OPP Stepping up Enforcement of Bar Bouncers

A warning to bar owners across Northwestern Ontario.

The Ontario Provincial Police is promising to step up enforcement on new rules concerning bouncers and security personnel.

Rick LePage says most establishments aren't abiding by the regulations.

LePage says bouncers and security personnel at licensed establishments must be certified and registered.

NorWOSSA Single A Season Resumes today

The NorWOSSA Single "a" soccer season resumes today.

Thomas Aquinas boys and girls teams are also bussing to Sioux Lookout for a couple of league games. 

These games will help seed the teams for the NorWOSSA finals, scheduled for the end of the month.

The NorWOSSA Double "a" season officially gets underway next Wednesday in Fort Frances, with
Beaver Brae's boys and girls teams both in action.

Miisun continues to Grow

A local first nations owned resource company is slowly starting to grow.

Miisun Integrated Resource Management has the Sustainable Forest Licence for the Kenora Forest, which includes harvesting, seeding and planning.

Shannon Rawn is the general manager of Miisun and says they have also started to branch out into other areas of resource management.

Rawn says they started off with just two employees three years ago, but now they are up to nine.

Hope in the City a big financial success

Another big payday for the Canadian Cancer Society.

Hope in the City raised almost 23 thousand dollars this past week.

The red carpet event is into its second year and organizers says they are already starting to think about next year.

The next major fundraiser for the Cancer Society is the Relay for Life on June 8th at Lakewood School.

Richards Scores Early to Lead Kings to Victory

The Los Angeles Kings made it five straight playoff wins on the road.

The Kings overwhelmed St. Louis in the opening period in a 5-2 victory, to take a two-games-to-nothing lead in the Western

Conference semifinal. Mike Richards set the tone scoring 31 seconds in.

Richards says the eighth-seeded Kings are making the most of their playoff opportunities.

The Kenora hockey product finished the night with one goal and an assist.

Drug Abuse Task Force Celebrates One Year of Service

Kenora's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Task Force is celebrating its first year as a committee.

The Task Force has put together information for its first annual report.

Michelle Ott is one of the members and says one of the things they were able to accomplish this year was a survey of local parents.

She says they asked them what their biggest concerns were for their children.

Ott says they also asked the parents what they would like for their top three supports to deal with these issues

and that included a list of list of community resources, workshops and a website they could turn to for more information.

Plans for Northern Policy Institute appear to be on Hold

Plans to establish a Northern Policy Institute in Ontario are still on track.

The presidents of Lakehead University and Laurentian presented their proposal for the Institute to the government nine months ago.

Parliamentary Assistant for Northern Development and Mines, Bill Mauro says the actual implementation of the Institute is still being worked out.

The provincial government announced five million dollars to fund the Northern Policy Institute two years ago, and municipal policiticians are wondering where it is.

OPP Investigate Theft of Snowmachine

Someone must be thinking ahead to next winter.

The OPP are investigating the theft of a snowmobile from a garage on the Oldford Road in Pellatt Township.

Police say someone kicked in a door to the garage and stole a a white 2009 Artic Cat 800 "Crossfire".

The theft took place sometime in the past two weeks.

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

Changes made to proposal for Regional Development Agency

Some concern is being raised about a new Regional Economic Development agency for Northwestern Ontario.

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association says its not prepared to increase its levy to municipalities to support the REDA.

Ian Angus has been championing the cause and says they have decided to scale back their proposed budget for the agency.

Angus says they are also proposing just a 11 member board for the Economic Development Agency, comprised of four aboriginal reprentitives, four from each of the municipal organizations in the region, and three board members selected at large.

Parents Consults on Changes at Beaver Brae

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is starting to consult local parents about what they think about the idea of adding grades seven and eight to Beaver Brae Secondary School.

The first of two public consultations took place last night at Beaver Brae.

Parents were also given a chance to tour the school prior to the meeting.

The next chance for input into the proposed changes is on May 14th.

Future of Winston Motel up in the Air

The mayor of Pickle Lake is hoping the Winston Motel is re-built.

