Local Companies get an power boost

A number of tourist camps in northwestern Ontario are going green.

The Northern Ontasrio Heritage Fund is providing grants to four businesses in the Kenora and Rainy River District to install new energy efficient systems.

Salisbury Cruises in Kenora is getting funding to install a solar energy system on a floating lodge on Lake of the Woods.

Kenora Fish Hawk Freightways is also getting money to upgrade an existing solar panel system.

Saints win NWOSSA Soccer Crown

The Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team is heading to the All-Ontario Single A championships next month.

The Saints won the best-of-three NWOSSA final in two straight games against Marathon.

Yesterday afternoon, T.A. cruised to a 2-0 victory.

Patrick Van Bellinghem scored both goals for the Saints.

He also had the lone goal in the first game yesterday, a 1-0 victory over Marathon.

 

Thomas Aquinas will now travel to Windsor June 7th for the OFSAA championships.

Saints Boys Soccer Team Wins Game 1 of NWOSSA Final

The Thomas Aquinas boys soccer team is a win away from advancing to All-Ontario Single A championships.

The Saints edged Marathon 1-0 in the first game of the best-of-three NWOSSA final up at Thomas Aquinas.

Patrick Van Bellingham scored the lone goal of the game early in the first half.

Game two will be played at 5:00 this afternoon.

A win will given T.A. a berth at the OFSAA finals in Windsor next month.

Name Change Requested for Black Sturgeon Island

An island on Black Sturgeon Lake could be in for a name change.

A local resident is asking the city for support to change the name of Island "A" to James Island.

The island would be named after the original trapper who first owned the island.

The resolution will be part of an application being prepared for Ontario's Geographic Names Board for the name change.

OPSEU Speaks out Against Cuts at MNR

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union is sounding the alarm over the Province's plans for the Ministry of Natural Resources.

President Smokey Thomas says the government has already cut back the MNR so much that any more cuts will jeopardize our ability to respond to emergency situations like forest fires.

Thomas says the Provincial Government has left fire fighters alone but they've continued to cut their support staff.

Federal Budget Bill Moving Slowly

The Federal Government budget bill is moving forward slowly, but surely.

That's according to Kenora MP Greg Rickford.

Rickford says debates continue with the opposition and pieces of the Legislation are now being reviewed at the Committee level.

Rickfored is hoping for a mid-June implementation date.

IBC Speaks out Against NDP Insurance Bill

A variety of people are speaking out against an NDP private members bill that calls for changes to auto insurance.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Insurance Bureau of Canada have both come out against Bill 45.

IBC Vice President Ralph Palumbo is calling on Northern Ontario MPPs to speak out against the bill.

The bill is scheduled to come before the Ontario legislature for a second reading June 7th.

Spring Feast this Afternoon at NeChee

The weather may not be ideal, but its time for what's becoming an annual tradition in Kenora.

The Spring feast will take place today at the NeChee Friendship Center.

Last year the spring feast was held at the Kenora Rec. Center.

It will take place from noon til 2:00 at 1301 Railway Street.

Saints host NWOSSA Boys Soccer Finals

A trip to the All-Ontario Single A soccer championships is on the line this weekend for Thomas

Aquinas.

The Saints Boys will play the first two games of a best-of-three series against Marathon today.

Game one of the NWOSSA final will start at 11:00 this morning, followed by game two at 5:00.

Game three, if necessary will be played tomorrow morning at the Thomas Aquinas Field.

Harborfest Parking Approved

Parking in downtown Kenora will still be at a premium this August Long weekend during Harborfest.

The Harborfest Committee has requested and received approval from city council to close down the south parking lot starting the Friday night of the long weekend.

In the past, the parking lot has been closed because a large tent was set up on the site.

Now with the new Harborfront tent in place, Harborfest is hoping to use the south parking lot as a staging area for some of their events.

Black Sturgeon Lake Management Study to Continue

The City of Kenora says it plans to continue monitoring water quality on Black Sturegon Lake.

