Northwestern Ontario Has Longest Wait Times for Long Term Care Beds

A new report is critical of the way the provincial government is funding health care.

The Ontario Health Coalition says northwestern Ontario has the longest wait times for long term care beds in the province.

Coalition director Natalie Mehra says the problem could be eased with more home care, but there just isn't enough funding available.

The Ontario Health Coalition says a zero per cent budget increase for hospitals has forced service cuts across the province.

A good Turn Out for the CP Holiday Train

Holiday spirit was rolling through town today.

The CP Holiday Train stopped in Kenora in support of the Salvation Army Christmas Cheer Campaign.

Along with donations collected from local residents, CP representatives also donated to the local cause, presenting a cheque for 25 hundred dollars. 

The train also entertained the huge crowd with performances by Miss Emily and The Brothers Dube.

Ice Candle Festival Celebrates 14 years

A big honor for Kenora's ice candle festival.

The event has just been listed by the province as one of the top festival of lights in Ontario.

Barb Manson says they place thousands of ice candles in the Lake of the Woods Ceremony just before Christmas each year.

Manson says she'd like to see as many as six thousand ice candles this year.

This year will mark the 14th annual ice candle festival.

Saints Hockey Teams Split their Games

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team has improved to 3-1 on the season thanks to a 7-1 win last night at the Kenora Rec. Center over the Red Lake Rams.

Tanner Kapera led the way with two goals and an assist while Daniel Thomson also had a pair of goals.

The Saints are on the road this weekend for a tournament in Killarny, Manitoba.

The T.A. girls weren't as fortunate.

They were shutout 7-0 last night by the Muskies in Fort Frances.

Broncos Begin Second Court Sport Season

Beaver Brae's court sport teams picked up just one win in four games to open their second season.

The lone win on the day came from the Broncos junior boys basketball team, which came back from six points down heading into the fourth quarter and beat Fort Frances 57-43.

Jackson Penner led the offense with 21 points.

It was a high scoring affair in the senior boys contest, with the Muskies earning a 98-69 victory over the Broncos.

In girls volleyball, Beaver Brae's senior squad lost three sets to one to Fort Frances, while the junior team lost in three straight sets to the Muskies.

Over at Thomas Aquinas, the Saints had an easy time with Red Lake, sweeping both the junior and senior games three sets to none.

Grassy Narrows Man Dies Following Assault

A man who received serious injuries during an altercation in Grassy Narrows has died.

Last Tuesday, Provincial Police responded to a disturbance at a home, and 48-year-old David John Necanapenace was taken to hospital in Winnipeg.

Police say he died in hospital on Sunday.

A post mortem was conducted yesterday in Winnipeg.

The OPP say they are continuing their investigation into the fatality.

City Will Pay Less for OPP Service in 2013

Some good news for the City of Kenora budget.

The OPP says it will cost about 25 thousand dollars less to police the city next year.

Staff Sergeant Paul Van Bellingham says lower overtime costs are one of the reasons for the budget reduction.

The OPP estimates it will cost about 6.78 million dollars to police the city next year.

Health Unit Officially Opens New Office Space

The Northwestern Health Unit has some fancy new digs.

The health unit officially opened their new offices at the City View Office Centre, which was the

former Mount Carmel School. 

CEO Mark Perrault says it was important to open a facility with easy access for the public.

The new offices will house all of the health unit's offices by 2016 as some services will still be run out of the market square offices.

Campbell to Hold Constituency Open Houses

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is getting into the holiday spirit.

Campbell will be hosting a number of open houses across her Riding in nine different communities.

Her open house in Kenora will take place next Tuesday from 5 to 8 at her constituency office in the Royal Canadian Legion on McLellan Avenue.

Open houses will also be held in Dryden, Fort Frances, Red Lake, Pickle Lake and Sioux Lookout.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Stops in NWO

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is paying another visit to northwestern Ontario this week.

Survivors and First Nation community members are sharing their stories and experiences with the residential school system, this time in Thunder Bay.

Commissioner Murray Sinclair says residential schools have created problems for both First Nations and non-Aboriginal communities.

The hearing will wrap up later today.

CP Holiday Train Arrives This Afternoon

A number of northwestern Ontario communities will be graced by the presence of the CP Holiday Train today.

The train will be starting the day in Ignace, and will wrap up its Ontario tour in Kenora this afternoon.

