Shoal Lake #39 Threatening to take Winnipeg to Court

The Shoal Lake #39 First Nation says its prepared to take legal action against the City of Winnipeg over the issue of water.

The band has given Winnipeg a deadline of January 20th to open negotiations.

Earlier this year, Chief Eli Mandamin indicated they were seeking 124 million dollars a year for the water Winnipeg uses.

The band claims the city is taking the water illegally.

Shoal Lake says the ball is now in Winnipeg's court.

Rickford supports adult training center

Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission is getting some high level support for its concept of a Adult Training Center in Kenora.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says developing training opportunities is key to the economic future of the community.

Rickford goes on to say he supports the concept.

The Commission briefed city council on the proposal for an adult training center at Lakewood School.

A final business plan is expected to outline some of the potential sources of funding for the project.

Atikokan not happy with Comparisons to Attiwapiskatt

The Mayor of Atikokan says he's not sure why his community is being used as a comparison with the financial spending of troubled Attawapiskat First Nation.

A published report notes Atikokan's operating budget to be a third of the remote Northern community.

Dennis Brown says location may play a factor.

Brown says it's also difficult to compare budgets since Atikokan doesn't have all of the same financial responsibilities as Attawapiskat.

Trout Forest Lands funding

A big catch for organizers of the Trout Forest Music Festival.

The Federal Government has handed the Ear Falls Festival 50-thousand dollars to help it through 2013 and 2014.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the event is a great venue to showcase local and national talent.

Trout Forest Executive Director David Hoey says the funding will make it easier for planning and will allow organizers to showcase the top talent in Canada.

Grassy rejects Long Term Plan for Whiskey Jack Forest

The Grassy Narrows First Nation is rejecting a long term forest management plan for the Whiskey Jack Forest.

The plan was released last week, but Grassy Chief Simon Fobister says it still would allow for clear cut logging in their traditional land use territory.

Fobister says the document was developed without their participation or consent.

He's now asking for a meeting with Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle asking the government to work with them.

So far Fobister says he hasn't heard back from Gravelle's office.

Just Say No to Chainsaws

City council is being asked to toughen up Kenora's noise by-law.

Charles King made a deputation to council this week complaining that chainsaws were not included in the current by-law.

King says one of his neighbors used a chainsaw constantly this summer and it was an irritant not only to him but other in his Lakeside neighborhood.

Habitat for Humanity Choses family for its first Kenora Build

Its a Christmas wish come true.

A single woman and her girl will be the first family in Kenora to receive a home from Habitat for Humanity.

Ashley Neniska says she's very thankful to the Habitat committee selecting her.

Habitat For Humanity is hoping to start construction on its first Kenora home in May.

Business Plan Unveiled for Proposed Adult Training Center

A proposed adult training center at Lakewood School is getting the thumbs up in a new report.

Grant Thornton was asked by the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission to provide a business plan for the training facility.

Geordie McEwan is the vice-chair of the commission and says the initial numbers are very promising.

McEwan admits there are still lots of hurdles to cross, including the fact the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board owns the school and has not declared it surplus to its needs.

McEwan says they will be making a presentation to the school board trustees next month.

Drunk Driving Charges Higher in Kenora

A published report suggests northwestern Ontario has the worst drunk driving rates in Ontario.

The Global News report based its findings on the number of convictions of impaired driving between June 2010 and June 2011.

The Kenora area came in with a rating of almost 12 convictions for every one thousand drivers.

Dryden's came in at 3.8, while Fort Frances was 2.6.

The provincial average was 1.7.

Local First Nations want more Consultation on Twinning Highway 17 West

Four first nations in the Kenora area say they are still concerned with the lack of consultation on the twinning of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Kenora.

Shoal Lake Bands number 39 and 40, the Dalles and Washagamis Bay met recently and shared their common concerns with the project.

Chief Lorraine Cobiness from the Dalles says the consultation process carried out by the Ministry of Transportation so far has been deeply flawed.

They say the government's of Canada and Ontario are not respecting their treaty rights.

The band chiefs says they want their interests addressed befor any work on the twinning project begins.

Bastone Elected Chair of Catholic School Board

A new face at the helm of the Kenora Catholic District School Board.

Frank Bastone takes over as chairman, following last night's board elections.

He beat out Theresa Gallick for the position.