Last month, a large section of the motel burned down.

Roy Hoffman says they still don't know what's going to happen, but he's optimistic.

While several of the motel rooms were undamaged, the water supply to the building was destroyed in the fire, which started in the kitchen area.

The blaze also gutted the bar and caused extensive water and smoke damage to some connecting rooms.

The Winston was one of just two motels in the community.

Broncos bow out in the Consolation Final of Winnipeg Soccer Tournament

Some positives for Beaver Brae boys soccer team.

The Broncos were in Winnipeg this weekend for the St. John Ravenscourt Tournament.

Beaver Brae lost out in the Consolation final after a 2-1 loss to River East.

Jordan Spencer scored the Broncos lone goal of the game, his fourth of the tournament.

Beaver Brae finished with a record of one win, two losses and a shootout loss.

The NorWOSSA double "a" regular season starts on Wednesday.

NOMA Passes 23 Resolutions

Delegates from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association are giving the Provincial Government a list of things they'd like to see changed.

They passed 23 resolutions that will be sent to the Province; including providing payments in lieu of municipal land tax and reversing the decision to close the Travel Information Centres in Kenora, Rainy River and Fort Frances.

NOMA members also approved a resolution in support of construction and operation of a ferrochrome processing facility in Exton in the Greenstone District.

Four Arrested in Pickle Lake Bust

Four Pickle Lake residents have been arrested following a drug bust.

Ontario Provincial Police, RCMP and Thunder Bay Police executed five search warrants in Pickle Lake.

Police seized 564 oxycodone pills and nearly eight thousand dollars cash as well as drug paraphernalia and 2-firearms.

Police say 63 year-old James Marino faces 11 charges including trafficking, possession of stolen property and unlawful storage of firearms.

72 year old David Lockwood, 22 year old Albert Shingebis and 50 year old Ida Crane each face three charges.

Gold Exploration Explodes in Northwestern Ontario

As many as eight new gold mines could open in the Kenora Mining District in the next four years.

That's according to MNR Geologist Andreas Lichtblau.

He says Coventry Resources is getting close to opening a new mine in the Cameron Lake area southeast of Kenora.

Lichtblau says as many as three new gold projects could start up in Red Lake in the next couple of years, two in the Dryden area and two in the Rainy River District.

Campbell Defends Abstaining on Budget Vote

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell is defending her decision to abstain from voting on the provincial budget this week.

Campbell addressed delegates at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Convention yesterday and says there just wasn't any support for another election.

Campbell suggests Ontario is better off with a minority government, as long as all the party's try to work together.

Sturgeon Fishery Rebounding on Lake of the Woods

There's some good new regarding the Sturgeon fishery in Lake of the Woods and Rainy River.

Fisheries officials in Ontario and Minnesota says short-term goals established several years ago have been reached.

Tom Mosindy of the Ministry of Natural Resources says there's still work to do.

Mosindy says they now have males as old as 30 years and females at least 50.

Four arrested in theft of Vehicle from Sioux Narrows

The OPP say they have arrested four youth in connection to a stolen vehicle from the Sioux Narrows area.

Police say a 2007 Jeep Compass was taken from the driveway of a home last Thursday night.

On Friday morning, the same vehicle was seen driving just east of Kenora on Highway 17.

Officers located the vehicle abandoned at a business on the east highway and began searching for the culprits.

Three of four suspects were initially apprehended.

The OPP say two 18 year old men, a 16 year old and a 15 year old boy have all been charged with possession of property obtained by crime and various bail violations.

Ontario Jury Pools on Trial this week

The makeup of juries goes on trial before

Ontario's top court this week as two killers fight their guilty verdicts.

Lawyer Julian Falconer argues aboriginals have been unfairly shut out from juries for years.

The two aboriginals, including Clifford Kokopenace of Grassy Narrows are asking the Court of Appeal for new trials because on-reserve First Nations people were excluded from the juries that convicted them.

Kokopenace was convicted of manslaughter in Kenora Court back in 2008. 

