The Northwest Health Unit Moving on

The old Mount Carmel School is going to have a new lease on life.

The Northwest Health Unit is planning to move its offices on Tunnel Island to the former elementary school.

Chief executive Officer Mark Perreault says they really wanted to bring all their programs back under one roof.

Perreault says they will be moving most of their offices next August, but their Market Square programs won't be making the move until January of 2016.

Northwestern Ontario Jobs

If you want a job in northwestern Ontario, the mining sector seems to be where its at.

The Northwest Training and Adjustment Board has wrapped up its annual community consultation in Kenora.

Sonja Wainio is the executive director and says their biggest job now is to re-train forestry workers.

Wainio says they also want to see if there is some way of re-vamping apprenticeship programs to attrack more young people.

Dubchak named captain of Greyhounds

Kenora is continuing its tradition of producing great on-ice leaders.

Carson Dubchak has been selected as the new captain of the  Soo Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.

Dubchak is a product of the Kenora Minor Hockey system and has been one of the Greyhounds Assistant Captains over the past three years.

Dubchak has six points in eight games so far this season.

Union of Ontario Indians upset with Bell

The Union of Ontario Indians is displeased with Bell Canada's service.

Spokesperson Maurice Switzer says it's been a year since the HST came into effect and still some of their members are not being reimbursed for the PST portion on their bills.

Switzer says their members are getting frustrated with Bell Canada's customer service.

Library Operational Review Underway

Libraries are more than just books these days.

That's some of the feedback received during an operational review being conducted for the Kenora Public Library.

Peggy Walshe is with Libraries in Transition and she says libraries are required to provide all kinds of different services to the community.

Walshe and two members of her company met with city council this morning to get their feedback about the kinds of services they feel the local library should be providing.

They will also be holding public consultations tomorrow night and Thursday afternoon at the Kenora and Keewatin Branch Libraries.

Movember!!!

Its a great months for fans of the moustache.

Its Movember, 30 days to celebrate hair on the lip of men all over the world.

Pete Bombaci says they are also urging women to get involved as well.

Movember is in support of prostate cancer research.

CJRL has entered its own team this year called the Mike-mo-phones.

KACL

There's a blackout on information on contract talks between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Kenora Association of Community Living.

The two sides sat down with a conciliator last week to try and iron out a new agreement.

If there is no deal, workers at KACL could be in a legal strike position later this month.

Some of the union members have been without a contract for over a year and a half.

AbitibiBowater

AbitibiBowater and the Ministry of the Environment still haven't come to an agreement on the on-going upkeep of the Marga Waste Dump on the Jones Road.

The company was supposed finalize the terms of the deal by Monday.

A Ministry of the Environment spokesperson says more time has been requested.

Abitibi now has until the end of this month to work out an arrangement with the Environmental Review Tribunal.

The ministry is seeking 2.3 million dollars from AbitibiBowater to finance ongoing tests.

Break and Enter

Another not so subtle reminder to check up on your seasonal properties from time to time.


The OPP in Sioux Narrows are investigating a rash of break-ins Southeast of Kenora.

Police were called to a camp on Lobstick Bay about one break and enter and then noticed that a number of other residences in the area had also been burglarized.

A Scenes Crimes Unit has been called in to help out with the investigation.

Forest Fire Season

It's a modern day record for forest fires in Ontario.

Debbie McLean of the MNR says over six-hundred- thousand hectares of forest where burned this past season alone...that's the most we've seen in about 50 years.


McLean says it cost the government about 230 million dollars to fight the 13 hundred and 30 blazes

Bicycle Lanes

It’s a first for the City of Kenora.


Bike lanes are officially part of Lakeview Drive.

Dave Schwartz is a member of the bike committee and says the lanes were stenciled after the road was re-paved.

Schwartz says their goal is to expand the number of bike lanes to create a city-wide network.

Thistles post just one win in weekend road trip

The Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles earned three of a possible six points up for grabs during a three game weekend road trip to western Manitoba.

The Thistles took the Pembina Valley Hawks to overtime yesterday, but eventually dropped a hard fought

1-0 decision.

Saturday the Kenora Midgets were thumped 7-1 by the Central Plains Capitals, while Friday night, the Thistles managed their lone win of the weekend, with a 4-3 victory against the Yellowhead Chiefs.

Signal Weather Services

Kenora trick-or-treaters will have a slightly warmer Halloween night than the rest of Canada.

