Right to Play

Some 100-youth from 7 Northern First Nations will be in the Dryden area this weekend for the "Right to Play" event.


City Manager Joe van Koeverdan says youth, aged 9 to 16, will be taking part in a number of recreational avtivities as well as a Winter Games.

The kids, "Right to Play" staff and community chaperones will be housed at Camp of the Woods for the 3-day event.

Van Koeverdan was introduced to the initative at the National Canoe and Kayak Championships and worked with Andi Kidd on bringing the event to Dryden.

Northern Ontario Ridings

NDP Members of Parliament are lobbying the federal government to maintain the 10 ridings in northern Ontario.

The M.P.'s are worried that riding re-distribution might result in fewer members in the House of Commons.

Nickel Belt M.P. Claude Gravelle says they've seen representation in northern Ontario shrink since 1995.

Gravelle says he plans to introduce a private members bill in the House of Commons this week guaranteeing northern Ontario at least 10 Members of Parliament.

Shoal Lake #39 First Nation

The federal and provincial levels of government need to get more involved with the
Shoal Lake #39 First Nation.

That's the feeling of Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell.

She met with band members yesterday and says more comprehensive talks need to
take place.

In recent weeks, Shoal Lake has blockaded the OFSC snowmobile Trail to the Manitoba
border, and has also demanded that the City of Winnipeg pay the community for the water it takes from Shoal Lake.

2012 Municipal Budget

The 2012 municipal budget has passed with very little debate from members of Kenora City Council.
Council has approved a one percent increase in the mill rate, which amounts to about 21 dollars a month for the average homeowner.

Councilor Rod McKay says he would still like to see about a half a million dollars trimmed from the capital side of the budget.

McKay says there are four items in the capital budget he wants to re-visit, including 170 thousand dollars to renovate the entry into the Kenora Rec. Center and also a front end loader for the facility.

Impaired Driver

Police didn't have to go very far to arrest this impaired driver.

Kenora OPP says a vehicle struck a Treaty Three Police cruiser in Nestor Falls early Sunday morning.

Officers stepped out their car and arrested the driver.

The accused was turned over to Provincial Police.

A 29-year-old Manitou Rapids woman faces impaired driving charges.

She was one of four people arrested on the weekend for drinking and driving.

Bronco Sports

Beaver Brae won just one game against the Dryden Eagles in their final games of the regular season.

The Broncos junior boys returned to their winning way with a 39-26 victory
over the Eagles.

The Bronco senior boys basketball team dropped a 48-32 decision to Dryden while the Beaver Brae senior girls lost three sets to none to the Eagles.

The Bronco junior girls also lost three sets to one.

The NorWOSSA play-offs take place in Fort Frances on Wednesday, where all four Beaver Brae teams will be involved in the semi-finals.

Resolute Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products, formerly known as AbitibiBowater, is giving more time for Fibrek to consider its hostile offer for Canadian pulp producer.

It has extend today's deadline to February 23, setting up a potential bidding war with Mercer International who is also interested in Firbrek.

Resolute's offer of 130-million dollars is about 30 per cent lower than Mercer's bid.

WiFi in class

The union representing Ontario's Catholic teachers is joining a growing list of opposing the use of wireless Internet technology in the classroom.


The Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association suggests up to one million Canadians may have "severe and immediate" reactions to WiFi.

Several schools in southern Ontario have already returned to hardwiring computers in their classrooms over WiFi concern.

Peaceful Border Day

Prime Minister Harper and President Obama are again being asked to give recognition to the relationship between Fort Frances and International Falls.


Speaking to Fort council last night, Falls city administrator Rod Otterness says the two cities deserve to have July 2nd proclaimed by their leaders as Peaceful Border Day.

The day coincides with the annual tug of war between the two cities.

Quilters Want Relief from Parking Tickets

Kenora City Council says it doesn't want to be a wet blanket.

A quilting group has asked the city for some leniency when it comes to issuing parking fines in the area of Knox United Church.

