themes of the conference are healthy communities, healthy workplaces, and the importance of partnerships.

Board of Health Chair Julie Roy noted that health is the culmination of environment, lifestyle choices, policies, and systems.

She also noted her excitement to build on partnerships during the 3 days conference.

Moncrief Getting Ready To Start Downtown Revitalization

You might start noticing some new street signs around Kenora today.

The city is preparing to direct traffic around downtown with Phase III of Downtown Revitalization set to begin next week.

This morning crews were out erecting road closure and detours signs around the city.

Parts of Second Street South, which is part of the main Trans-Canada route through the city, will be closed during construction.

The 4.7 million dollar project is scheduled to start on Monday.

Canfield Pleased With Northern Leaders Debate

Not alot of content, but words the president of Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association wanted to hear.

That from Dave Canfield after the debate.

In an interview with Net Newsledger, Canfield says there was a willingness from both leaders to work with northern Ontario.

Canfield says he will also hold the leaders to their word after the election.

Northern Heritage To Run Three Candidates for June 12th Vote

The party pushing for northern Ontario become it's own province is running three candidates in the provincial election.

Leader and founder of the Northern Ontario Heritage Party Edward Deibel is running in Thunder Bay-Atikokan.

Association president Paul Sloan is running in Thunder Bay-Superior North.

The party says it has a registered riding association for Kenora-Rainy River, but no candidate for this election.

KWG Suggests Help For Ring of Fire

KWG Resources is demanding a new provincial government should turn Ontario Northland into a transporation authority, similar to port and airport authorities in the province.

Spokesperson Frank Smeenk says it would help to raise money for capital projects in the Ring Of Fire, in which his company has a stake.

Smeenk says the new role for Ontario Northland would only require a change in the legislation.

Treaty Three Holds Spring Assembly This Week

The Grand Chief of Treaty 3 is preparing for the annual spring assembly.

Warren White says they assembly covers topics such as health care and child welfare.

White says unfortunately they won't have any provincial representatives attending.

He notes Kenora MP Greg Rickford and Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt have not responded to their invitations.

Dryden City Council Finally Ready To Release Budget Details

The City of Dryden will take the wraps off the 2014 capital and operating budget tonight.

A public meeting is being held at the Royal Canadian Legion at 7 o'clock.

Chief Administrative Officer Andre Larabie says they didn't move forward with all of the cuts suggested by consulting firm KPMG.

He says the cost of the severance packages would have just been too high.

Larabie notes details on severance packages issued to impacted staff will also be released.

Unifor Ratifies Deal with Resolute

The first collective agreement between Unifor and Resolute Forest Products has been ratified.

The new four-year agreement covers approximately two thousand
unionized workers at eleven of the company's mills in Ontario and Quebec.

The deal sets the pattern for negotiations with as many as eight thousand workers with other forest companies in eastern Canada.

Kowalik/Carpenter Bronco Athletes of the Year

Beaver Brae honored it's top athletes last night at the annual Bronco Athletic Awards Banquet.

Kyle Kowalik was named the male athlete of the year and says it's the culmination of years of hard work and fun.

Kowalik was also named boys curling MVP and won the Pete Fair Award for football.

Tyanna Carpenter was named the Broncos female athlete of the year.

Carpenter was also named the senior girls basketball MVP.

Other award winners last night were Halle Stasiuk with the Pete Fair Spirit Award, Lisa Ressing with the Diana Clark Award and Taylor Alcock with the Riel Tucker Award.

Saints Advance to NorWOSSA Soccer Finals

Both Thomas Aquinas boys and girls soccer teams are easily into today's NorWOSSA finals.

Yesterday, the Saints girls cruised to a 9-1 win over Red Lake to advance to the final.

Kiera Riel led the offense with four goals.

T.A. will now face Rainy River in the today's gold medal game at noon.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas boys earned a 3-1 win over the Rams setting up
a final against Sioux Lookout.

Aiden Tayor scored a pair of goals for T.A. in the victory.

The boys gold medal game goes at 10 this morning in Red Lake.

NWHU Hosts Do One Thing Conference

The Northwestern Health Conference is set to hold it's first ever major health conference.

The Do One Thing Conference begins tomorrow under the Whitecap Pavilion.

Event Manager Mike Greaves says over 300 people are scheduled to attend.

Greaves notes attendees include health professionals, schools, and non-profit organizations.