Our Meterologist Bill Laidlaw says it's going to be warmer than what we're used to.

Laidlaw says the warmer than normal weather will continue throughout the week.

The Kenora Community Policing Committee BBQ

Hamburgers and hot dogs are on the menu tonight! The Kenora Community Policing Committee is having a BBQ at the Evergreen Community Club between 4:30 and 6:00 tonight! You won’t have to worry about supper. Get the kids all dressed up in their costumes and have a bite to eat before you head out trick or treating. Five dollars will buy you a burger or hot dog with a chip and a drink. All proceeds help to fund community projects.

National Patient Safety Week

Falls prevention, Medication safety and flu shots.


Those are just some of the issues the Lake Of The Woods District Hospital wants to focus on during National Patient Safety week.

Brock Chisolm is a physiotherapist at the hospital and says preventing falls is something they have been spending a lot of time and effort on in recent months.

The hospital is planning to focus on a different issue each day this week

Links

Tourism in Northwestern Ontario

 It wasn't a great summer for many tourist outfitters in northwestern Ontario.
Gerry Cariou is the executive director of Sunset Country and says there wasn't much in the way of growth compared to last year.

On the bright side, he does say they did see some improvement in border crossings with fewer complaints in 2011.

Cariou adds that the sluggish American economy continues to be a drag on the tourism industry in northwestern Ontario.

OPP Out in Force for Gate Night

The OPP are hoping for another quiet gate night in Kenora.

Over the past few years, there have been fewer mischief complaints on the night before Hallowe'en.

Constable Dave Cain says police will continue to have an increased presence on the streets Sunday and

Monday nights. 
Cain says they will be assisted once again by Citizans on Patrol  on Gate Night and Hallowe'en.

Holiday Train to Stop in Kenora this December

What has 14-rail cars, hundreds of thousands of festive lights and a travelling stage for performers?

If you answered the Canadian Pacific 'Holiday Train', you are correct.

Area residents will be able to see the festive locomotive on December 2nd and 3rd.

C.P. spokesperson Kevin Hrysak says Valdy and Tracey Brown are the featured performers this year.

The Holiday Train collects food and money for area Food Banks.

Library Launches Operational Review

An operational review of the Kenora Public Library is starting up.

Next week, consultants will be meeting with local residents to get their feedback about the services the Library provides.

Erin Roussin is the Head Librarian and says the consultants will be available all next week to gather input.

There will also be two public meetings with the consultants next week.

One on Wednesday night at the Kenora Library and the other Thursday afternoon at the Keewatin Branch.

Forest Fires still burning near end of Official Fire Season

The forest fire season officially comes to an end on Monday, but there will likely be fires still burning across the Northwest.

Eight lightning caused fires are still active inside Quetico Provincial Park.

Jennifer Young of the Ministry of Natural Resources says the fires are being monitored and none are posing any threat.

Young says a fire management plan for the park allows fires to burn in certain areas to help regenerate the forest.

Rafferty brings back Private Members Bill

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty has brought back a private members bill aimed at protecting workers severance when companies enter bankruptcy protection.

It's a similar bill that died on the order table in the last Parliament.

First reading took place in the House of Commons Thursday.

Campbell Officially Sworn in As Kenora-Rainy River MPP

It's now official

Sarah Campbell was sworn-in to office yesterday morning as the MPP for Kenora-Rainy River riding.

Campbell admits there's still a lot of learning yet to take place.

Campbell says the legislature could resume as early as November 14, although no official word has been given by the Liberals.

Alzheimer Society Takes a Coffee Break

The coffee's on at the Alzheimer Society's office in Kenora.

The annual Coffee Break campaign is in full swing.

Executive Director Lynn Moffatt says they are looking for potential hosts to contact them.

Moffatt says funds raised through the coffee donations will be used to support the one thousand Alzheimer Patients in the Kenora-Rainy River area.

Hefty Hunting Fine levied

They didn't learn their lesson the first time, now two Ontario hunters are 10 thousand dollars poorer.

Conservation officers were contacted after two hunters were seen killing a deer on private property in the Rainy River District last November.

The two men were fined a total of six thousand dollars.

The same two men also pled guilty to hunting on private property back in April.

In that instance, they were fined 45 hundred dollars.

Tim Gould from Chelmsford has been banned from hunting for two years, while Dan Wheldon isn't allowed to hunt in Ontario for four years.

OPP release summer crime stats

The OPP says its overtime costs tend to be higher in the summer.

