Community Improvement Plan extended for Harbortown area

Building owners in downtown Kenora who want to fix up their property will have another year or so to get some funding from the city.

Council has given its tentative approval to continue the Community Improvement Plan for the Harbortown area.

Councillor Ron Lunny says the C.I.P. was part of the whole downtown revitalization project.

Grants are also available for new signage, archtectural plans and landscaping.

Municipal Cultural Plan complete

The City of Kenora is hoping to shed its image as a cultural wasteland.

Council is set to approve a Municipal Cultural Plan at tonight's open meeting.

Ariana Moscate has worked on the plan for the past six months and says the next step is to set up a committee to ensure the recommendations are carried out.

The plan has five main strategies, including ideas on how to raise the profile of culture in the community and building a home for the arts community in Kenora.

Public School Board expands Summer Literacy Camp

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is expanding its Summer Literacy program.

Last year, the six week summer camp was held in Sioux Lookout, but this year, its also being brought to Evergreen, Dryden and Red Lake.

Superintendant of Education, Caryl Hron says this year, the program will be shortened.

Hron says some of the Summer Literacy programs still have space and parents can contact the board office to enrol their kids.

Fire Hazard drops after wet weekend

Cool, cloudy conditions helped keep the fire situation in northwestern Ontario in check


over the weekend.

There were 10 new wildfires were reported.

Three of those were in the Sioux Lookout District and one in the Fort Frances area.

The MNR is monitoring a large 18 thousand hectare blaze southeast of Pickle Lake.

That fire is currently blowing smoke into the communities of New Osnaburgh and Pickle Lake.

The fire hazard is in the low to moderate range in the Kenora area due to the rain

over the weekend.

PARO sets up new Website

There's another way for Northwestern Ontario women to connect.

PARO Centre for Women's Enterprise Executive Director Rosalind Lockyer says they've created a new website.

The website was funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The website can be found at:  enterprisingwomen.ca

Law Enforcement Torch Run today

Special Olympics programs will get a big boost today.

The Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run will take place this morning starting at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The OPP, staff from the Kenora Jail and the local Ministry of Natural Resources office will be all be taking part in the run.

The run will start at 11:00 and wrap up at the Kenora Jail, where at fundraising barbeque will take place at 11:30.

Earthroots Apologizes

The environmental group Earthroots is offering an apology to Weyerhaeuser.

Earlier this week. Earthroots claimed that the I-Level Timberstrand mill in Kenora used formaldehyde in the production of its engineered lumber.

Weyerhaeuser disputed the report and Earthroots has now sent out a release apologizing for its error.

The environmental group says formaldehyde is used in the manufacture of some i-Level products but admits the Kenora mill uses a different kind of resin.

Earthroots says it is double-checking all the facts in the report to ensure their accuracy.

Greenpeace Critical of Ontario's Forest Policies

Greenpeace Canada says Ontario's Liberal government has mismanaged public forests and failed to protect habitat for the threatened woodland caribou.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Catharine Grant says she's not optimistic the Tories or New Democrats would be any better at managing the forests.

 Greenpeace says there's been very little improvement in forestry sector prosperity, despite what it calls massive subsidies from the province.

Public School Board bringing back Summer School

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is bringing back the concept of summer school.

This year, a number of summer learning opportunities will be introduced at high schools in Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake.

Sean Monteith is a superintendant of education with the public school board and says the program is really targeted at students at risk.

Some of the offerings include a summer co-op program, credit recovery, and a Reach Ahead program for grade eight students heading into grade nine in the fall.

Police Investigating Break-In to Camp on Lake of the Woods

The OPP are investigating a break and enter to a camp on Lake of the Woods.

Police say the break-in took place either this past Tuesday or Wednesday at a cottage on St. Helena Island.

A number of items were stolen, including a DeWalt cordless drill, a couple of rain suits, a Toshiba lap-top, a digital camera and some alcohol.

Police say the owners discovered the break-in after returning to their camp.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Kenora Detachment of the OPP.

Minister Gives Update on Northern Policy Institute

The Northern Policy Institute is taking shape.

The think tank will help create economic development initiatives for the region.

Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry Michael Gravelle says they've created the mandate of the institute.

Gravelle says the NPI's location should be announced by the end of the summer.