Colleges Minister Bullish on Lakewood Project

Ontario's Minister of Colleges, Training and Universities has had a first hand look at the Lakewood School Proposal.

Glenn Murray was in town on Friday for the NOMA conference and had a chance to sit down with the Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission.

Murray says he likes the concept of transforming the elementary school into an adult education center.

As for funding the project, Murray says there is money within the budget for colleges and universities.

Tourist Information Closures Raised at NOMA Bearpit

The closure of three tourist information centers in northwestern Ontario and the Ring of Fire.

Those two issues dominated the Bear Pit Session with four members of the McGuinty Government on Friday at the NOMA conference in Kenora.

Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle says while they are sympathetic about the closure of the Tourism Centers, he's not making any promises to re-open them.

On the Ring of Fire, Aboriginal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynn re-assured municipal leaders that the government is moving forward, but much of the work is being done behind the scenes.

Municipal infrastructure, the Far North Act and the Northern Institute were other subjects raised during the bear pit session.

Flavour Gone Supports Private Members Bill

Youth advocates in Northwestern Ontario believe they have something to cheer about.

NDP Health Critic France Gelinas has introduced a Private Member’s Bill asking for a ban on all flavoured tobacco products in Ontario.

Roberta Lappage represents ‘Flavour…GONE’ and says this is a step in the right direction.

Lappage the bill will help stop big tobacco companies from producing new and enticing products for youth.

Dryden Pharmacist Charged with Trafficking

A Dryden pharmacist has been charged with drug trafficking.

Few details have been released but Ontario Provincial Police say the arrest follows a 2-month investigation.

51-year-old Robert Button has been charged with trafficking in a controlled substance.

He remains in custody and he will appear in court in Sioux Lookout today.

LHIN's Talks Health Care Funding at NOMA

The Northwest Local Health Integration Network says there may be health care shortages in this region, but it's not because of a lack of funding.

Joy Warkentin is the chair of the board of the LHIN's and says they just need to find better and more efficient ways of spending the money they get.

Warkentin says while northwestern Ontario has two percent of Ontario's population, it takes up five percent of the Health care budget.

Hudak Urges Action on the Ring of Fire

The province should be doing more to move the Ring of Fire forward.

That's the feeling of PC leader Tim Hudak.

Speaking this morning on the CJRL morning show, Hudak says the premier needs to be leading the charge.

Hudak is one of the guest speakers today at the NOMA convention in Kenora.

He'll also be speaking with party faithful at a Conservative Party breakfast this morning.

Budget Cuts affect Con College

Recent budget cuts are going to affect Confederation College's ability to extend service to local communities.

President of Con College, Jim Madder spoke to delegates this morning at the NOMA conference.

He says one of their recent success stories has been a dual credit program offered through local high schools.

Madder says there is increasing demand for trades in the region, and the college will continue to work with local business to meet the need.

Property Tax System needs to be overhauled: Hume

The property tax system is broken and needs to be fixed.

That was the message this morning at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference taking place in Kenora.

Gord Hume was the keynote speaker and says property taxes are simply inadequate to address the infrastructure deficit municipalities are facing.

Hume is suggesting some sort of revenue sharing arrangement with the upper levels of government, either a percentage of the HST for municipalities or a portion of the income tax the federal government collects.

Drug bust in downtown Kenora

A 26 year old Kenora man has been arrested after the OPP's Street Crimes Unit witnessed a drug deal going down.

Police say two men were arrested in the downtown area yesterday and eight grams of marijuana was seized.

Christopher Kitt has been charged with trafficking in a narcotic, possession for the purpose of trafficking and possession of property obtained by crime.

He is being held in custody pending a show/cause hearing.

A second man was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Update your Immunizations

Northwestern Health Unit says a lot of residents in the Kenora and Rainy River districts don't have their immunization records up to date.

The Health Unit's Donna Stanley says a call to the Health Unit can change that.

Stanley says as adults we're quick to ensure our children receive their shots, but don't keep our own up to date.

Get ready for Culture Days

Getting folks excited about Canadian culture is the focus of a series of information sessions across the region.

