Quetico Celebrates Milestone

A major milestone for a popular northwestern Ontario destination.

It was 100 years ago that Quetico Park was designated a provincial park, one of the first in the Ontario Provincial Parks Act.

Several events are planned including a barbeque, guided hikes and native drumming.

Speaking of great destinations, Eagle Lake First Nation is holding its annual Pow-Pow.

Festivities continue throughout the weekend.

Lengthy Waits Expected At Northwest Border Crossings

Expect delays at northwestern Ontario border crossings this long weekend.

Canada Border Services says Friday afternoon is the peak time for travel and for those coming back to Canada, the agency says Sunday evening, and Monday afternoon, are typically the busiest times

And while there's no magic solution to avoiding long lines, the agency says travellers should remember to have all their documents in order, to cut down on unnecessary delays.

NOSM Increases Student Grants

The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is doling out cash to future MD students.

16 students are getting six thousand dollars each in grant money.

The medical school doubled the amount of grants awarded this year from 8 to 16 to provide more opportunities to potential students.

OPP Confirm Arson Cause of Central Fire

The OPP have confirmed that a fire that took place in the
Central area of town earlier this week was deliberately set.

Fire crews and police showed up at a house around 7:30
Wednesday night.

Police say the fire caused only minor damage to the home, and
was extinguished before the fire department showed up at the
scene.

The OPP say they are continuing their investigation into the incident.

Harborfest Ready to Rock the White Cap Pavillion

It has the makings for the busiest weekend of the Summer.

Harborfest begins tonight with the first concert of the weekend
under the White Cap Pavillion.

Dave Blake is the director of entertainment and says they've done some
tweaking to improve the evening concerts, including raising the main stage.

Blake says Saturday night's concert is almost sold out, while tickets are
moving briskly for tonight's show and also Sunday night.

Sweet, Bachman/Turner and Kenny Shields and Streetheart on the the schedule tonight.

Man in Wheelchair Found Dead

The OPP say foul play is not suspected in the death of a 39 year old man
in a wheelchair in downtown Kenora.

Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated man on Chipman Street around 11:30  Tuesday night.

Police say he was dead when they arrived at the scene.

A post-mortem exam was conducted Wednesday at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The deceased has been identified as 39 year old Craig Shawataskung.

OPP Gearing Up for Long Weekend

Provincial police says officers will be out in full force over
the Civic Holiday weekend.

The OPP are also reminding people about the "Move Over Law".

Sergeant Shelley Garr says they'll be out this long weekend making sure motorists obey it.

Garr says violating this law could cost you anywhere from 400 to 1200-dollars, and three demerit points upon conviction.

BIZ Pleased with Summer Campaign

The Kenora Business Improvement Zone says it's pleased more shops and restaurants are staying open later and opening on Sunday.

BIZ made a concerted effort to try and increase late night hours for stores in the downtown core this summer.

Mort Goss is chair of the business group and says their efforts seem to be paying off.

Goss says while lots of tourists and seasonal visitors are taking advantage of the increased store hours, locals don't seem to have embraced the concept.

Resolute Preparing to Open Two Sawmills

Things are moving along as Resolute Forest Products plans to open a retooled plant in Ignace and its new sawmill in Atikokan next year.
   
President Richard Garneau says they're spending 32 million dollars on the Ignace operation and 50 million dollars on the Atikokan plant.
   
While Garneau didn't comment on specifics with the Ignace plant, he says construction on the Atikokan plant will start soon, as they
still have to cut some wood before starting the foundation.

Liberals Lose Three Seats in Five By-Elections

The Progressive Conservatives scored their first win in a Toronto riding in more than a decade, but it was their only win in five by-elections across the province.
   
The New Democrats took seats in Windsor and London, but the minority Liberal government held on to two of the five seats on the line in yesterday's by-elections.
   
The Liberals took Scarborough-Guildwood and former premier Dalton McGuinty's old riding of Ottawa South, while losing Windsor-Tecumseh and London West to the New Democrats and Etobicoke Lakeshore to the Tories.

The by-elections were the first opportunity to see how voters were judging Premier Kathleen Wynne after six months on the job.
   
Wynne admits voter backlash over the 585 million dollars the Liberals spent to cancel two gas plants cost the Liberals three of the five seats on the line in Ontario byelections.

Borderland Rage Back in Action

The Borderland Rage Under 10 girls team is hitting the road again this weekend for a summer
hockey tournament.

The Rage are competing in the USA International Hockey Cup tournament in Blaine, Minnesota.

Their first game is this morning when they take on the Minnesota Miracle.

The Rage are made up of players from Kenora, Dryden, and Fort Frances.

102nd Ag Fair Underway

The grand-daddy of Kenora festivals is underway for another year.

The 102nd Kenora Agriculture Fair is taking over the Kenora Rec. Center for the next couple of days.

Chris Madison is secretary of the Agriculture Society and says unfortunately they've seen entries into the vegetable growing competition drop right off this year.

Madison adds that the midway is also at the Rec. Center in conjunction with  the Agricultural Fair.

The fair continues today at 4:00 and wraps up Saturday night.