The Kenora Detachment recently released its monthly statistics for August and September.

There were about 125 more calls for service in August compared to last month.

That also resulted in a big increase in overtime.

There was a total of 423 hours of O.T. in August, compared to 248 in September.

Events like Harborfest have a lot to do with the increase in the number of calls for service and overtime.

Kenora to take part in Doors Open again in 2012

The doors will be open to heritage homes and buildings in Kenora once again in 2012.

Heritage Kenora has agreed to host the weekend event again next year.

The city recently approved a budget for Heritage Kenora, which included funding to carry out Doors Open.

No date has been set for the Kenora event, but its expected to take place next September.

High Schoool Hockey season opens this weekend

Ten teams are playing in the 26th Annual Dryden High School Boys Hockey Tournament.

Play started  this morning at 9 o'clock.

Both the Beaver Brae Broncos and Thomas Aquinas Saints are in action today. 
Teams from Winnipeg, Red Lake and Fort Frances are in the field for the two day Tournament.

The finals will take place Saturday evening.

Border Crossing Stats released

A man from Texas who declared his main source of income was from playing on-line poker was among 42 people denied entry into Canada last month at the Fort Frances border.

The Canada Border Services Agency says the man told officers he was moving to Fort Frances.

But when he failed to prove he had funds to support himself or that he had employment or a home in the United States, the individual was turned back.

A total of 96-thousand people passed through the border in September.

American fined for catching too many walleye

A fishing trip to northwestern Ontario is going to cost an Illinois man a little more than he bargained for.

Andrew Coates has been fined two thousan dollars for catching too many walleye.

The MNR says Coates was fishing in Little Pine Lake just off Highway 71 this past July.

Conservation officers found the legal number of walleye in his possession, but a further investigation found that he had more fish frozen at his camp.

He pleaded guilty to have 13 walleye over the legal limit.

OPP arrest Winnipeg man for Auto Theft

If you're going to steal a car, better not be drunk when you're doing it.

The OPP have laid a long list of charges against a Winnipeg man after pulling over a vehicle around 2:00 this morning on Golf Course Bay Road.

Police say the vehicle was being driven in an erratic manner.

A quick check also determined that the car had been stolen from a home on 3rd Street South.

18 year old Konrad Muckle has been charged with Impaired Driving, possession of property obtained by crime, breach of probation and  operating a motor vehicle without a license.

More MPP's in the running for Speaker

MPP Michael Gravelle doesn't think the speaker of the house is for gone conclusion now that a Tory MPP has thrown his name into the ring.

Conservative MPP Frank Klees has said he will run for speaker when the provincial parliament resumes in November but Gravelle says there are 3 Liberal Members running as well.

Since the speaker traditional voted with the government many are seeing Klees's decision as effectively crossing the floor.

Drug Bust

Kenora OPP have made another drug bust on the Trans-Canada Highway.

Police stopped a vehicle on Highway 17 west of Kenora yesterday afternoon.

Officers found 3-grams of cocaine.

OPP say 23-year-old Nyree Kakeeway of Kenora faces 1-count of possession.

Creighton Youth Services

Young offenders in Kenora may get a new job.


Creighton Youth Services says its wants to start up a program called Paint the Town.

Tammie Potter asked the Police Services Board to support the project and help form a new committee.

Potter says the idea is to get the youth out into the community to cover-up grafitti and other areas in need of a clean-up.

Kenora OPP Budget

The OPP in Kenora seem to be paying close attention to their bottom line.

Statistics from the local detachment shows policing costs so far in 2011 are not only on target, but actually under budget.

Inspector Dave Lucas says through the first six months of this fiscal year, they have spent 3.14 million dollars.

That's just over 200 thousand dollars than they had projected. Lucas adds that their overtime costs are less than expected.

Red Lake Airport Terminal

Transport Minister Denis Lebel and Kenora MP Greg Rickford are in Red Lake this afternoon to celebrate the opening of the new Airport Terminal.


The Federal Government made major investments to replace the Terminal building, enhance airport parking and install wildlife control fencing.

A special ceremony is planned for 2 o'clock.

Lebel and Rickford will also take time to sit down with area Mayor's.

Sarah Campbell

Sarah Campbell officially becomes our MPP at Queen's Park today.


An official swearing-in ceremony for all NDP members is taking place this morning in Toronto.

Campbell captured the Kenora-Rainy River Riding in the October 6th election.