Salem Woodrow is a spokesperson for CP and says they will be collecting for the Christmas Cheer fund as well.

The Holiday Train is scheduled to arrive in town at 3:45 this afternoon and will be stopping in the old CP rail yard behind the Real Canadian Wholesale Club.

Broncos Hockey Teams Split their Games

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team continues to run roughshod over the competition.

The Broncos got by the Dryden Eagles 5-2 last night at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Kaitlin Sparkman led the offense with a hat trick.

The Broncos stormed out to a 5-0 lead before the Eagles got on the score board.

Beaver Brae is back on the road this weekend for a tournament in Portage La Prairie.

The Bronco boys hockey team wasn't as fortunate.

They dropped a 4-1 decision to the league leading Muskies last night in Fort Frances.

Health Unit to Hold Grand-Opening Today

The Northwestern Health Unit will be showing off its new digs today.

A grand opening ceremony will take place this afternoon for the City View Office Center.

The building is the former Mount Carmel School and the Health Unit moved most of its programs and staff in the Kenora area in back in August.

The Health Unit will also be releasing its Strategic Plan following the ribbon cutting ceremonies.

The opening ceremonies will start at 4:00 this afternoon.

Festive RIDE Program Working

Just a little over a week into the OPP's Festive RIDE campaign, and police have been busy taking impaired drivers off our roads.

Nine drivers in northwestern Ontario are now facing impaired driving charges while another three had their licenses immediately suspended for having a blood alcohol level of between point-zero five and point-zero 8.

The campaign ends January 2nd.

Trans-Canada Re-Opens, School Buses Running

Traffic is moving once again on Highway 17 west of Kenora.

The OPP had closed the Trans-Canada all the way from the Manitoba border to Vermillion bay last night due to freezing rain.

The flash freeze caused very slick road conditions across the region.

The Highway was re-opened early this morning.

School buses are running this morning, and there have been no cancellations listed by the Northwest Student Services Consortium.

Sunset Country Says Visitor Numbers Are Up

Sunset Country Travel says pleasure travel to Northwestern Ontario has gone up in the past year.

Gerry Cariou is executive director of  the travel association says the numbers have gone up slightly in this years summer season.

He says while visitor numbers from the U.S. are up marginally, he doesn't expect a huge

rebound until the American economy starts to rebound.

Cariou adds that numbers are still lower then they were before the recession.

OSSTF Threatens to Withdraw from Extra-Curriculars

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation says its 60 thousand members will step up their protest against Bill 115 by withdrawing from extra curricular and sports activities starting next Monday.

Union president Ken Coran says the high school teachers will not join their counterparts in elementary schools who plan one-day rotating strikes.

The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario is promising to give 72 hours notice before it begins rotating, one-day walkouts in public schools.

Ontario Child Advocate Appeals for Improved Funding

Ontario's Advocate for Children and Youth is dissapointed with the decision by the Federal Government to not let them intervene in a Federal Court case regarding funding services for First Nations Children.

Provincial Advocate Irwin Elman says the government seems to think there should be no comparison between the funding for First Nations children, and the remainder of children in the country.

Elman adds that they are doing everything they can to get their message across.

In April, the Federal court send the case to the Human Rights Tribunal and this hearing begins in February.

Resolute Says it's Committed to Worker Pensions

A commitment from the president of Resolute Forest Products to maintain workers pensions.

It came during Richard Garneau's  meeting with MP John Rafferty and MPP Sarah Campbell in Toronto.

Rafferty says Garneau told him that unlike some of its competitors, Resolute has not plans to end its commitment to pensions.

Rafferty says Garneau told him a hike in interest rates by two per cent would go along to helping those pensions.

Harborfest Hopes to Sign First Act for 2013 this Week

We should know by the end of this week, who the first headliner for Harborfest 2013 is.

Director of Entertainment Dave Blake says they have put out offers to a number of bands and expect to hear back by Thursday.

Blake says they should be able to announce at least one of the bands for next years August Long weekend festival by Friday.

Sharks Excel in Winnipeg

A good showing for the Kenora Sharks Swim Club at the Prairie Winter Invitational Swim Meet in Winnipeg.

The Sharks collected four gold medals and placed 8th out of 24 teams in the competition.