The Do One Thing Conference runs from tomorrow afternoon through Wednesday.

It also features an evening event with Rant specialist Rick Mercer.

for more details and to purchase tickets visit www.doonethingconference.ca.

Wynne/Horwath Duke It Out in Northern Debate

Energy, the Ring of Fire, police costs and social services.

Those were just some of the issues covered in the Northern Leaders Debate today in Thunder Bay.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield asked about improving supports for social services and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath agreed that more needs to be done for people on social assistance in this region.

For her part, premier Kathleen Wynne pledged to maintain ministries that are important to northern Ontario such as Aboriginal Affairs, Natural Resources and Northern Development and Mines.

Conservative leader Tim Hudak was a no-show, campaigning in southern Ontario instead.

Former Kenora Resident Tagged to Be Ice Dogs Bench Boss

Kenora's Kurt Walsten is the new Head Coach of the Dryden Ice Dogs.

Walsten has plenty of coaching experience in junior hockey and was an assistant in Drumheller, Alberta last season in the AJHL.

While he is originally from Kenora Walsten has also been Coach and GM of the Sioux Lookout Flyers in 2011 and has experience in the BCJHL, the MJAHL and MJHL.

Brian Bates is the new General Manager and he hopes to strike a nice balance this year.

Walsten and Bates both say this years team will be held accountable and will be highly visible in the community.

Another Break-In Reported

The OPP are investigating yet another incident of someone getting caught breaking into a home in  the south end of town.

Police say a resident in the South Park sub-division woke around 4:00 in the morning to find unknown individual in their house.

The suspect fled the scene.

The incident took place three days before a similar incident in the Lakeside area.

This time, the suspect is described as being a large male, with jeans rolled up to his knees, wearing
a red hoodie and baseball hat.

The OPP say they don't know if the incidents are connected.

Hot Weather Over the Weekend, but No Records

Close but no cigar.

Kenora came close to setting a record warm temperature over the weekend.

On Saturday the thermometer topped out at 29.1 Celcius.

That was just shy of the previous record of 29.4 set in 1972.

Fort Frances did set a record hitting 30.7, breaking the previous record set
in 1980 of 30.5.

Two People Dead In Fatal Accident Near Eagle River

Two people are dead following a two vehicle collision near Eagle River.

The crash occurred around 7 o'clock yesterday morning on Highway 17.

Provincial Police say a westbound vehicle collided with an eastbound transport.

Both the male driver and male passenger of the vehicle died.

The driver and passenger of the transport weren't injured even though their vehicle went off the road into a body of water.

Police are investigating and no charges have been laid.

A post-mortem exam is being conducted today at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Northern Leaders Debate Today

Two of Ontario's top political leaders square off in an election debate in the city today.

The NDP's Andrea Horwath and Kathleen Wynne of the Liberals will be answering questions on northern Ontario issues when
they face each other in the lunch hour debate at the Valhalla Inn.

PC leader Tim Hudak could not make it because of a scheduling conflict.  

Hudak instead will be spending the day in Peterborough and a couple of stops in the Toronto area.

Liberals Release Election Platform in Thunder Bay

The provincial Liberals have released their election platform.

Premier Kathleen Wynne was in Thunder Bay yesterday afternoon to present the platform.

Added to their new plan is one billion dollars in funding for the Ring of Fire, regardless of federal government involvement.

Wynne says the Ring of Fire is important to the north.

The Premier also discussed road maintenance in the north, adding that twinning the highway between Thunder Bay and Nipigon is a priority.

Canfield Says Operational Review Long Overdue

An operational review is coming for the City of Kenora.

Council this week passed a resolution to send out a request for proposals.

Mayor Dave Canfield says the review will set a good benchmark for the city.

The last review was performed in 2000 and Canfield notes changes in the municipal organization have occurred since that time.

It's expected the review will be carried out this summer.

Clothing Drive For Kasechewan Evacuees

A clothing drive is being held for the almost 600 Kashechewan First Nation evacuees.

The evacuees could be staying in Thunder Bay for much longer than originally thought.

They've already been here for three weeks and officials aren't sure when they'll be able to head back to their community because of flooding in the James Bay.

The Nishinawbe Aski Nation is working with a number of agencies to collect clothing and toiletries.

They'll also accept books, toys, and pens, pencils and paper.