OPP Summer Students Busy

The OPP summer students have been busy in recent weeks keeping track of local motorists.


The students have been involved in a number of different initiatives, including the Lock it
or Lose it Campaign.

So far over 25 hundred vehicles have been checked in downtown Kenora and 14 percent have
found to be unlocked.

Over 21 hundred vehicles have also been checked for seatbelt compliance, and the students
have fund that 5.7 percent of motorists are failing to buckle up.

Three students have been hired by the OPP to patrol the downtown core this summer.

Construction resumes downtown

There shouldn't be any delays on Bernier Drive this week, as phase two of the downtown revitalization project gets under way.

Jarnel Contracting began work on the nearly four million dollar project yesterday.

Site work has started up in the area near the Thistle Pavillion.

Phase two will include the construction of Lake of the Woods Plaza south of the ScotiaBank on Main Street South and also preparation of the underground works for the festival site on the Kenora Harborfront.

Work is expected to continue through the rest of this summer right into late fall.

The city says it will be providing weekly updates on the progress of the project
on the BigSpruce website.

Phase Two of Downtown Revitalization Begins

Work has started on phase two of the downtown revitalization project.

Jarnel Construction began mobilizing yesterday and will be working over the next couple of months on the almost four million dollar contract.

The Lake of the Woods Plaza and festival park will all be part of the project.

One item that's not included in the work is the installation of a new tent on the Harborfront.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck admits that's something they will have to include in the 2011 budget.

Perchuck say the tent structure will likely cost about a million dollars.

The city has applied for a grant of 500 thousand dollars from the Northern
Ontario Heritage Fund to help cover the cost of the tent.

NOMA wants 2011 Census to Proceed

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is adding its name to the list of groups expressing concern about the recent Federal Census decision.

The Government is moving to discontinue the use of the mandatory long-form questionnaire in favour of a voluntary survey.

President Anne Krassilowsky says the voluntary response will be unreliable.

Krassilowsky notes its not known how many forms will come to Northwestern Ontario.

OPP seek Auxillary Officers

A recruitment effort is underway by the OPP to increase their numbers

in the Auxillary Unit.

The OPP Auxillary is a volunteer unit that works along side full-time
officers.

OPP Constable Dave Cain says members of the Auxillary do receive
training.

An information session will take place tomorrow night at the OPP
Detachment office on the Kenora By-Pass starting at 7:30.