Marion Wright is a member of the Hearts of Knox Quilters and says some of their members are finding difficulty dealing with the two hour parking limit in the area.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield has suggested expanding the free parking zone along 5th Avenue South, so a few more quilters would be able to park without incurring fines.

City Wants a Crackdown on unpaid Traffic Fines

The City of Kenora wants to crack down on motorists who refuse to pay their fines.

Currently the city is looking at over two million dollars in unpaid parking tickets and other traffic fines.

City council says its a significant problem and is endorsing a resolution from the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards.

The Association says there are a number of gaps in the system and suggests there are ways of improving the ability of municipalities to collect unpaid fines.

Special Budget Presentation this Afternoon

Taxpayers can get an idea of how their money is being spent today.

Kenora City Council will be holding a special budget presentation this afternoon at City Hall.

Last week, council finalized the 2012 numbers and are requesting a one percent increase in the mill-rate.

A complete break down of the numbers will be made at 3:00 this afternoon in Council chambers.

Broncos girls Battle Eagles for First

First place in on the line this afternoon in NorWOSSA girls hockey action.

The Beaver Brae Broncos are hosting the Dryden Eagles in a make-up game at the Kenora Rec. Center.

The Broncos trail the Eagles by one point in the standings.

Puck drop is 1:30 this afternoon.

Beaver Brae is back in action tomorrow afternoon against their cross-town rivals from Thomas Aquinas.

No Homes Games for Midget Thistles when Play-offs open Friday

No such thing as home ice advantage for the Kenora Triple "a" Midget Thistles.

The Thistles begin the play-offs this weekend but will have to play their best-of-three series on the road.

The Kenora midgets will travel to Thompson, Manitoba to face the NorMan North Stars.

The Thistles finished the regular season this past week with a split against the North Stars in northern Manitoba.

Game one of the best-of-three series begins Friday night.

Senior Thistles lose on the road

The Kenora Senior Thistles dug themselves a hole they were unable to get out of.

The Thistles were in Morris yesterday and dropped a 4-2 decision to the Southeast Prairie Thunder.

The Thunder raced out to a 4-0 second period lead, but the short-staffed Thistles managed to cut that in half with goals from Jon Johnson and Matt Richards.

The Kenora Senior squad is back in action this weekend with a game in Fort Frances against the Thunderhawks on Saturday.

Old Age Security System

The federal government isn't about to do anything drastic with the Old Age Security System just yet.

That's the message from Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford.

Rickford admits they are looking at a number of ideas to try and deal with long term funding issues facing the system.

Rickford promises that any changes will not affect people currently collecting Old Age Security cheques or people nearing retirement.

Week of Action Against Poverty

Making Kenora Home is trying to raise awareness this week about the issue of poverty.

The 5th annual Week of Action Against Poverty began yesterday.

Dan Jorgensen is a spokesperson for the Committee and says a wide array
of events will be taking place this week.

One of the main events is the Poverty Challenge, which will wrap up on
Thursday. For the full list of events visit: http://www.makingkenorahome.ca/

Attawapiskat

Bad news for the troubled Northern First Nation of Attawapiskat.


Officials are concerned the sites chosen for two new house trailers haven't been prepared yet.

They're worried the road to the remote community will close before the trailers and building supplies arrive.

The First Nation is battling a severe housing crisis and declared a state of emergency last fall.

The Travelling Action Plan

Since 2001, less and less Americans have been coming into Canada through the Fort Frances and International Falls crossings. The decline in visitors coming into Canada is partly because of law enforcement measures at the border.

The federal government announced today, it’s changing its strict customs policy. The Travelling Action Plan now allows Americans with minor criminal offences a one- time waiver into the country.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford says the safety of all Canadians is still the government’s number one priority. Individuals  will still have to comply with CIC and CBSA approval before crossing the border into Canada.

“We do feel that this is an important first step, temporary in nature, as the long-term solutions I think we'll take on from the industry itself,"

Kenora MP Greg Rickford along with Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism made the announcement with a firm belief that this will increase tourism numbers in the Kenora District.

Smith Camps owner/operator Al Smith agrees adding that millions of dollars in revenue has been lost affecting everybody not only those in the tourism industry.