Keewatin-Patricia Enrolment Expected to Decline

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board expects enrolment to drop by 1.5 percent in the next school year.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says the decline in enrolment is having a definite impact on their finances.

Carrie says while secondary numbers remain fairly stable, elementary enrolment is expected to drop another 4.1 percent next year.

OPP Release the Names of the deceased in Upsala Collision

The OPP have released the names of three people killed in a collision on Highway 17 just east of Upsala.

The accident took place just after 6:00 Sunday evening and claimed the lives of three Geralton residents.

The deceased have been identified as 20 year old Rick Oulett, 18 year old Tammy Lefebvre and 11 month old Bailee Lefebvre.

The OPP say their vehicle crossed the center line and collided with a semi  tractor-trailor unit.

The driver of the transport was not injured.

Lake of the Woods Task Force Holds final meeting in Kenora

Local residents will get one final chance to comment on a final draft report by an International Task Force for the Rainy River and Lake of the Woods watershed,

The public meeting will take place at the Best Western Lakeside Inn this evening at 7:00.

The last chance to submit comments is June 24th.

The final draft has to be submitted to the International Joint Commission by July 15th.

Meetings have already taken place this week in Atikokan, Fort Frances and Baudette.

Economic Development Commission Behind Abitibi CIP

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission is throwing its support behind a Community Improvement Plan for the former Abitibi lands in Kenora.

Thelma Wilkens-Page chairs the business development and attraction committee and says the tax incentives proposed by the city are a good first step towards filling up the vacant industrial property.

Wilkens-Page says she also likes the idea of developing one main entrance for the former mill property.

The CIP is expected to be approved by council this Monday.

Mixed Results for local students in OSSLT

The Grade 10 literacy test results for area Schools are out.

Students wrote the test back in March.

Jack McMaster is the Director of Education for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board and says he's pleased with the results.

67 percent of Beaver Brae students who wrote the literacy test were  successful, compared to the provincial average of 83 percent.

At Thomas Aquinas, the pass rate was 90 percent.

MNR Bringing Fire Crews Back Home

Forest fighting efforts in Western Canada for the Ministry of Natural Resources are being scaled back.

Because of an increasing fire hazard here at home, a planned dispatch of fire rangers to Alberta this week has been cancelled.

The MNR adds when the remaining 374 Ontario fire staff return from Alberta, they will not be replaced.

There are 10-active fires in the District including a fire that's been burning on an island on Lake of the Woods since the weekend.

The hazard is high to extreme across Northwestern Ontario.

Con College's new President getting to take over

Confederation College will have a new President starting Canada Day.

Jim Madder says it's important for him to speak with staff and students.

Madder is currently the Vice President of Alberta's Red Deer College.

Council seeks support from the NOHFC for Harborfront Tent

The City of Kenora isn't giving up its fight to secure funding for the new Harborfront Tent.

Council says it will be appealing a decision by the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund not to provide any money for the tent.

Council says it wants at least 800 thousand dollars from the Heritage Fund, which is about 50 percent of the cost.

Councillor Ron Lunny says because the tent is more of a permanent structure, he's hoping that will change they way the NOHFC looks at their application.

Beach Boys play sold out concert

The Beach Boys played to a sold out crowd on the Kenora Harborfront last night.

Over 15 hundred people attended the concert, which was the first event planned and

organized by Tourism Kenora.

The concert sold out in a matter of days after tickets went on sale last fall. 

Local Postal Workers Locked Out!

Members of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers in Kenora are on the picket line today.

Pickets were set up after Canada Post decided to lock-out its employees.

Chuck Cadger is the local union respresentive and says they are willing to fight to maintain the wages and benefits they have.

The head of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Denis Lemelin held a press conference this morning and is calling the lockout a completely unacceptable situation.

City Daycare Rates going Up

Its soon going to cost more to send your kid to a city-run daycare facility.

The city is looking at imposing a dollar a day increase at the Castle of Learning Daycare Center starting next week.

The daycare rate will go up to 31 dollars a day.

Recreational Services manager, Colleen Neil says there's still lots of demand for the service and says they are full.

Police Continue to Investigate Fatal Accident on Highway 17

Police still haven't released the names of the young family who perished in a fatal collision near Upsala.

