Iacobucci Heads North

Frank Iacobucci is fully immersed in his role as the province's chief negotiator for the Ring of Fire mining project.  

Just before leaving on a trip from Thunder Bay to visit area First Nations, he spoke of how he's been getting himself up to speed on the complex issues he must face.

He says his talks will not be leaving any stone unturned

Iacobucci says he will be meeting with First Nations negotiator Bob Rae in the coming days.

Gold Canyon Working on Agreement with First Nations

Gold Canyon Resources and three area First Nations are moving forward on an agreement relating to mining activity in the Red Lake area.

The Vancouver based company says the deal relates to the Springpole Gold project, about 110-kilometer
s northeast of Red Lake.

Gold Canyon, Cat Lake, Lac Seul and Slate Falls have set a framework to negotiate an agreement.

Officials say the deal sets the foundation for future talks on the project, potential opportunities and concerns.

Northwest Angels Recognized

The Northern Ontario Angels group is being ranked as one of the top investing groups in Canada.

 Executive Director of the investment group, Mary Long-Irwin says it's great for their national body to recognize their hard work.

Long-Irwin says the 51 deals they made created a thousand new jobs in Northwestern Ontario.

She adds that over 16 million dollars has been loaned out over the past three years.

Dryden Vs. Fort Today in Kraft Celebration Tour

The town's of Dryden and Fort Frances will be duking it out on national TV today.

The Kraft Celebration Tour competition ends today with Dryden going up against Fort Frances.

Starting at 11 o'clock, you can vote as much as you like for a 24-hour period.

Mike Wood of the Eagles on Track program says they are hosting a community event at the High School.

The winner of the on-line vote will win 25 thousand dollars to fix up a recreational facility in their town and
will also host an episode of TSN's SportCenter.

Dryden Woman Found Guilty of Fraud

A Dryden woman has been convicted on two counts of fraud from the Shaw Walleye Masters and the Dryden
Ski Hill.

Allyson Dunham has received a conditional sentence order of 2-years, less a day.

The sentence results in house arrest, a curfew and other strict conditions.

Dunham was charged last March with 2-counts each of theft over $5,000, fraud over $5,000 and criminal breach of trust.

Dunham sat on the executive committees of both the Shaw Walleye Masters and the Ski Hill.

Aspenware Returns to the Northwest

Members of the Wabauskang First Nation will soon start harvesting poplar trees and creating veneers for B.C. based Aspenware.

The operation is being carried out in the Whiskey Jack Forest.

Company President Terry Bigsby says they have also teamed up with Doug Riffel, the owner of Makoose Wood Innovations.

Bigsby says this is only the beginning and notes he's already in talks for a similar venture with Grassy Narrows and Lac La Croix.

Aspenware produces single-use biodegradable wooden cutlery and at one time was thinking about setting up shop in the Dryden area.

Con College Raises Money for Scholarships

An endowment fund for student scholarships and bursaries at Confederation
College has received a big boost.

The annual Charity Golf tournament at the Kenora Golf and Country Club
generated six thousand dollars yesterday.

Jim Madder is the college's president and says they've raised over 100
thousand dollars over the past 16 years.

Madder says the money raised will go to students at the Kenora campus
or local students who have to travel to Thunder Bay for courses there.

Canfield Steps Down From Board of Health

A changing of the guard at the board of the Northwestern Health Unit.

Mayor Dave Canfield is stepping down as the city's representitive.

He'll be replaced by councillor Sharon Smith.

Canfield says with his new duties as president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, he doesn't have the time to commit anymore to the Health Unit.

Mining Conference Expected to Sell Out

A good response to a mining conference taking place in Kenora.

The Exploration Information Session is almost sold out.

The event is put on each year by the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and focuses on some of the mining and exploration activity taking place in the Kenora District.

The Exploration Conference will take place next Tuesday and Wednesday and will feature a site visit to the Coventry Resources site near Cameron Lake.

OPP Marine Unit Cracks Down on Boaters

OPP Marine unit is finding some boaters not following the rules.

Several charges were laid during checks of boat on Rainy Lake last weekend.

A 29 year old Alberton township man was charged for not having a fire extinguisher on board.