Bastone admits their biggest challenge these days is a good one, and that's dealing with an increasing enrolment.

Bastone is joined on the board's executive by Paul Landry who was elected vice-chair.

Catholic School Board Buys Pinecrest

The Kenora Catholic District School Board is getting into the community club business.

Last night the board agreed to buy the Pinecrest Community Club from the city for 122 thousand dollars.

Phylis Eikre is the director of education and says they don't plan any changes to the operation of the outdoor rink at this time.

Eikre says the city will be tearing down the clubhouse in the spring because its no longer deemed to be safe to use.

OPP disappointed with RIDE numbers

Disappointment from the OPP with the number of people still drinking and driving this holiday season.

Thirty-one drivers have been charged with impaired since the OPP Festive Ride program started at the end of November.

Traffic Staff Sergeant Ken Mantey says people need to make smarter choices.

The charges stem from over 500 RIDE checks conducted by Police so far.

Solar Panels for Non Profit Housing Units in Kenora

Solar pannelling for seven housing units in the Kenora District.

Services Board CAO Dan McNeill says 3-project have been approved for Dryden, three for Kenora and one for Red Lake.

McNeill says two more units in Red Lake were turned down.

The housing units must be connected to the energy grid by mid-April.

No word on future of Zeller's in Kenora

Hudson's Bay Company says it hasn't decided on the fate of the Zeller's department store in Kenora.

HBC says there are 84 stores across Canada that were not included in the sale to Target last year.

The company says its currently doing a review of the Zeller's outlets and will likely decide early in 2012 what to do with them.

Target is planning to take over more than 100 Zeller's stores starting in 2013.

Bronco and Saints court teams have mixed results

The Thomas Aquinas court sport teams made it a clean sweep over Sioux Lookout.

The Saints Senior boys basketball team got 20 points from Devon Luby to cruise to a 59-39 victory.

The T.A. junior boys earned a 57-42 win over the Warriors.

Tristan Argue had 14 points for the Saints.

In girls volleyball, the Thomas Aquinas senior girls continued their dominance early in the season winning three sets to none over Sioux Lookout.

The Saints junior girls capped the day with a three sets to one win over the Warriors.

Meanwhile, up at Beaver Brae, the Broncos boys basketball teams split their games against Dryden.

The Beaver Brae Juniors trailed at the half, but allowed the Eagles just eight second half points en route to a 37-28 decision.

The Broncos senior boys lost their first league game of the regular season 39-25 to Dryden.

In girls volleyball action, the Bronco seniors and juniors lost to Dryden three sets to one.

Saints boys win on the road

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team head into the Christmas break on a roll.

The Saints won their third in a row last night, a 6-3 decision over Sioux Lookout. Erik Davidson led the scoring attack with three goals and an assist.

T.A. holds down first place in the Single "a" division.

Meanwhile, the Saints girls hockey team took Fort Frances to overtime, but lost in a shootout 3-2.

Beaver Brae's girls team was the latest victim of the Dryden Eagles.

The Eagles remain unbeaten in league play following a 4-1 win over the Broncos at the Rec. Center.

Ainsley Lindquist scored the lone marker for Beaver Brae.

Impaired Driving Charges up During 2011 RIDE Campaign

The number of impaired driving charges are up so far during the seasonal RIDE campaign.

The OPP in northwestern Ontario say they have laid 31 impaired driving charges in the first three weeks of their holiday blitz.

That's up from 29 for the same period last year.

There were also five three-day suspensions issued, compared to just one in 2010.

There have also been 260 motor vehicle accidents investigated with seven involving alcohol.

Broncos Hockey

The 2011 season closes today in Boys High School hockey with 2-games on the docket.

The Fort Frances Muskies are in Kenora to face the Beaver Brae Broncos in a battle of the top two teams in the league.

The other match-up is in Sioux Lookout where the Queen Elizabeth Warriors face the Thomas Aquinas Saints.

Both games start at 7:30.


Girls Hockey:

A big test for the Dryden Eagle Girls High School Hockey team today.


The Eagles are in Kenora to face the Beaver Brae Broncos.

Dryden is undefeated this season, but the Broncos aren't too far behind.

Game time is 4:30.

Kenora's other team is also in action as the Thomas Aquinas Saints take on the Muskies in Fort Frances tonight at 7:15.