14 year old Kayla Martin made two national qualitification times over the weekend, placing 1st in the 15 hundred freestyle and 2nd in the 400 free.

Bryce Jones collected six medals, including a gold in 100 meter backstroke.

Kira Kuzemchuck and Gabe Mastromateo also won gold.

Record Warm Weather Won't Last

Its been a record tying day already, weather-wise.

Overnight the temperature soared to 9.4 degrees, matching the previous high for this date set back in 1971.

Bill Laidlaw from Signal Weather Services says the warm weather won't last.

Already, hazardous driving conditions are being reported on the prairies as a storm system packing freezing rain and snow tracks its way across the west.

RCMP say road conditions in southern Saskatchewan are very poor with slippery sections, blowing snow and near zero visibility on several highways, including parts of the Trans-Canada.

Nickle Wins Conservative Nomination

A Kenora businessman is seeking to be the next MPP of the Kenora-Rainy River riding.

Randy Nickle won the Conservative nomination Saturday at meeting in Dryden.

Nickle says he wants to cut the red tape in small and medium sized businesses.

Nickle was the lone candidate in the race to seek the Conservative nomination.

He replaces Rod McKay, who chose not to run again.

22nd Miracle Marathon Delivers

The need for Christmas hampers is expected to grow this year.

The Salvation Army launched its Christmas Cheer Campaign overthe weekend with the CJRL Christmas Miracle Marathon.

Captain Roy Bladen says the need is as great as ever this year.

Bladen says the Miracle Marathon will make a big dent in their fundraising efforts this holiday season.

 Thousands of dollars worth of non-perishable food items, cash and toys were donated during the two day radio fundraiser.

Grassy Commemorates 10 Years of Logging Blockade

(Courtesy of Sergio Alberto Mendoza Luna http://mendoza.prosi​te.com)

The Grassy Narrows First Nation is marking a different sort of anniverary.

Its been 10 years since the Blockade of logging roads near the community began.

A special ceremony was held at Queen's Park in Toronto yesterday.

Its considered the longest running Indigenous logging blockade in Canada.

A sacred fire was lit at the Ontario Legislature, and on the Grassy Narrows First Nation, a pipe ceremony was held in a new long house built at the Slant Lake Blockade site.

Grassy residents have been protesting clear-cut logging activity in their community.

Chamber of Commerce on the Move

The Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce is going to be on the move.

The Chamber of Commerce will be moving its office later this month.

Vice-President, Wes Romaniuk says they will be sharing space with Lake of the Woods Insurance.

They will be taking over the old Copperfin Credit Union office on Park Street. 

Romaniuk says they will also have a new office manager when they move into their next digs this month.

9th Annual Festival of Trees Shines

Another big weekend for the Festival of Trees.

Over 16 thousand dollars was raised through the auction of the decorated Christmas Trees at the Lake of the Woods Museum.

Darlene McGillvary from the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation says she was impressed with the turn-out this year.

McGillvary says by the time all is said and done, they hope to raise about 25 to 30 thousand dollars from this years Festival of Trees.

This year's winners were:

St. Louis School and Saakate House: School Challenge Award

Keewatin Figure Skating Club: Excellence in Community Spirit

Tunnel Island Management Company:  Best Illustration of a Theme

Lake of the Woods Arts Community:  Most Beautifully Decorated Tree. 

Thistles Win Two of Three on the Road

It was a pretty good road trip for the Kenora Triple "a" midget Thistles.

They won two of three games over the weekend.

Yesterday, the Thistles completed a two-game sweep of the Interlake Lightning in Gimli with a 3-1 win.

Saturday, the Kenora Midgets downed the Lightning 5-2.

That followed up on a 7-2 loss Friday night against the Central Plains Capitals.

Broncos Girls Blank Saints

Beaver Brae's girls hockey team remains perfect in NorWOSSA league play.

The Broncos blanked their cross-town rivals, the Thomas Aquinas Saints last night 8-0 at the Kenora Rec. Center.

Jodi Melillo and Hayley Moncrief each had a pair of goals to lead the offense.

Aryn Puls recorded the Shutout.

The Broncos are back in action Tuesday night against the Dryden Eagles, while the Saints travel to Fort Frances on Wednesday to take on the Muskies.

Meanwhile, Beaver Brae's boys hockey team finished the Brandon High School Hockey tournament with a 3-2 record.

