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.