Corrine Owen

The Kenora District Services Board has filled an important vacancy.

Corrine Owen has been hired as the new Director of Finance.

Owen brings roughly 15-years of senior accounting and auditing experience to the Board.

She spent the last 4-years as Director of Finance for Community Living Dryden and Sioux Lookout.

Her first day on the job is January 16th.

Trans-Canada Highway

More highway upgrades in Northwestern Ontario.


The Province says a 20-kilometre stretch of Highway 17 near Ignace is going to be repaved in the New Year.

The project is being carried out by Pioneer Construction and will employ about 40-people.

Work is expected to begin next Spring and is scheduled for completion in Fall 2012.

Jaffray Melick Arena

Its official: there won't be any ice at the Jaffray Melick Arena this winter.

Kenora City Council has decided to shut the facility down for the season, after receiving an engineering report.

Recreational Services Manager, Colleen Neil says a strcuture assessment found some issues with the building.

Neil adds the decision to take the arena off-line this winter will give the city a chance to
decide what it wants to do with the facility.

KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund

The City of Kenora is lending itself 800 thousand dollars to help pay for

a municipal infrastructure project.

Council voted last night to borrow the money from the KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund
to cover the city's costs of installing the new submarine sewer and water line.

Councillor Ron Lunny says even though the water line was installed two years ago,
they still had to arrange long term funding for it.


Lunny adds he would also like council to borrow from the KMTS Prosperity Trust Fund for
a long-term debenture on the new fire hall on Barsky's Hill.

Resolute Forest Products

Some workers at Resolute Forest Products in Thunder Bay are getting an unexpected Christmas break.


Spokesperson Pierre Choquette says market conditions are forcing the company to temporarily halt kraft operations for 10-days starting on Friday.

The newsprint mill will continue to operate during the period.

Rickford Opens new Office in Kenora

Just in time for the holiday season, Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford is opening up a new office in Kenora.

Rickford has moved over into the Optomistist Building on Main Street South.

He's holding his official opening today and says he likes his new digs.

Rickford held an open house this afternoon for his constituents.

Union Gas Rates to Drop in the New Year

A nice gift of savings for Union Gas customers in Northwestern Ontario.

The Ontario Energy Board has approved changes to the price Union Gas charges its customers for natural gas.

Local residential consumers who use 26-hundred cubic meters a year will pay about 28-dollars less per year.

The changes go into effect January 1st.

Lower natural gas prices in North America are credited for the drop in price.

28 Year old man killed in Fort Frances

A 28-year-old man is dead after he was struck by a freight train in Fort Frances on the weekend.

OPP say the man was hit near the Canadian National Railway main yard just after 2 o'clock Sunday morning.

Police say the westbound locomotive was leaving the rail yard when it hit Justin Degagne.

OPP and CN Rail Police are looking into the circumstances surrounding the death.

Foul play is not suspected.

Skead Re-elected Chief of Rat Portage

A couple of familiar names are back on the Rat Portage Band Council.

Mid-term elections were held on Friday, and chief Ken Skead fended off five other challengers and has been returned for another two year term.

Former chief George Kakeway is back on the band council, after being elected to one of three council positions.

Newcomers include Nathan Landon and Chris Skead.

A total of 13 people ran for the three seats on the Rat Portage Band Council.

Federal Government provides funding to local agencies

The federal government is giving a helping hand to a couple of regional agencies that deal with small business.

The Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre has been promised 320 thousand dollars.

Centre Manager Judy Sander says the money will be used to provide 5 thousand dollar grants to help get business projects off the ground

As part of the same FedNor announcement, the Northern Ontario Enterprise Gateway get 450 thousand dollars

Better Ambulance Service Demanded for Machin

An initial surge is on to place a land ambulance base in the Vermilion Bay area.

The push is being made by the District of Kenora Unincorporated Area Ratepayers Association.

President Bill Blower says they are concerned that the closest ambulance is in Dryden and the response times to the Machin area is at best over half an hour.

Blower says first responders do a great job, but stress they are unable to transport a patient for medical care.

The group is asking Machin Council and the Kenora District Services Board to approve the move.

KDSB CAO Dan McNeill says a comprehensive reivew of land ambulance services is taking place next year and the recommendation will be included in that review.