The event is in preparation for Culture Days this September across Canada.

Ontario Culture Days Manager Aubrey Reeves says they will be offering free webinars to anyone interested.

Culture Days is a 3-day event that highlights our artists, musicians and cultural groups.

FedNor Critic Concerned with cuts to program

The NDP's new FEDNOR critic is quick to call for its protection.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River M.P. John Rafferty says it's too important of a program for communities across northern Ontario.

Rafferty is accusing the federal government of cutting funding for the economic development agency.

Delegates at the NOMA conference in Kenora will get an update on FedNor later today.

NOMA Conference Begins this Morning in Kenora

Physician Recruitment and dealing with drugs in our community.

Those are just two of the topics of discussion today at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference taking place in Kenora.

The conference officially opens at 8:30 this morning with greetings from Kenora mayor Dave Canfield and Treaty Three Grand Chief Diane Kelly.

There will also be presentations today by Jim Madder president of Confederation College and the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

Police warn against new Phone Scam

Police say that fraudsters are continuing to find new ways to trick you into parting with your money.

Local Police say the latest scam has a caller posing as a Microsoft employee and getting you to remotely give up control of your computer and then offering to fix it.

Constable Julie Tilbury says you need to be careful when dealing over the phone with people you do not know.

Police say they have reports that the caller can be quite agressive.

More Money for Northern Hospitals?

A little bit of financial support to help with an immediate crisis.

NDP Health Critic France Gelinas says her party has secured an additional 20 million dollars in funding for small, rural and Northern Hospitals.

The agreement was a condition in NDP approval of the Provincial budget.

Gelinas says the money is a step in the right direction for some struggling hospitals.

However, she stresses the NDP will continue to press for more money and against the funding model for hospitals.

Second Person Charged in Pikangikum Fatality

A 29 year old woman is in Kenora Court today in connection to the death of a Pikangikum resident.

Florence Dunsford has been charged with Aggravated assault and is the second person who has been arrested in connection with the death of Fitzgerald Owen.

The OPP says an autopsy shows Owen died as a result of foul play on April 14th in the remote first nation community.

Last week, 23 year old Morgan Turtle appeared in Kenora Court on a charge of Assault with a weapon.

PARO Launches on-line classes

The PARO Center for Women's Enterprise in northwestern Ontario is reaching out to remote First Nation women.


Starting in May they'll be offering online learning classes.

Spokesperson Linda McGuire says they want to teach women about forming business "clusters."

McGuire says women have been forming small groups for years but they haven't thought of it as away to form a business.

Impaired Driving charges in Kenora on the Rise

The OPP say they've notice an increase in drinking and driving charges in the Kenora area so far in 2012.

Early this morning, one more person was charged with impaired driving, bringing the number of charges so far this year to 26, that's a 36 percent increase over last year.

The OPP say drivers between the ages of 18 and 35 make up almost 70 percent of those charged.

NOACC Pleased Provincial Budget Passes

The decision by the minority Liberal government to make budget concessions to the NDP is better than an election.

That's the feeling of the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce.

Chief operating officer, Harold Wilson says it's more important that Chamber concerns remain on the table.

Wilson says at first glance, the concessions made to the NDP appear to be minor.

NOACC will be holding its annual spring meeting this weekend in Sioux Lookout. 

Local PC's speak out against Provincial Budget

Not everyone is happy that the provincial government was able to pass its budget yesterday.

The Progressive Conservative Riding Association in Kenora-Rainy River is speaking out against the budget.

Local riding president Dennis Butler says the budget includes cuts to tourist centers in the riding as well as MNR offices.

Butler is also disappointed that Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Sarah Campbell decided to abstain from the budget vote yesterday, rather than vote against it.

66th NOMA Conference Gets Underway today

Delegates will begin arriving in Kenora today for the start of the 66th annual Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.

Municipal leaders from the Kenora, Thunder Bay and Rainy River Districts will be in town for the next three days.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says the conference was sold out about a week ago.

