Pikangikum Achieves Forestry Milestone

A major milestone for the Pikangikum First Nation.

The first nation has become the forst far north reserve to receive a Sustainable Forest Licence.

The Licence is for the Whitefeather Forest, 90 Kilometers North of Red Lake, and will require the Whitefeather Forest Cummunity Resource Management Authority to implement a Forest Management Plan.

Chief Dean Owen says he is thankful to the Elders, the Whitefeather Forest Initiative Team, the MNR staff who helped the community reach this milestone.

Owen added he is excited for the economic opportunities the licence will create for the people in the community

Matiowski's Farmers Market Starts Tomorrow

A summer staple in Kenora comes back to the Whitecap Pavilion tomorrow.

The Matiowski Farmers Market will be open tomorrow as of 8:30 under the Whitecap Pavilion.

Chrystal Stokes says the market will be as big as ever this year with the markets sold out with vendors through the the end of August.

Stokes said the market includes some well known vendors including Honeymill farms, Gerber Farms, Rainy River Meat, and also includes many different types of jewellery and art.

OPP Commissioner Defends Rising Costs

The Commissioner of the OPP is trying to put a positive spin on the cost of their service.

Chris Lewis was in Kenora last week and admits municipalities are concerned about an 8.5 percent increase in officer salaries that's slated to kick in next year.

Lewis says despite the increase, the OPP provides good value for the service.

Lewis says the OPP is currently 32nd in terms of police costs in Canada.

Enough is Enough Bikers Ride Into Kenora

Two people are trying to bring the issue of mental health into the open.

Ginny and Kerry Dennehy are riding across Canada as part of their Enough
is Enough Campaign.

Kerry says the ride is really in support of their son who committed suicide 13 years ago.

The Dennehy's arrived in Kenora yesterday to talk about the foundation they set up on behalf
of their son to tackle depression and mental illness.

Attawapiskat Residents Finally Returning Home

Residents of Attawapiskat First Nation evacuated to Fort Frances last month because of flooding are beginning to return home.

About 30 were flown back last Thursday.

Emergency officials are now looking honouring a request by the remaining thirty to relocate to towns closer to their community where family and friends may be.

The residents have been living out of a local hotel since May 11th.

Funding For Aboriginal Youth Announced

Helping Aboriginal people in Northwestern Ontario get off welfare.

That's the focus of a new plan being pushed by Canada's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says 241 million dollars will go to help youth achieve the same job opportunities as other Canadians.

Aboriginals who choose to participate in the program will work with  the Income Assistance Program to undergo personalized case management.

Northern Communities Continue to Lobby over MPAC Assessments

The fight isn't over between towns in northwestern Ontario and the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.

Dryden Mayor Craig Nuttall says they had some good discussions at their meeting in Toronto last week.

Nuttall says MPAC was on the hot seat.

Nuttall says another problem is how the municipalities are going to pay back what they owe.

Memorial Service for Ornge Employees

A memorial service is scheduled for this afternoon in Toronto for the two pilots and two paramedics who died late last month in an air ambulance crash in northern Ontario.

Premier Kathleen Wynne is among those who will be attending.

The helicopter had just left its base at the Moosonee airport to pick up a patient in the remote Attawapiskat First Nation when it crashed early on May 31st.

Transportation Safety Board officers investigating the crash have said mechanical failure did not appear to be the cause.