The Broncos lost to Sturgeon Creek yesterday 5-4 in the B-side Final.

Local Girls Hockey Teams Earn Seven Medals

A good weekend for the home side in the Lake of the Woods Girls hockey tournament.

Local teams collected two gold medals, two silver and three bronze.

The Lake of the Woods Chaos were one of the gold medalists taking top honors in the PeeWee Division.

After going undefeated in the round robin, the Chaos trounced a Fort Frances team 9-1 in the final.

In the Atom Final, it was an all-Kenora affair with Dynamite narrowly beating the Stingers.

Katelyn Stenlund netting the lone marker.

In the Novice final, the Lake of the Woods Purple Slurpies took home a silver medal after losing 5-3 to the Dakota Lasers in the final.

St.Thomas Aquinas supports Movember

Movember got a boost with a road hockey game at Thomas Aquinas.


Jeff Sachowski organized the event that had staff members face off with a team from Kenora Emergency Services.

Students were allowed to watch the game for a one dollar donation with all proceeds going to prostate cancer research.

Sachowski adds that proceeds from hot chocolate sales during the game are also being added to the donation.

A new perspective for the Economic Development Commission

The Lake of the Woods Economic Development Commission was given a new view on Northwestern Ontario.

Steve Demmings who is the CEO of Thunder Bay's Community Economic Developement Commission was invited to give a a presentation to the LOWEDC at the Discovery Centre.

Demmings talked about the prosperity of mining in the region, the opportunity to use our role as a travel destination to create business partnerships, and that we need to advertise the opportunities for business and growth.

He adds an example is the world class opporunties that come from the expanding mining industry.

KPDSB Reacts to Job Action by High School Teachers

It may not be business as usual at local high schools, but the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is trying to keep disruptions at a minimum.

The Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation began their job action on Wednesday.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says they will continue to work with teachers to ensure student learning is not disrupted.

McMaster says local talks have been taken over by the provincial  situation, and isn't sure when negotiations will be able to resume.

Foul Play Not Suspected in Fort Fatality

OPP are continuing their investigation into the death of a man at a residence at the Elizabeth Street Manor in Fort Frances.

Police are ruling out foul play in the cause of death.

Dead is 55 year old Derek Pollard.

An autopsy was conducted Wednesday at Lake of the Woods District Hospital, but the cause of death has not been released.

Police Investigate Grassy Assault

Police are investigating a disturbance that happened at a residence in Grassy Narrows First Nation.

On Tuesday around 2am, Treaty Three Police responded to the incident, and found a 48-year-old man with serious injuries resulting from an altercation.

He was transported to hospital in Winnipeg.

Police continue the investigation, along side the OPP Criminal Investigation Brance and the Northwest Region Crime Unit.

Residential School Survivors Honored

A stained glass window in at Parliment Hill in Ottawa is shining light on the residential schools legacy.

On Wednesday, Kenora MP Greg Rickford hosted a ceremony to remember the history of Aboriginal Peoples and how far the relationships have come.

Rickford says the design of the window reflects on First Nations, Inuit and Metis all across the region.

Rickford adds that it had some personal significance to him, considering he was part of negotiations and the signing of the Residental Schools Agreement.

New Osnaburgh Fire still under Investigation

The cause of death in a fatal house fire in New Osnaburgh First Nation is pending toxicology reports.

A post mortem exam was conducted at Lake of the Woods District Hospital on Sunday.

The identification of the deceased cannot be officially confirmed until the return of DNA testing.

Due to the extent of the damage, the Ontario Fire Marshall is unable to determine the exact cause of the fire.

Nishnawbe Aski Police are continuing their investigation of the event that occured last week.

A warm start to December?

Above normal temperatures are expected this weekend.

A new system that originated in the prairies is headed our way and it will bring a warm front to the region on the weekend.

Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says this system is drawing up air from the southern United States.

Highs for Saturday and Sunday are expected to be around plus 4 and plus 2.

Sharks Hit the Road this Weekend

The Kenora Sharks Swim Club is on the road this weekend.

21 members of the swim team are in Winnipeg for the annual Prairie Winter Invitational meet.

All the action is taking place at the Pan/Am Pool.

The preliminary heats begin today and will wrap up on Sunday. 

Festival of Trees Launches Tonight

A good chance to pick up your Christmas Tree this weekend.