OPP Staff Sergeant Dan Peters says the family died after there vehicle crossed the centre line on Highway 17 and hit a transport head on Sunday evening.

Peters says once the bodies are identified the names will be released.

Public School Board approves Budget

Declining enrolment is starting to cut into the budget of the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

This year, the public school board is projecting a shortfall of 1.5 million dollars in the 2011/2012 school year.

Superintendant of Business Dean Carrie says they hope to be able to balance their books within three years.

The overall budget for the school board is 84.7 million dollars, which is

down almost two million dollars from last year.

Community Improvement Plan Coming together for Abitibi Lands

A number of tax incentives are being promised to companies which decided to locate on the former Abitibi property in Kenora.

Details of a community improvement plan were unveiled this morning at a public meeting.

Councillor Ron Lunny says they will also be providing incentives to fix up the buildings on the mill site.

Lunny says tax incentives include no taxes after the first year of setting up shop on the mill property on 9th Street North.

There will be a five year phase-in of the industrial taxes.

First Nations Get Funding for Training

The Provincial Government is doling out millions of dollars to Northwestern Ontario communities.


Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says 8.6 million dollars is being put towards training programs for first nations.

Shoal Lake #39 First Nation has been promised 566 thousand dollars of that funding, while the Bimose Tribal Council will be getting 540 thousand.

Gravelle says they're also putting 16.6 million dollars towards cell service upgrades in the far north.

Beach Boys Headline Harborfront Tonight

The first major event of the summer season gets underway this evening in Kenora when the Beach Boys come to town.

Over 15 hundred people are expected to crowd under the big tent on the Harborfront.

Kenora's Tourism Development Officer Heather Paterson says parking could be at premium.

Tonight's concert is scheduled to get underway at 7:30 this evening.

Library Seeking more money from the City

Kenora Public Library is warning of service cuts if it doesn't get an increase in funding from the City of Kenora.

The Library Board made a deputation to council yesterday, asking for a hike in their 2011 budget.

Marg Curtis-Poirier is the chair of the library board and says even though they did receive a 33 thousand dollar increase in their budget this year, it will still leave them with a lot of red ink.

The library presented three proposals to council, one of which included  the closure of the Keewatin Branch of the library, if there was no increase in funding.

Weyerhaeuser Questions Earthroots Report

Weyerhaueser is questioning the accuracy of a report from an environmental group which raises concerns about the operations of the ILevel Timberstrand Mill in Kenora.

Earthroots claims formaldehyde-based resins are used in the manufacturing process.

Formaldehyde was listed last week by the U.S. government as a cancer causing agent.

But spokesperson for the company, Wayne Roznowsky says contrary to the claims in the Earthroots report, formaldehyde is not used to produce timberstrand.

Roznowsky admits they do have air emissions that contain formaldehyde, but says those are naturally produced while wood fiber is drying.

Think North Summit Opens Today

The Think North Summit will open today with an infrastructure and training announcement.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle says the summit is the next stage of the province's Northern Growth Plan

The summitt will focus on the future of Northern Ontario's economy.

Kenora Mayor Dave Canfield is in attendance.

Body of Missing Angler Found on Lake of the Woods

The body of a missing american angler has been found on Lake of the Woods.

The OPP's Marine Unit located the body of 69 year old Richard Herman on the shore of the lake in the Morson area on Sunday.

Herman, from Peoria, Illinois went missing three weeks ago, when he was fishing in a 16 foot boat, with 73 year old James Wealther.

The body of Wealther was found on May 24th.

Three People Dead in Accident near Upsala

Three people are dead following a two vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada Highway near Upsala.

The OPP say the accident took place last night around 6:10 when a semi tractor trailor unit and another vehicle collided just east of the community.

Police say a man, a woman and a child in the vehicle were killed, while the driver of the transport was not injured.

So far the names of the deceased have not been released.

Forest Fire Hazard High in NWO

The forest fire hazard has jumped to high across Northwestern Ontario.

6-new fires were reported yesterday, three in the Thunder Bay District.

All of the new starts are classed as out or under control, with the exception of one on an island in Wabakimi Provincial Park.

The small fire is burning near an outpost camp, but the Ministry of Natural Resources has kept the flames away from the camp.

The MNR stresses that all campfires must be attended and put dead out before leaving.

Relay for Life Raises 88 Thousand Dollars

A big weekend for the Canadian Cancer Society in Kenora.

The annual Relay for Life took in over 88 thousand dollars unofficially.

A final tally is expected to be available later today.

The total topped last year's figures.

The top team was the Graychums, which collected just over eight thousand dollars, followed by Scotiabank at 79 hundred.

A record number of luminaries were also sold, with 800 set up around the track at Lakewood Field Friday night.

Two Feather Gets More Provincial Funding

The Province is investing 3.6-million dollars in the Two Feathers Forest Products project.


The funding will allow 240-people in Dryden receive training this year that will prepare them for forestry sector jobs.

The project will provide both apprenticeship training and on-the-job technical training for prepare them for jobs in the Two Feathers initiative or other forestry jobs.

Wabigoon Lake First Nation, Wood Tech Group in Finland, Seven Generations Institute and Confederation College are involved in the project.

Operation Corridor Launches Tuesday morning

Transport drivers will have to be extra attentive on the road as Operation Corridor is about to be rolled out.

The 24-hour blitz starts Tuesday morning at 6 o'clock.

Sergeant Shelley Garr is the OPP Northwest Region Spokesperson and says a number of groups are involved in the intiiative.

Garr says they will also be watching for seatbelt infractions and distracted drivers.

OPP Investigate Fatal Accident near Upsala

OPP are on scene investigating a fatal 2-vehicle collision on Highway 17, just east of Upsala.

Emergency crews were dispatched just after 6 o'clock last night.

OPP say an eastbound vehicle collided head on with a westbound transport.

The Trans-Canada is open to one lane of traffic.

Police will only say that the driver of the tractor trailer was not injured.

Con College releases Environmental Plan

Confederation College is launching a five year environmental action plan.

Con College president Pat Lang says they've already started several "green" initiatives.

The action plan includes promoting the use of public transportation, cutting down on e-waste and recycling.

The environmental plan was released on Friday. 

Cystic Fibrosis Fundraiser Cleans Up

The 8th annual CARSTAR fundraising car wash is taking place tomorrow in Kenora.

Spokesperson Jackynn Tregunno says they are raising money for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

The event is from 10 until 2 o'clock at Crystal Clean Carwash on

Railway Street. 

Harborfront Ready for Special Event Season

Kenora is gearing up for another summer of special events.

The big tent is now up on the Harborfront in preparations for the Beach Boys concert next Wednesday.

The first event of the season under the tent takes place tomorrow with the Swingin' Seniors.

People will be coming in from Fort Frances, Vermillion Bay and Sioux Lookout for the event.

The opening ceremonies will take place at 10:45 Saturday morning and things will wrap up at 4:00.

Former Jaffray Melick Mayor Passes Away

One of the longest serving politicians in the Kenora area has passed away.


Ed Alcock was involved in municipal politics for 45 years with the Town of Jaffray Melick.

He served as both reeve and mayor of the community until he retired in 1995.

Alcock passed away at Lake of the Woods District Hospital early this morning.

He was 84 years old.

Youth Workshop in Kenora Saturday

Local youth are being given a chance talk about some of the issues that are near and dear to their heart.

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services is hosting a Youth Dialogue Workshop in Kenora tomorrow.

Anyone between the ages of 12 and 25 are encouraged to come out and give their feedback for a Youth Policy Framework, being drafted by the government.

The forum will ask local youth "what's important to them" and what they need in order to succeed.

The Kenora session is the only one taking place in northwestern Ontario.

It will be held at the Days Inn from noon to 4:30 tomorrow.

Hospital Foundation holds AGM

The Lake of Woods Hospital Foundation is saying farewell to its long-time chair.

Thelma Wilkens-Page is stepping down after a number of years at the helm of the fundraising organization.

The Foundation held its Annual General Meeting last night and announced that it had transferred over 550 thousand dollars to the Hospital for capital improvements in the past year.

In addition to that funding, the Boobie Night's Fundraiser this past weekend made 30 thousand dollars, which will go towards the purchase of a digital mammography and digital x-ray unit for the hospital.

CUPE Campaigns against Hospital Overcrowding

The union representing hospital workers in Ontario wants the provincial government to open more beds not close them.