Resolute Forest Products

Resolute Forest Products is not ruling out more production downtime at its mills this year.

Lower demand and weaker pricing played a role in the 6-million dollar loss in the 4th quarter of last year.

CEO Richard Garneau doesn't see much immediate change.

The reported loss was the second straight since the company emerged from creditor protection a year ago.

ORNGE

The Ontario Government is taking flack from the Opposition parties over the handling of the Province's air ambulance service.


Some members of the Opposition have come out saying the government needs to allow private companies to operate the air ambulance service.

MPP Bill Mauro disagrees.

“At this point we’re all very happy with what the Minister has done to try and rectify some of the problems that have excited at ORNGE for some time. In terms of that suggestion again not being clear, I’m not sure our government is interested in privatizing health care.”

The Province recently put a not-for-profit air ambulance co-ordinator in place after firing former CEO Chris Mazza.

Sioux Lookout Fire

Provincial Police are looking into the cause of a fire in Sioux Lookout.


A building on Wellington Street engulfed in flames early yesterday morning.

The Sioux Lookout Fire Department was able to contain and extinguish the blaze.

No one was injured and the cost of damage is unknown.

Anyone with information is asked to contact OPP or Crime Stoppers.

Coventry Resources

Another mining company has started a search for gold in the Rainy River district.


Australian based Coventry Resources has started a drilling program at its gold project.

It's the first work the company has done on the 120-square kilometers of property, located adjacent to Rainy River Resource's project, north of Barwick.

The company is also doing exploration work at Cameron Lake near Nestor Falls.

Federal Long Gun Registry

Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty plans to continue the trend of voting to dismantle the Federal Long Gun Registry.


The final vote is expected to come down on Wednesday.

Rafferty feels there are more important issues the Federal Government should be focusing on instead of the gun registry.

Aboriginal Education

The federal government says its willing to work with first nation leaders to develop a better education system for aboriginal children.

Earlier this week, a panel on Aboriginal Education released its final report.

Parliamentary Assistant for Aboriginal Affairs Greg Rickford says the report contains some useful information.

The panel traveled across the country last year and held a day of hearings on
the Rat Portage First Nation.

Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls

The Mayor of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls says they must be doing something right.

The tiny community south of Kenora had the largest population growth in Northwestern Ontario in the last five years.

Bill Thompson says they have been trying to be pro-active to attract more people.

The population of Sioux Narrows/Nestor Falls grew by 7 percent in the last five years, while the rest of the Kenora District saw a 10 percent drop.

Community Satisfaction Survey

How do you feel about the level of policing in our community?

That's the question the OPP is trying to answer.

Sergeant Shelley Garr says they have hired a consultant to conduct a Community Satisfaction Survey.

Garr says the telephone survey is confidential and will be used to help develop OPP business plans for each of the detachments in northwestern Ontario.

Daycare Rates

Its going to cost more to put you child into a city-run daycare facility.


Council has approved a modest increase in rates for the Castle of Learning and Discovery Center.

Before and after school rates will be rising by a dollar a day starting March 1st.

Pre-school day care and toddler rates are also going up by a dollar a day.

Recreational Services manager Colleen Neil says the programs continue to be very popular and are full with a long waiting list.

Kenora Youth Council

A total of eight local teens have been appointed to Kenora's first ever Youth Council.


City Council promised to establish the Youth Council last year after receiving a couple of deputations from local high school students.

No date has been set for the first meeting of the Youth Council, but councilor Rory McMillan says they will be gathering input from city staff about some of the issues they'd like to discuss.

The term of the youth council is a short one.

Its scheduled to expire this June.

Greyhound Crash

An Ontario Superior Court judge has dismissed a lawsuit over a bus crash caused by a mentally ill passenger in 2000 near Upsala.


A 70-year-old woman was fatally injured when a 21-year-old mentally ill man grabbed the steering wheel and sent the bus into the ditch on Highway 17.

The judge says there was no negligence on the part of police, Greyhound, or the bus driver.