Council has agreed to include the Black Sturgeon Lake management Plan into its 2013 capital budget.

The city conducted a water study a couple of years ago, and had agreed to test the water every five years as part of its on-going study.

The Management Plan was created due to concerns about all the development which is taking place on the lake.

Tourism Numbers up over the long weekend

Local tourism officials are crowing about their most recent numbers.

Tourism Kenora had both the Discovery Center and the Thistle Pavillion open to the public and more than 540 visitors passed through their doors.

That's a huge increase over last year when only 36 people came into the old Tourist Information bureau on Highway 17 east.

The M.S. Kenora also reported its best opening weekend in nine years.

55 Plus Expo Tomorrow

Kenora's 55 Plus Expo is a growing concern.

This is the second year in a row, Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford's office has staged the event.

Patti Letourneau is one of the organizers and says they'll have lots of information available this year.

The 55 Plus Expos will take place at the Discovery Center tomorrow from 9:00 to 3:00.

AbitibitBowater Now Officially Resolute

It's now official.

AbitibiBowater will officially be known as Resolute Forest Products starting today.

The name change was approved at the company's annual general meeting yesterday.

A mill employee at the Fort Frances mill was one of two to suggest the name in a company wide contest held last year.

Habitat For Humanity Sets Date for Kenora Build

June 18th is circled on Habitat for Humanity's calendar.

That's the day construction on Kenora's first Habitat home is scheduled to start.

Before that, the local committee still has some fundraising to do.

Thelma Wilkens-Page says they will be collecting donations at the Operations Center for their Re-store day this Saturday.

The actual sod turning ceremony for the Habitat Home in Kenora will take place on June 11th.

Plans for Youth Center moving forward

Plans are starting to come together for a new youth Drop-In center in Kenora.

The Kenora Youth Council is working to put the Drop-In Center in Lakewood School.

Spokesperson, Jarod McLean they they are working with a number of community partners to make this work.

McLean is hoping the city will be able to help get a grant for the youth drop-in center to help staff it.

NAN asks for Ontario Coronor's Inquest

The pre-inquest into the death of 15 year old Reggie Bushie is over.

It was adjourned today after the Nishnawbe Aski Nation applied to have the case sent to Ontario's Chief Coroner.

Regional Coroner Spokesperson Derry Miller says the joint inquest would examine the deaths of Reggie Bushie as well as six other teens who died while attending high school in Thunder Bay.

Ontario's Chief Coroner Dr. Andrew McCallum will decide whether or not to hold an inquest into the deaths of the First Nation teens.

Busy Long Weekend for Traffic Police

A busy weekend for Provincial Police across Northwestern Ontario during the Victoria Day long weekend.

Police charged 249 drivers for speeding, 21 for seatbelt infractions and seven with distracted driving.

Four careless charges were laid and one ticket was handed out for impaired driving.

The OPP laid roughly 8-thousand charges across the Province.

NorWOSSA Regular Season Wraps Up

Homefield didn't provide much of an advantage for Beaver Brae's Soccer teams.

The Broncos failed to win a game on the last day of the regular season yesterday at the Tom Nabb Soccer Complex.

The Bronco boys started the day with a 1-0 loss to Dryden and followed that up with a 2-2 draw against Fort Frances.

The Beaver Brae girls started the day with a 1-1 tie against Dryden, then lost their second game 1-0 against Fort Frances.

The NorWOSSA Championships will take place next Wednesday in Fort Frances.

Three Arrested in Drug bust

Three people face drug charges after being stopped by the OPP in Kenora early this morning.

The Organized Crime Enforcement Bureau and Drug Enforcement Unit helped out with the traffic stop.

Police say about 29 grams of cocaine was seized.

42 year old Arcland Beacham, 19 year old Franklin Major and 51 year old Claudette McLeod, all of Kenora have been charged with Possession for the Purpose of Trafficking.

All three are due to appear in Kenora Court July 5th to face the charges.