Northwest EMS passes review

Rave reviews for the Emergency Management Services team in the Kenora District.

Services Board CAO Dan McNeill says they have been certified for another 3-years after passing an extensive Ministry of Health review.

Northwest EMS had 14-findings against them, down from 24 in 2008.

The Inspectors also described the patient care as professional, courteous and well managed.

OFIA questions Caribou Protection Plans

The Ontario Forest Industry Association is asking the Provincial environmental commissioner where he's getting his information from.

Gord Miller has stated that caribou protection measures won't hurt forestry in Northern Ontario.

OFIA Spoksperson Scott Jackson says current forest management plans already report an impact.

The areas outlined as caribou management zones supply wood fibre to mills in Dryden, Fort Frances, Kenora, Thunder Bay, Terrace Bay and Timmins.

Business Plan for new Education Center to be released this week

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission is hoping for an early Christmas present this year.

The Commission is holding a special meeting on Wednesday to go over a business plan for a proposed Education Facility at Lakewood School.

Members of the Training and Education Committee got their first look at the report on Friday.

The building would involve a number of education partners who provide post-secondary education opportunities in Kenora.

The facility would also include a performing arts center.

The business plan is expected to show whether the project is feasible, and how much it would cost to transform the elementary school into a post-secondary institution.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has not indicated whether its interested in selling off Lakewood School, though members of the commission will be making a special presentation to the school board in early January.

Highway 17 near Ignace Re-Opened

Highway 17 near Ignace is open again to both lanes of traffic after it was closed for some time yesterday.

Sections of the Trans Canada were closed on and off again due to a transport going into a ditch.

The road was closed while crews cleared the area and removed the wreckage.

Junior Saints see silver lining at Dryden Tournament

The St. Thomas Aquinas HS junior girls volleyball team continue to show improvement in their play and lost a close 25-20, 25-22 semi-final match to the Dryden Eagles in the Santa Claus Classic held in Dryden this weekend.

The junior Saints sent a split squad to the final tournament until the new year.

TA #1 finished 3rd in their pool winning 7 out 12 sets.

This meant a quarter-final match with the Dryden HS junior girls #2 team.

The Saints won a 2-1 decision in the quarter-finals despite giving up a 23-20 lead in the 2nd set of the match.

Strong defence lead the Saints to a 15-13 win in the 3rd and deciding match.

The Saints then played Dryden's other team, but the Eagles eked out a close 2-0 decision over the Saints
in the gold medal game.


The other TA split squad lost a close quarter-final match 2-0 after finishing 4th in their pool play.

Saints win gold in Thunder Bay

Another golden weekend for the Thomas Aquinas Senior Girls volleyball team.

The Saints travelled to Thunder Bay this past weekend where they went on to win the 2011 Spike Off tournament.

T.A. came first in their pool going 5-0, defeating: St. Ignatius, Atikokan, West Gate, Hammarskjold Collegiate and Churchill.

In Championship play they defeated Laverandraye in the quarter finals, West Gate in the Semis; and lastly defeated Dryden in the Finals 25-13 and 25-20.

The girls went 8-0 on the weekend, not losing a set nor letting any team get over 10 points until the finals.

Bekki Elliott was named tournament the tournament All-Star.

The Saints Girls volleyball will join the rest of the court sport teams at St. Thomas Aquinas at home for league play Tuesday.

Council to vote on new Snowmobile Corridor Monday

Mother Nature hasn't been co-operating with the Sunset Trailriders Snowmobile Club, but at least city council has been more receptive.

Council is expected to endorse a revised snowmobile by-law for the city on Monday night.

It will outline the new cross-town corridor though the city.

The by-law will also ban the use of modified exhaust systems.

The new cross-town corridor was outlined by the STR earlier this fall.

Emergency Shelters get money from DSSAB

Help for the homeless in the Kenora District.

The Services Board is spending over 68-thousand dollars on four programs.

The Red Lake Area Emergency Shelter and Sioux Lookout Out-of-the-Cold Shelter are both getting over 24 grand.

The Kenora Fellowship Centre is receiving 15-thousand dollars.

Five grand is going to the Dryden Food Bank.

The money is from the Ministry of Community and Social Services.

Police Issue Warning about Coyotes in Pickle Lake

Provincial police have issued a warning about coyotes in Pickle Lake Township.