Kenora Doesn't Expect Much Benefit from 2011 Census

The City of Kenora likely won't see much benefit from an increased population.

The recent census shows that Kenora's population rose by 171 people in the last five years.

Chief administrative officer, Karen Brown says most of the grants they receive are not based solely on population.

She says some minor adjustments might have to be made for the Ontario Municipal Partnership fund, but doesn't expect it will have a significant impact on the money they get from the province.

Community Clubs Gets more Funding

Community Clubs in Kenora will be getting a bit more money from the city this year.

Council has agreed to increase the annual grant to eight thousand dollars a year for the Central, Rideout and Evergreen Community Clubs.

That's an increase from six thousand last year, and four thousand the year before.

Council also has agreed to put aside more money in a capital reserve fund to help fix up the aging community clubs.

Broncos swept in Dryden

Wins have been hard to come by for Beaver Brae's Court sport teams this week.

The Broncos were in Dryden today and lost all four games played.

An absolute thriller in Junior Boys Basketball between the Dryden Eagles and Beaver Brae Broncos.

The Eagles scored in the dying seconds and then survived a narrow miss on a buzzer beating jumpshot by the Broncos in a 25-24 victory today.

In senior boys action, the Eagles dumped Beaver Brae 57-29.

On the Volleyball Court, the Dryden Eagles Junior and Senior Girls swept the Broncos in three straight sets.

Kenora Skiiers win gold in Marathon

Kenora skiiers have won three gold medals at the NWOSSA Nordic Championships in Marathon.

Kaitie Lockhart from Beaver Brae won the Junior girls division, while Rowan Humphrey took home the bronze.

In the senior girls event, Maya Boivin from T.A. took top honors, while Jamie Triskle, also from Thomas Aquinas won the para-skiiing event.

In the senior boys final, Jake Surgenor won silver, while Alastair Wehner won the bronze for the Saints.

First Nations sign MOU

A group of eight Northwestern Ontario First Nations have signed an agreement which they hope will lead to more affordable electricity.

Brian Davey of the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund says the major priority is to deal with a fuel shortage.  The deal was signed in Thunder Bay Wednesday

Ice Safety

It was quite the scare for a pair of Ignace residents.

OPP received a report last Saturday around 2:45 in the morning of a man needing assistance.

The 17-year-old was driving a snow machine on Agimac Lake when it got stuck in the slush.

The man walked to a local residence and reported that his sister was still on the lake in freezing temperatures.

Officers used two locally owned snow machines to conduct a search and she was found a short time later wandering on the ice.

The 22-year-old was treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Mental Health in Canada

Margaret Trudeau  says that prisons are not the place to house people with mental illness. The former wife of Pierre Trudeau spoke out against the Harper government's new crime bill to students at Confederation College Wednesday afternoon, saying more jails are not the answer. 

Trudeau has spent the last five years speaking on the struggles she had with depression

Trudeau also believes the government should provide more beds and not more prisons to house the mentally ill.

To learn more about mental health or the resilience and recovery of people experiencing mental illness please visit:

 

Missing ATV's

The RCMP in eastern Manitoba are hoping to find four quads that were taken from a dealership in Lac Du Bonnet.


The Mounties say someone initially stole a utility trailer from a business in Beausejour last week.

A day later, they loaded four Yamaha Grizzley ATV's onto it and drove away.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the RCMP in Lac Du Bonnet

Census no Surprise to local economist

A Lakehead University professor points to declines in employment in the forestry sector as a main reason for the population drop.

Livo Di Matteo says it's no surprise to see the region losing people at a time which saw mill closures and a downturn in the industry.

Northwestern Ontario's population decreased 4.7 per cent while Ontario's grew 5.7 per cent.

Poverty Challenge

The second annual Poverty Challenge is underway.


The 12 people taking part in the seven day challenge have been introduced. They include Kenora Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell, a Treaty 3 Police Officer and a Financial Advisor.

Dan Jorgensen is a spokesperson for Making Kenora Home and says
the Challenge has a serious message behind it.

The participants have been given 52 dollars to live on for the next seven days,
plus additional daily challenges.

