Aboriginal Affairs Minister Announces Funding

The provincial government is supporting Northwestern Ontario's aboriginal and metis victims.


The Ontario Native Women's Association has developed workshops designed to foster healthy relationships.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Chris Bentley says they've adopted a "for us by us" strategy.

Another first nations group is offering a healing arts program designed to remember those first nation women who are missing.

House fire on Mascott Avenue

Its been a busy couple of days for Kenora's Fire and Emergency Service crews.


Fire fighters were called out to a house fire on Mascott Avenue early this morning.

Fire Chief Warren Brinkman says the call came in just before 3:00 this morning.

He says due to quick work by fire crews, they were able to contain the blaze to the room of origin.

He says there was extensive damage to the room and some water damage to the home as well.

Fortunately, no one was hurt.

Brinkman says they are still investigating how the fire started.

Doer Visits International Falls

Canada's Ambassador to the United States has agreed to looking into how Canada can make it easier for Americans with minor convictions to cross the border.


Gary Doer was questioned about the policies now carried out at Canada's borders during his visit Friday to International Falls.

He agrees it's vital to growing Canada's tourism industry to resolve the problem.

Area tourism officials says millions of dollars have been lost because of American being turned back at the border for minor convictions, some decades old.

New Principal for Pope John Paul

The Kenora Catholic District School Board has decided to hire from within to fill a key leadership vacancy.

Maureen Carlin-Frankcom has been chosen to be the new principal at Pope John Paul II School.

Carlin-Frankcom was promoted from the vice-principal's position at the elementary school.

She takes over from Andy Graham, who resigned last week to take a job with the Bimose Tribal Council.

The board has not indicated who will take over the vice-principal's position at
Pope John Paul.

OPP Aboriginal Awareness Course

24 OPP officers from across northwestern Ontario are spending the week on the Washagamis Bay First Nation near Kenora.

The officers are taking part in the OPP's annual aborignal awareness course which is being held at the Health Center.

Inspector Dave Lucas from the Kenora Detachment says they will cover a number of topics over the next few days.

Lucas says the course is usually held in northeastern Ontario, but last year the course was held in Sioux Lookout, and this year is Kenora's turn to host.

Fatal Fire Update

An autopsy will be conducted in Toronto today on a 47 year old man who died in a house fire in Kenora over the weekend.

Allan John Mosher was pulled out of a house on 5th Street North Saturday evening around 6:00.

Mosher was initially treated at the scene, and was transported to Lake of the Woods District Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office and the OPP's Northwest Region Crime Unit.

The OPP says the single story home sustained significant damage.