A 66 year old man from International Falls was charged after Police watched a boat pull a tube with two teenagers without a spotter on board.

A 53 year old White Bear Lake, Minnesota man failed to have life jackets on board his boat.

Two others, a 79 year old man from Oregon and a 56 year
old from International Falls were charged after open liquor was found in their boats.

Water Plant Workers Get New Deal

Workers at Kenora's water treatment plant have a new three contract.

City council has approved a deal with the International Brotherhood
of Electrical Workers retroactive to January 1st of this year.

The agreement includes a 1.7 wage increase in each year of the
deal.

That's the same increase as other unionized and non-unionized staff have
received this year from the city.

Workers at Barwick OSB Plant Agree on New Contract

Unionized workers at Ainsworth in Barwick have accepted a new four year contract.

The Communication, Energy and Paperworkers union says the 130 members of Local 324-99 voted 77 per cent in favour of the deal that will give them a 10 per cent wage high over the course of the deal.

CEP National rep Stephen Boon says the deal offers long-term stability for the Barwick mill while providing stronger contract language and major monetary improvements for the workers.

Police Charge Woman in Onigaming FN Death

A 24 year old woman faces second degree murder charges in connection to a death on the Onigaming First Nation near Nestor Falls.

Micheline Nicole Chiefson from the Naicatchewanin First Nation will appear in Kenora Court today.

The body of Christopher Lee Jack was found in an apartment in the community one week ago today.

A woman at the scene was also taken to hospital for treatment of injuries.

The OPP says it is no releasing the cause of death.

PSAC Requests Mediator for Treaty Three Police

The union representing Treaty Police officers says it wants a mediator to
try and resolve the issues it has with the police board.

The Pubic Service Alliance of Canada says a statement released last week
shows the Police Board has not changed its stance at all.

Sharon De Sousa is the regional vice-president of PSAC and says her members are willing to sit down and talk.

De Sousa is asking that the Police Board hold off on its decision to close the doors on August 19 and instead agree to negotiate a solution.

Council Defeats Motion on Railway Street Speed Limit

City council has defeated the motion to reduce the speed limit on Railway Street.

Council split the vote to change the speed limit to 40 kilometers an hour.

Councillor Sharon Smith voted in favour of the resolution and says the issue isn;t going away.

 However Councillor Ron Lunny voted against the motion because he feels businesses had their hands tied to sign a petition in favour of the move.

Ontario Judge Allows 60's Scoop Law Suit

A big win in court for the two plaintiffs in the Sixties Scoop class action lawsuit.

Ontario Superior Court of Justice E. Belobaba has granted certification for the case, paving the way for a full trial.

Lawyer Jeffrey Wilson says his two plaintiffs are representing a large group of people.

The two plaintiffs are Chief Marcia Brown Martel from the Beaverhouse First Nation
and Robert Commanda.

Dryden Agrees To Set Up new Business Committee

The Mayor of Dryden says he's going to form a committee which will work closely with business owners.

Norm Bush is acting as the voice of a group of concerned and frustrated business owners and he approached council last night with the request.

Bush says they don't want to act as a "shadow Council" but notes business owners can't take any more tax hikes.

Dryden Council didn't officially endorse the formation of a Committe as some pointed out that the City is about to undertake a major service and operational review.

Missing Swimmer Found in Rainy River

The body of a swimmer who went missing in the Rainy River earlier this week has been found.

OPP say a dive team recovered the body of 27-year old Odane Orville White of Toronto just before 5 pm yesterday from the river.

Police says he was found in water about 35 feet south of the public docks in Emo.

White and another man were attempted to swim a length of the river Sunday.

Thunder Bay Police Investigating 2nd Murder of the Year

Thunder Bay Police are investigating the city's second murder of the year.

They are still protecting the crime scene on Lake Street where a woman was found early yesterday morning with serious injuries outside a residence there.  

She later died of those injuries.  

Police have not released the name of the victim or exactly how she died.

Mixed Reaction to Rickford's Cabinet Appointment

The appointment of Kenora MP Greg Rickford to the Harper Cabinet is grabbing the attention of two Northwestern Ontario MPs.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty says it's good to have someone from the north taking care of FedNor.