Follow there daily updates here: http://www.makingkenorahome.ca/

Federal Long Gun Registry

A bill to scrap the federal long gun registry is speeding its way through the House of Commons.

Earlier this week the Harper Government decided to limit debate on the bill.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford defends the decision to push through the time allocation motion.

Rickford expects the bill could pass third and final reading as early as next Wednesday.

The Neighborhood Watch Program

The Neighborhood Watch program is getting a boost from the City of Kenora.


Ralph Mosher from the Community Policing Committee asked council
this week to help out with the project.

Council says the signs should cost about 15 dollars a piece and has agreed to install them in the Rabbit Lake, Lakeside and the 5th Street area of Keewatin.

Saints Court Sport Teams hit the road

Thomas Aquinas boys basketball and girls volleyball teams are on the road today for their second last road trip of the regular season.

Today the Saints will take on the Voyageurs in Atikoan, while tomorrow T.A. heads down the Highway 11 to face the Owls in Rainy River.

Thomas Aquinas is gearing up for the NorWOSSA play-offs which get under way next Thursday.

Both Bronco Hockey Teams win Tuesday night

Both of Beaver Brae's hockey teams won by identical scores last night.

The Broncos boys snapped a three game winless streak against Dryden, upending the Eagles 4-1 at the Rec. Center last night.

It was a similar story in Fort Frances, where the Bronco girls cruised to a 4-1 win over the Muskies.

The Beaver Brae Girls are back in action this Friday night against Red Lake, while the Bronco boys wrap up the regular season next Tuesday against their cross-town rivals from Thomas Aquinas.

Broncos lose three of four to Fort Frances in NorWOSSA Court Sports

Fort Frances continued its dominance on the hardcourt in NorWOSSA league play.

The Muskies senior boys basketball team picked up where it left off over the weekend after winning the Kenora Invitational Tournament.

Fort cruised to a 42-18 victory over Beaver Brae Tuesday afternoon.

It was much closer in the junior boys game, with the Muskies hanging on for a 31-30 win.

In girls volleyball, the Bronco senior girls won the lone game of the day, downing Fort Frances three sets to one.

The Muskie Junior Girls beat Beaver Brae in three straight sets.

Tax rates Going up Slightly in Kenora

Local residents are going to be faced with a small increase in their property taxes this year.

City council met all day yesterday and finally decided on a one percent increase in the mill rate.

Councillor Ron Lunny says the increase is a reflection that the city still needs to put money into reserves to fix up our aging infrastructure.

For the average homeowner, the tax increase will amount to about 21 dollars in 2012.

Council is expected to pass the budget next Monday.

New Adult Education Program Announced

A new partnership has been formed to improve graduation rates in the Kenora District.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board has inked an agreement with Seven Generations in Fort Frances to offer adult education programs in several area communities.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says the program will be rolled out in September.

Both partners are now in the process of securing classrooms in each community.

Programs will initially be offered in Kenora, Dryden and Sioux Lookout

Highway 17 Assault

The OPP are trying to find the culprit responsible for an assault on Highway 17 east of Kenora.

Police say a 15 year old youth was walking in the area of the Trans-Canada Highway Sunday night between 7:30 and 9:30 in the evening when he was attacked.

He was taken to Lake of the Woods District Hospital for treatment of minor injuries by family members and later released.

The OPP say the youth was wearing a black and red "bush" style jacket, black gloves
and a black and red toque at the time of the attack.

Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact the OPP or Crimestoppers.

Census for First Nations

First Nation communities in the Kenora area saw the biggest growth in the past five years.

Figures released from the 2011 Census show that the population of Rat Portage and Shoal Lake #39 both increased by 12 percent.

The number of people living on Rat Portage went up to 394 from 350 from the previous
census, while on Shoal Lake, the number of residents rose to 388 from 346 in 2006.

In the unincorporated areas surrounding Kenora the population actually shrunk slightly,
by 0.1 percent.

There are seven thousand and 31 people listed as living in the rural areas of the Kenora
District, down ten from the last census.