The annual Festival of Trees kicks off tonight at Lake of the Woods Museum.

Linda Wideman is chair of the festival and says things get underway with their Seniors night.

The Festival of Trees wraps up on Saturday with family day.

The festival has become a major fundraiser for the Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation.

Healthy Food Basket Cost Continues to Rise

The cost to feed a family of four in northwestern Ontario is keeping pace with the inflation rate.

The Northwestern Health Unit says this year, their Healthy Food basket costs about 941 dollars a month.

That's up about 23 dollars from last year, or about 2.6 percent.

Public health nutitionist Julie Slack says that might not sound like a lot, but social assistance rates have only increased by five percent in the last 14 years.

She says the cost of eating healthy is outpacing the budgets of people on low incomes.

Elk Population Stable in NWO

The elk population in northwestern Ontario seems to be stabilizing.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Natural Resources suggest the elk population is between 35 and 45 animals.

Murray English is the co-chair of the elk restoration coalition and says the goal is to increase the population  and perhaps re-open a hunting season in a few years.

English says the calf survival rate appears to be improving and that's good news for the future of the species in this region.

Salvation Army Gets Ready to Launch Christmas Cheer

The Salvation Army says its looking for some volunteers to help out with its annual Christmas Cheer Campaign.

The Kettles will be out soon and Christmas hampers are also being put together.

Captain Roy Blaton from the Kenora office says the deadline to apply for the hampers is fast approaching.

He says they will be wrapping up their interviews by December 7th. 

The Salvation Army's Christmas Cheer Campaign will get a big boost this weekend with the 22nd Annual Christ Miracle Marathon on CJRL.

OPP Investigate Another Fatality in Fort Frances

OPP are investigating another death in Fort Frances.

Police say the body of a man was discovered inside a residence at the Elizabeth Street Manor yesterday morning.

His identify and cause of death are still being determined.

A post mortem exam was conducted yesterday at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Meantime, police are still investigating the death of 45-year-old Leo Whitecrow, found dead inside a Fort Frances motel two weeks ago.

High School Teachers Begin Job Action

High school teachers with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board have started their job action.

That after talks between the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and the public school board broke off earlier this week.

Paul Elliott is a vice-president with the OSSTF and says even though they aren't allowed to strike, they can still exercise some of their labor rights.

Elliott says teachers are being urged to withdraw from their administrative duties, until a new contract can be negotiated.

Meanwhile, the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board feels contract talks with its high school teachers had been going well.

However, the OSSTF shut down all negotiations this week after the provincial government refused to approve a couple of contracts that had already been negotiated with school boards in southern Ontario.

Union negotiators are scheduled to meet on Monday to decide their next steps.

Save ELA Releases new Video

The Coalition to Save the Experimental Lakes Area has released an online video.

It features interviews with members of the coalition, scientists and researchers.

It calls on the Harper government to stop it's "war on science".

The video was launched yesterday at a special luncheon in Winnipeg.

The federal government is currently in the process of finding a buyer for the 58 lakes between Kenora and Vermillion Bay.

Provincial Policy Statement Panned

The provincial government has drawn the ire of some northern Ontario municialities with its latest planning review.

The Provincial Policy Statement looks are where future development will be able to take place.

Kenora mayor Dave Canfield says the revised policy basically allows unlimited development in southern Ontario, while putting shackles on the north.

Canfield says ideally, northern municipalities should have more say where development can take place, rather than bureaucrats from Toronto.

November 23rd was the final day to make comment on the Policy Statement and Canfield is

hopeful provincial bureaucrats will pay attention to their concerns.

STR Prepares for another Sled Season

Sunset Trail Riders will have their trails open as soon as mother nature will let them.

Director Bruce McGregor says they are hard at work to get people on the trails.

This year the early bird cost for a trail permit is 210 dollars.

If you purchase a trail permit after December 1st, it increases to 260 dollars.

You can visit sunsettrail riders.ca for more information on the trails and to purchase your snow mobile permits.

Copenace Appointed to LHIN's Board

There is now a voice for the Kenora area on the board of the Northwest Local Health Integration Network.

Tina Copenace from the Dalles First Nation has been appointed to the LHIN's for a three year term.

Her appointment was confirmed recently by Health Minister Deb Matthews.

Copenace will take over from Gary Phillips, whose term expired last week.