Meanwhile, Independent MP Bruce Hyer says Rickford has been rewarded for being a "yes man" for the prime minister.

Rickford is taking on the Science and Technology portfolio, as well as FedNor and is also the federal government's frontman for the Ring of Fire

Campbell Appeals for Help for Treaty Three Police

Ontario's Community Safety Minister is being asked to do something to help prevent the closure of the Treaty Three Police Service.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell has written a letter to the minister
asking for assistance to resolve the policing crisis.

Campbell says the officers are being given short shrift.

Campbell says she's heard from folks involved in discussions that the Provincial Government is willing to find a solution, but the Federal Government isn't providing any of the needed funds.

Report on Urban Deer Problem to be Released Today

More talk about the urban deer population in Kenora.

City council is expected to approve a report on Deer Management
in the city today.

Councillor Sharon Smith says the MNR may not support the idea of
a cull, but she says they have to do something to control the deer numbers.

Smith says the city was warned that deer behavior would change when they move into the urban areas, with the animals becoming more aggressive.

Three New Forest Fires in the Region

The Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting three new forest fires in Northwestern Ontario.

One sparked in both Sioux Lookout and Red Lake, and the other one is in the Fort Frances District.

The Red Lake fire remains a priority and is believed to be lighting caused.

Fortunately no communities are threatened by fires at this time.

Con College Looking for Float Plane Base

Confederation College is looking for a new location for it's Float Plane Base.

It comes after Eva Lake Cottagers near Atikokan complained about planes flying over head this summer.

President Jim Madder says they're looking for a community that has a lot of room and very little air activity.

The next float plane program will start in June next year.

Mike Richards Golf Tournament boosts Community Foundation

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation is
singing the praises of golf.

The annual Mike Richards Charity Golf tournament has generated over 45
thousand dollars for the community foundation over the past four years.

Darlene McGillvary says they had a great day on the links this year.

The proceeds of the golf tournament were split between the community
foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society.

Parks Canada Offers Challenge to Motorists

If you plan on road tripping through Northwestern Ontario this summer, Parks Canada has a challenge for you!

They have launched their Hide'n'Seek GeoTour, which guides adventurers to locations to learn about people, places and events that helped shape Canada.

Communications Officer Nancy Saunders says there's a little prize at the end.

For more information you can log onto:  www.parkscanada.com/sault and click on Geocaching.

Loblaw Plans to Purchase Shoppers Drug Mart

A mega-merger between two of Canada's largest retailers.

Loblaw Companies says it has a deal to purchase Shoppers Drug Mart  for 12.4 billion dollars in cash and stock.
   
The merger would combine the country's largest grocery retailer and largest chain of pharmacies.
   
Under the terms of the agreement, which is still subject to approval, Shoppers will keep its brand name and operate as a
separate division of Loblaw.

Rickford Lands Cabinet Post

Kenora MP Greg Rickford has caught the attention of Prime Minister Harper.

Greg Rickford has received a major promotion and has been appointed to cabinet as minister for Science and Technology and also has taken over the FedNor portfolio from Tony Clement.

Rickford says he's ready to get down to work with his new jobs.

He has has also been asked to take the lead in the Ring of Fire project in northern Ontario.

OPP Recover Body of Missing Man

The body of 20 year old John Savoyard from Minaki has been located on the Winnipeg River.

The OPP Marine Unit began looking for a man, who dove off the Darlington Bridge early Saturday morning, and failed to re-surface.

The Underwater Search and Rescue Unit was brought in yesterday.

Today a post-mortem exam will be carried out at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The name of the deceased is not being released.

Meanwhile, police are also looking for a missing swimmer on the Rainy River near Emo.

The OPP say two men tried to swim across the river last night around 7:00, a distance of about 200 feet
, but only one made it back to the Emo Public Docks.

A shoreline search is currently being carried out for the 27 year old man.

Treaty Three Residents Fighting Closure of Police Service

The people of Treaty 3 are going to make sure their voice is heard when a new public safety minister is chosen.

Tania Cameron says they plan to overload the new ministers communication lines with their concerns about the police service closing down.

Cameron says the idea came from another large aboriginal political movement.

Cameron says they are also drafting up a fact sheet on how the move will affect the economy and families in all Treaty 3 communities.

Quiet Weekend for Fire Crews

A quiet weekend on the forest fire front in northwestern Ontario.

Just one new fire was reported with the number of active down to 32.

However, the effects of rain in the far north were short lived and the hazard there is back to the high range.

The central and southern portions of the region are in a low to moderate fire hazard.

Nursing Goes Paperless

Nursing staff in Northwestern Ontario will now be using electronic charts.

It's part of the the Northwest Health Alliance's paperless medical record program.

It involves 13 hospitals in the region including Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora and the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center.

60's Scoop Lawsuit to be Launched

Efforts continue this morning in a Toronto courtroom  to certify a First Nations class action lawsuit against the federal government.

Beaverhouse First Nations Chief Marcia Brown Martel is the lead plaintiff who says it's about making the government answer for taking First Nations children away from their parents in the 1960's.

Chief Martel believes the government should own up to its mistakes and do the right thing.

Health Officials Warn Against Lyme Disease

Ontario’s Chief Medical Health Officer says people in the North shouldn’t be too complacent about ticks that carry Lyme disease.

Dr. Arlene King says that even though these black legged ticks are more prevalent in Southwestern and Eastern Ontario, they also make their way north.

Dr. King says that means wearing pants tucked into your socks and long-sleeved shirts, and using insect repellent with DEET.

Dr. Curtis
Russell says the Lyme-carrying ticks are highly prevalent as well in the northeastern United States.

City Wants Parking Limit at Discovery Center

The city wants visitors to stop in at the Discovery Center...just not for very long.

Council is being asked to support a four hour parking limit at the Discovery Center's parking lot, and prohibit overnight parking.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck says with the new docks at the Discovery Center, they are worried people will take advantage of the situation.

The four hour parking limit would also apply to the new docks at the Discovery Center.

Stewners Win Shoal Lake Bass Classic

Another summer on the Northwest Bass Circuit has been launched.

Ted and Louise Stewner from Winnipeg won the Shoal Lake Bass Classic over the weekend.

The Stewners topped the leaderboard with a two day total of 33.64 pounds of bass.

They finished just over a pound ahead of Jay Samsal and Scott Dingwall
in the standings.

Jack and Darren Neniska finished third.

OPP Searching for Missing Man

The OPP's Marine Unit is searching for a 20 year old man missing on the Winnipeg  River in Keewatin.

Officers were initially stopped shortly after 9:00 Saturday morning on the Darlington Bay Bridge.

Witnesses say they saw a man jump off the bridge, but he failed to surface.

Kenora's Fire and Emergency Service Department and ambulance personnel were also dispatched to the scene.

The OPP are continuing to patrol the area and an Underwater Search and Rescue Unit has also been called in.

The name of the missing man has not been released.

2 Robberies in Less Than a Week in Kenora

For the second time in less than a week, a robbery has been reported in downtown Kenora.

The OPP say a man was walking along 1st Street South Friday morning, when another man called out to him.

He went to talk to him, but was then assaulted and forced to withdraw some money from a nearby bank machine.

Police say they managed to locate the suspect a short time later and took him into custody.

Broncos Hudson Boucha Makes Team Manitoba

A star linebacker from Beaver Brae will be competing in the under 18 Football Canada Cup in New Brunswick.

Hudson Boucha is the lone player from the region to earn a spot on the Team Manitoba roster.

This past season Boucha lead the Broncos with 41 tackles, along with 2 forced fumbles and a touchdown.

Boucha and his teammates play their first game on Monday against team Ontario.

Paddle Across Canada Arrives in Kenora

A team of paddlers are in Kenora today to spread their message of outdoor education.

The team called Paddle Across Canada are collecting donations and raising awareness about the important of outdoor education for youth

Paddle Across Canada member Peter Vooys say the team is collecting funds for the Pine Project, the Koocheching Community Initative, and Camp Outlook.

Scott Graham says their journey also includes a little bit of history as they started from Rocky Mountain House and using old fur trader routes to make their way to Montreal.