The main business portion of the conference begins tomorrow, though there is a planning session for municipal councillors taking place today.

NOMA Agenda Finalized

The Agenda for the 66th annual Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Kenora has been finalized.

The only real change is the absence of NDP leader Andrea Horwath from the proceedings.

Horwath had been scheduled to speak to delegates Friday morning, but has since given her regrets.

Opposition leader Tim Hudak is still on the schedule, as are Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle and Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Kathleen Wynn.

They will be participating in a bear-pit session Friday afternoon.

Delegates will begin arriving in Kenora tomorrow.

Treaty Three Police Continue Investigation of Devil's Gap Fire

The Treaty Three Police aren't saying whether foul play was involved in a fire that destroyed seven cabins at Devil's Gap.

Detective Sergeant Doug McKenzie says they are still conducting interviews and collecting evidence.

He does say they are treating the blaze as a criminal investigation because there was property damage.

An investigator from the Ontario Fire Marshall's Office was brought in over the weekend, but the investigation has since been turned over to the Treaty Three Police.

While no-one was injured, damaged has been estimated at over a half a million dollars.

OPP Wrap up Spring Seatbelt Campaign

The Ontario Provincial Police have wrapped up the Annual Spring 'Seatbelt' campaign.

Police in Northwestern Ontario laid 163-seatbelt releated charges during the 8-day initiative.

OPP across the Province laid a total of over 55-hundred charges.

Beware of Invasive Plants

The Ontario Invasive Plant Council is already counting down to the May long weekend.

The council is launching a 24 day campaign this week to raise awareness of the types of invasive plants we're introducing into our environment.

Rachel Gagnon says the plants might look nice, but they are potentially harmful.

Gagnon says purple loosestrife is the most famous invasive plant, but says there are numerous others plants people don't realize aren't native to Ontario.

Caribou King Searches for Graphite near Kenora

An exploration company has taken an interest in some claims in northwestern Ontario.

Caribou King Resources says it has acquired three separate properties in the region, including one in the Kenora Mining district.

Caribou King says they are looking at graphite deposits in ten separate locations.

The other claims are in the Savant Lake and Garden Lake areas of northwestern Ontario.

T.A. to Host 2015 OFSAA Girls Hockey Championships

Kenora will soon be playing host to another provincial championship.

Thomas Aquinas announced yesterday it has won the right to bring the All-Ontario Single A and Double A girls hockey championships to Kenora in 2015.

T.A. is expecting at least 20 teams in town for the OFSAA finals.

The school is currently recruiting community members to help organize the event.

Retirees meet with Resolute Forest Products

A local seniors group is calling its meeting with Resolute Forest Products over their pensions concerns productive.

The group Seniors-Retirees Against Pension and Elder Abuse sat down with Company executives last week.

Chair Allan Bedard says they asked the company for a meeting with all of the local mills retirees and was pleased with the dialogue.

Bedard says they've also asked to have a retiree to be part of the company's pension committee.

Student Arrested for Dealing Pot

Drug dealers seem to be getting younger all the time.

The Kenora O.P.P. say they were contacted by staff at Thomas Aquinas High School on Friday about a youth who was selling marijuana.

A 14 year old boy was picked up and has been charged with trafficking.

He was one of four people arrested over the past three days for dealing marijuana in the Kenora area.

VCARS holds awards ceremony this morning

The focus of an awards ceremony today is on the victims of crime.

The Kenora and Dryden Victim Crisis Assistance and Referral Program is singling out staff and volunteers in the District.

Monica Huminiuk is the local VCARS co-ordinator and says the awards ceremony will be followed by an open house.

The awards ceremony will start at 10:00 this morning, followed by the open house at 12:30 at the Best Western Lakeside Inn.

Campbell Angry over the loss of MNR Call Center Jobs

Sarah Campbell doesn't sound like someone who's eager to support the provincial budget.

In the Ontario Legislature yesterday, the Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. lashed out at the McGuinty Government for cutbacks at the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci dodged Campbell's question and instead talked about how much money the government is putting into the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, and how much of that money has ended up in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding.