Green Advances to Final 16 of Master Chef Canada

Former Kenora resident Mike Green has made the cut.

Green is among the final 16 amateur cooks to make it through on
Master Chef Canada.

Green currently lives in Winnipeg, but grew up in Kenora.

His pan-seared arctic char with ratatouille and quinoa impressed the judges enough  to be invited into the Master Chef kitchen.

The title also includes 100 thousand dollars in prize money.

The next episode of the show will follow the Superbowl on Sunday.

Ignace Mayor Calls Fire Devastating

The mayor of Ignace says an early morning fire is devastating.

Lee Kennard has owned Gramma's Supermarket for the past five
years.

The grocery store went up in smoke this morning around 2:30.

Kennard says fire crews will likely be at the scene most of the day
putting out hot spots.

The fire is under control and was contained to the store itself, though
Kennard believes a home behind the building may have sustained some
damage.

No injuries have been report, and the cause of the blaze has not yet been
determined.

Highway 17 has also been re-opened after being closed for nine hours due to
the fire.

Fire Destroys Ignace Business

A major fire has destroyed Granmma's Supermarket on Main Street in Ignace.

The blaze was reported around 2:30 this morning and Ignace, Dryden and Wabigoon Fire were all dispatched.

The grocery store was engulfed in flames with the fire also threatening the adjoining hotel and a residential home.

Highway 17 is closed in Ignace, but traffic is being rerouted through the community.

No other details are available at this time.

Manitoba Sledders Recovering From Ordeal

Two sledders are recovering in hospital after spending a chilly night out on Lake of the Woods.

The RCMP says it was contacted Sunday afternoon about two people who were overdue after
going ice fishing near Birch Point on the western shore of the lake.

Police say the couple did not have a GPS and due to blowing snow, there was little to no visibility.

An extensive search was launched yesterday morning, and by 10:00 police were informed the
two had turned up in Roosevelt, Minnesota.

The RCMP say the two drove 40 kilometers, but had become disoriented.

They ended up making a fire and spent all day and night in the bush.

The 20 year old man, managed to walk to a local home and contacted his father's employer who called police.

He is currently being treated for frostbite in Roseau, Minnesota.

Finally, Some Good News For Forestry

After years of doom and gloom, finally a reason for optimism for the
forest industry in northern Ontario.

The Ontario Forest Industries Association is predicting huge growth in
2014.

Jamie Lim is the president of the OFIA and says lumber companies are getting ready to take advantage in an upturn in construction in the U.S. and globally.

In a pre-budget submission, Lim encouraged the provincial government to maintain programs that are helping the forest industry, including forest access road programs and the Northern Electricity subsidy.

Ontario's Minimum Wage Increasing?

Ontario's minimum wage could be going up.

A special advisory panel reviewing the 10-25 an hour wage released it's recommendations to to the finance minister yesterday.

The panel suggests potential increases be tied to the rate of inflation, but doesn't recommend what the new rate should be.

The minimum wage has not increased in four years.

Premier Kathleen Wynne is expected to announce an increase in the minimum wage later this week.

Red Ribbon Campaign to Launch Next Month

Be on the lookout for red ribbons.

People First is putting together hundreds of ribbons people can
wear in support during the Week of Action Against Poverty next month.

Nan Normand is a spokesperson for the group and says it's part of their
awareness campaign about poverty in the community.

The Week of Action Against Poverty will run from February 9th to 15th, andWear Red Day takes place on February 14th.