She has already been named critic for Natural Resources and Aboriginal Affairs.

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation wants healthy food at affordable prices for their people.


Spokesperson Joseph Leblanc says that's why they're holding a food symposium looking at reintroducing gardening to First Nation communities.

Farmers from across the Northwest are sharing their trade secrets with NAN and helping them create community gardens.

Long Gun Registry

The Conservatives are hoping the third time is a charm.


The Harper government has introduced legislation once again to abolish the federal long gun registry.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says they've waited a long time for this day.

Rickford is also challenging the NDP members from Thunder Bay tosupport their consituents and vote in favour of abolishing the long gun registry.

Nuclear Waste Management Organization

 The number of Northwestern Ontario towns willing to at least consider the idea of storing waste from nuclear reactors in their vicinity has reached half a dozen.


Nipigon is the latest municipality to have a Nuclear Waste Management Organization information kiosk in town to inform locals about the proposal and gauge support.

Mayor Richard Harvey says Nipigon's councillors have not made any decision about the project.

The facility is expected to create several hundred jobs for the host town, but it could take up to 10 years before a site is selected.

Ear Falls, Ignace, Schreiber, Hornepayne and Wawa have also expressed an interest in hosting a storage facility.

Kenora Association for Community Living

Employees with the Kenora Association for Community Living are still hoping to  come to a contract settlement.

Conciliation talks are taking place today between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and KACL.

Pete Edwards is a spokesperson for the union and says they are looking for some changes in their work schedule.

Workers with KACL could be in a legal strike position by the middle of November if they can't reach a deal.

OPP arrest three on drug charges

Three Kenora residents face trafficking charges after being pulled over for a routine traffic stop.

Police say the occupants were in possession of eight oxycodone pills.

25 year old Miranda Elder, 32 year old Ryan O'Dowda and 35 year old Terry Vaillancourt have all been charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking.

They are due to appear in court in December to face the charges.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting Tonight

Keeping a watchful eye on your street is just one of the many things you can do to keep our community safe

Constable Dave Cain says that's exactly how the neighborhood watch started

The program was brought back a couple years ago.

An information session will be held tonight in the Rotary Room of the Kenora Rec. Center starting at 7:00.

KACL Employes Hold a Rally in support of a new Contract

Conciliation efforts are continuing between the Ontario Public Service Employees Union and the Kenora Association for Community Living.

OPSEU members rallied outside the Best Western Lakeside Inn this afternoon to show support for their negotiators.

Union spokesperson Pete Edwards says improved wages is only one of the things they are looking for along

with some changes to their work schedule.

The workers at KACL could be in a legal strike position by the middle of November if they can't come to terms on a new contract.

OPP investigate break-in in north end of town

OPP are investigating a break in to a Third Street North residence in the City of Kenora.

Police say the incident took place sometime Friday night.

Suspects gained entry by removing a window and stole a security box which held 800 dollars in gift certificates.

Anyone with information is asked to call police or crime stoppers

Sarah Campbell at Queens Park

Kenora-Rainy River MPP-elect Sarah Campbell will find out today about her role with the NDP.

Party Leader Andrea Horwath will unveil her shadow cabinet this morning at Queen's Park.

Campbell was victorious in the October 6th election.

Long Gun Registry

The Federal Government's latest bill that aims to scrap the long gun registry will be unveiled later today.


Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty says the bill has been cloaked in secrecy.

Rafferty says he doesn't know if today's bill will look anything like the previous bills that aimed to scrap the registry but adds that once he knows what the bill contains he'll spread the word throughout the riding.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals

One of North America's most controversial animal rights groups says our city council should not allow bow hunting as a method to control the deer population.


Kristen Simon of the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says there are better solutions.

PETA believes on of the best solutions is to simply not feed the deer

Miitigoog General Partners

The company responsible for the Sustainable Forest License in the Kenora area is reporting a good first year in business.

Miitigoog General Partners had revenues of about 717 thousand dollars last year.

Lauraine Cobiness is the president of the first nations owned company and says she's pleased with their operations.

Miitigoog held its first ever annual general meeting in Kenora yesterday

Kenora Association Of Community Living

Members of OPSEU Local 702 are heading back to the bargaining table today to ask for a fair contract today. 

Developmental Service workers at the Kenora Association Of Community Living support people who have an intellectual disability by providing services they need to live, learn and work in our community.

The union says these services are seriously under-funded and that people with disabilities often only receive services once they reach a point of crisis.