The trip is expected to take 130 days.

Visit http://paddleacrosscanadatour.org/ to learn more about the PACT team, the journey, and to donate.

OPP Officer to Stand Trial on Dangerous Driving Charge

A Kenora OPP officer will have to stand trial on a charge of dangerous driving causing death.

Constable Troy Bender was charged by the Special Investigations Unit
last fall after the cruiser he was driving collided with a semi tractor trailor
unit at the intersection of the Redditt Road and the Kenora By-pass on September 23rd, 2012.

A prisoner in the back of the cruiser, 42 year old Gloria Assin, was killed in the collision.

Justice David Gibson says there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.

So far, no trial date has been set.

MNR Fire Crews Heading North and East

The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending some of its fire crews out of province.

Twenty firefighters, along with support staff, are being dispatched to lend a hand in the Northwest Territories and Quebec.

There are 41 active fires in northwestern Ontario including two in the Kenora District.

The largest blaze is an 11 thousand hectare blaze, 50 kilometres northwest of Red Lake.

A second wild fire
, 300-hectares in size, has also sparked 40-kilometres northwest of Red Lake.

T3P Board Breaks Silence

The Treaty Three Police Service board has finally broken its silence surrounding its decision to close down the aboriginal police department.

A week after announcing the closure, the board has issued a press release saying government underfunding and not financial mismanagement were responsible for the decision.

The board says a number of factors played into their decision, including an arbitration ruling which gave the Treaty Three officer wage parity with the OPP.

The Board says it had to lay off seven officers as a result and says if it continued to pay those rates, they would run up a deficit of 3.3 million dollars.

It adds that even though the federal and provincial governments have committed to continue funding the police service, there is no additional
money to cover the wage increases.

Ride For Memories Ready to Roll

Get your motor running and head on down the highway for the Alzheimer Society of Kenora-Rainy River.

It's annual Ride for Memories and Poker Derby is get for August 24th.

The Society's Rossana Tomashowski says they hoping to raise 50-thousand dollars.

Registration can now be made by calling the Society's Kenora office or through its website.

Parts of Minaki Lodge Salvaged

The Old Minaki Lodge is getting a new chance at life.

After the fire at the lodge the redevelopers salvaged some granite bocks and timbers.

Doug Johnston says the Minaki on the River developers will be using the items in a special commemoration project.

Johnston says the Gazebo will be placed on a point between the Dockside Restaurant and the Powerhouse.

Merger of Non-Profit Housing Corporations Still On Hold

Both the non-profit housing corporations in Kenora and Keewatin are rejecting a request for proposals for management of their units.

Chair of the Keewatin Board Jack Peason told council this week that they can save 13 thousand dollars by going it alone.

Mayor Dave Canfield says at this point he's prepared to turn the whole matter over to the District Services Board.

Canfield says council will wait for a report from city administration in September before making any decision about amalgamating the non-profit housing services.

Council Approves Sewer and Water Upgrades

The McLeod Park washrooms are expected to be out of service for a while longer.

The water lines servicing the washrooms come through Safety Bay and are in need of repair.

Work won't begin until city council approves a tender for the work.

City council is expected to approve a bid for sewer and water upgrades at its next open meeting on Monday.

Titan Contactors had the lowest of three bids for the work at 973 thousand dollars.

Police Investigate Fatality on Onigaming

The OPP and Treaty Three Police are investigating a fatality on the Onigaming
First Nation near Nestor Falls.

On Wednesday, officers were called about a man in distress.

When they arrived at the scene police found a deceased male in an
apartment.

A woman was also at the scene and in need of medical treatment.

She's listed in serious, but stable condition.

The OPP's Northwest Crime Unit has been called in to help out with the
investigation.

The name of the deceased has not been released.

Police Release Name of Man Killed in crash near Ignace

The OPP have released the name of a man killed in an accident near
Ignace earlier this week.

53 year old Cordell Majcher from Winnipeg was killed when the pick-up  he was driving collided with a transport about 10 kilometers west of Ignace Wednesday morning.

A post-mortem exam will be conducted today at Lake of the Woods District
Hospital.

The OPP say they are continuing their investigation into the cause of the crash.