Police say coyotes are usually wary of people and avoid humans whenever possible.

However, O.P.P. note they are wild animals and should never be approached.

Police add people should not feed coyotes or any other wild animal, as it makes them less fearful of humans and gets them used to food provided by people.

Senior Thistles add new players

The Kenora Triple "a" Senior Thistles will have a few new faces in the line-up this weekend.

The Thistles face the Fort Frances ThunderHawks tomorrow night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Thistle captain Sean Hughes admits he doesn't know a whole lot about the extra skaters being brought in.

All the players being brought in have some junior hockey or semi-pro experience behind them.

Game time is 8:00 tomorrow night.

Thistles and Rams In Action Tonight

A tough weekend road trip for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles.

The Thistles head to western Manitoba for three games in three days.

Tonight, the Thistles take on the Yellowhead Chiefs, followed by stops in Brandon and Portage Saturday and Sunday respectively.

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team is a home for a pair of games against Red Lake this weekend.

Tonight, the Saints take on the Rams at 7:30 at the Thistle Rink.

The same two teams will meet up at noon tomorrow at the Rec. Center.

Meanwhile, the Thomas Aquinas girls hockey team will have to deal with a familiar foe tonight.

The Saints take on the Dryden Eagles for the third time in two weeks.

Thin Ice

Stay off the Ice


That's the message from law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border as ice forms on area lakes and rivers.

OPP Constable Anne McCoy says children especially should be reminded ice conditions may not be safe right now.

Last weekend, a 77 year old kenora man managed to escape the waters of Lake of The Woods after his ATV broke the ice.

Student Absentee Policy

Making sure students stay in school and stay engaged.


That's the focus right now for the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says they new policy is paying dividends.

Staff will contact parents after 5-missed classes and if the problem persists administration will bring the parents in for an interview.

Attawapiskat Homes

The first few modular homes headed for Attawapiskat will hit the road today.


Maple Leaf Homes out of New Brunswick is building the 22 homes ordered by the Federal Government.

Sales Manager Jacques Roy says the game plan includes transportation by rail from Cochrane, Ontario to Moosonee, Ontario.

Roy adds:

"The next phase is waiting for the winter roads freeze solid so that these homes could be transported to Attawapiskat"

Attawapiskat First Nation VS Third Party Management

The Attawapiskat First Nation is going to court to try and end the Harper government's Third Party Management.


Speaking in Thunder Bay Chief Theresa Spence says as it stands now the independent manager is slowing things down

Spence says Third Party Management is punishment for the impoverished community.

Kenora District Services Board 2012 budget

It only took one try to pass the Kenora District Services Board 2012 budget.


Board Chair and Red Lake Mayor Phil Vinet says they have unanimously approved the 2012 fiscal document and Municipalities will be required to shell out more than 15-million dollars next year.

The budget is 2-million dollars higher from the 2011 budget which was defeated and debated at great length last year.

The financial impact for each Municipality won't be known until the New Year.

HARBOURFEST 2012

Burton Cummings is coming back to Kenora!

David Blake, Entertainment Director for Harbourfest says:

"The Guess Who front man headlines what we're calling our "Manitoba Night".

Queen City Kids and The Pumps/Orphan have also signed on to perform under the new tent!

Tickets go on sale Tuesday December 20th 2011 at 11 A.M online:
http://www.harbourfest.ca/

Kenora Remains Investigation

Investigators are hoping the release of new facial approximations created by an Ontario Provincial Police Forensic Artist will bolster their efforts to identify human remains found in the City of Kenora in June 2009.


OPP investigators believe foul play was not a factor in her death. The deceased was a Caucasian female, between the ages of 35 and 55 years, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 110 pounds, with shoulder length light brown hair. She was wearing oval-shaped eyeglasses with wire upper rims. The investigation revealed that the deceased experienced extensive reconstructive jaw surgery -- likely done in a major centre.

        The facial approximations, photos of the scene surroundings and other   information that may help identify this individual are available at Missing Persons and Unidentified Bodies Unit

Keewatin-Patricia District School Board

Dave Penney appears to be a permanent fixture as the head guy at the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board table.

For an eighth straight year the Ignace Trustee has been elected Chair of the Board.

Kenora's Cecile Marcino is back as Vice-Chair.

The elections were held Tuesday night in Dryden.