That was one of the suggestions made during a tour of northwestern Ontario by the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

Sharon Richer is the northern representative for the union and says over-crowding is leading to poor sanitary conditions in some hospitals.

The tour made a stop in Kenora yesterday and will be in Fort Frances later today.

More Medical Professionals Working in Kenora

The City of Kenora now has record number of medical professionals working in the community.

A report by the Chief of Medical Staff at Lake of the Woods District Hospital shows that there are currently 28 general practitioners and family doctors working in Kenora.

Depite that fact, Dr. Kerry McDonald says a large number of people in the community still have to go to the ER to see a doctor.

He says number of the physicans do not work full-time, or have a restricted practice.

In all, there are 81 medical professionals that have credentials at the hospital.

That includes visiting specialists, dentitists and nurse practitioners.

Relay for Life At Lakewood tonight

The Canadian Cancer Society has already raised 250 thousand dollars across northwestern Ontario this month through Relays for Life in a  number of communities and is expected to get another boost this weekend.

Kenora's Relay is taking place starting tonight at Lakewood School.

Amanda Witta is the co-chair of the event and says one of the highlights of the event is the lighting of the luminaries.

Organizers of this year's relay are hoping to match or exceed last year's fundraising total of over 75 thousand dollars.

The Relay for Life gets underway at 7:00 this evening.

NDP call for Gas Regulation

Andrea Horwath doesn't like how high gas prices in northwestern Ontario are compared to Southern Ontario, so she's promising price caps if elected premier.

The NDP leader also think the sytem should be regionalized.

Horwath believes transporation costs shouldn't be used as an excuse to gouge drivers

Anglican Archbishop speaks out against Kenora's Deer

Ontario's Minister of Natural Resources has received a strongly worded letter from a local religious leader.

Anglican Archbishop of Keewatin, David Ashdown has written a letter complaining about the deer population in Kenora.

Ashdown the deer have lost their fear of humans and are becoming unpredictable and agressive.

He suggests the crown has the responsibility of protecting local residents, but nothing has

been done to control the local deer population.

He goes on to say the minister has a moral obligation to take all steps necessary, including

"if necessary" a cull of the urban deer population.

Facilitator agrees with School Board's Decision to close Evergreen

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board followed its own policies when it decided to close Evergreen School.

That's the finding of a facilitator hired by the provincial government to look into the closure of the elementary school.

Joan Green was appointed by the Ministry of Education this past winter after parents at Evergreen complained about the process.

But in a report by the former head of the Education Quality and Accountability office, Green says the school board was thorough and compliant wih its school accommodation policy.

The board had initially decided to close Evergreen at the end of this school year, but has agreed to delay the closure for another year.

Snow in Pickle Lake?

While Southern Ontario perspired through a day of temperatures in the low-to mid-30s on Wednesday, Pickle Lake residents almost had to grab their snow shovels.

Mayor Roy Hoffman, who works at the airport weather station, says snow was falling at about 10 a.m.

Hoffman says the temperature was down to about 2 C,and big flakes were falling.

In other areas of the Northwest, people donned fall jackets to cut a biting wind and rain early in the day.

The forecast for today is a lot better with sunny skies and 18-degree temeratures.

CUPE Brings Health Care Tour to Kenora

The union representing health care workers is speaking out against overcrowding in local hospitals.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees has launched a tour of northwestern Ontario talking about some of the problems that are cropping up due to overcrowded conditions.

It says infections like C-difficile are the the result of too many patients and not enough beds.

CUPE is bringing its campaign to Kenora today.

Fire Hazard low in NWO

Despite the wet weather six forest fires remain active in Northwestern Ontario.

The most recent fire was sparked by lightning in the Sioux Lookout area.

The 2.5-hectare fire is being observed north of Wabakimi Provincial Park.

The fire isn't threatening any property.

5 of the fires currently burning are in the Thunder Bay-Nipigon District and don't pose any problem.

Canada Post to reduce delivery service

Expect to see less mail delivered to your doors.

Canada Post is trimming staff levels at mail sorting plants. And, starting next week, it's ordering letter carriers to deliver letters only three days a week - Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Spokesman Jon Hamilton says it's because mail volumes have dropped by half since last Thursday, when postal workers began a series of rotating strikes.

Rotating walkouts hit 13 communities today, including Thunder Bay and Hearst in Northwestern Ontario.