Canadian Blood Services

Canadian Blood Services wants to you remind you how important it is to donate in the summer.


Adrienne Silver, Communications Specialist for Northwestern Ontario says the need blood is constant.

For 2012 alone they'll be looking for atleast one hundred thousand new donors just to keep up with the high demand.

They're at St. Thomas Aquinas today and tomorrrow and looking to book over 60 appointments

Give the gift of life in 2012!

Book your appointment by calling 1-888-2-DONATE

Forest Fire Update

Four new fires are being watched by the Ministry of Natural Resources thanks to lightning strikes over the weekend.


One of them started in the Kenora District, 10-kilometres northwest of Minaki

Two others started in the Fort Frances District, while the other sparked in the Thunder Bay District.

The MNR says only four fires are burning in the entire region but the fire hazard remains at "Moderate" to "High" in all areas.

Highway 17 Crash

Provincial Police are investigating another fatal collision in Northwestern Ontario.

OPP say the crash occured yesterday afternoon near Granite Lake, between Kenora and the Manitoba boundary.

Police say two vehicles were involved.

No names have been released.

Two people died in separate collisions on Northwestern roads last week.

OPP Summer Students

An extra police presence on the streets.

Constable Dave Cain from the Kenora Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police says 5 summer students are now trained and out in the community.

They include Duncan McGillivray from St. Thomas Aquinas High School and Kathleen Baker of Beaver Brae.

Cain says they will be on bike and foot patrol and will be on the lookout for a variety of things including mischief, liquor infractions and parking infractions.

The Police Service receives provincial funding to hire the officers on a yearly basis.

Garbage Building Up At Closed Tourism Centre

There is growing concern about garbage build up and dirty conditions at the Visitor Information Centre at the Ontario-Manitoba boundary.


The Province has closed the facility and is no longer maintaining the property.

Complaints have been forwarded to Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell.

Blood Donor Clinics

The Canadian Blood Services has announced the dates of its summer blood clinics in Kenora.

The July 9 and July 10th clinics will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas High School

The agency says its looking for 75 donors to fill spaces available.

You can make an appointment by booking through the Blood Services website or calling 1-888-2- DONATE (1-888-236-6283).

Project Safe Halloween

A safety program initiated in the Rainy River district is being expanded.


Glow sticks, handed out every Hallowe'en, will now be distributed to youngsters throughout the Kenora district this year.

Betty Anne Johnson of the Kenora-Rainy River District Children's Aid Society says it continues a program started 10 years ago by the former
Rainy River agency.

The OPP and the Northwestern Health Unit are partnering.

Teachers Union To Speak Out Against Provincial Deal

The leaders of four unions will be commenting today on a deal reached yesterday between the province and the English Catholic Teachers Association.


The Catholic teachers broke ranks with other unions, by accepting a two year wage freeze and three unpaid professional development days, which the Liberal says amounts to a 1.5-per-cent pay cut.

The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario has called the government's demands ``insulting.''

Province And Community Pleased With Deal

The Provincial Government is hoping to see the idled Terrace Bay mill restarted before the end of October.


The province has struck a deal with a company based out of Mumbai, India to purchase the facility.

Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle says he can't release much about the deal but notes several Provincial Ministries were involved.

He says Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and the Ministry of Energy all played a crucial role in securing the deal.

Gravelle says he hopes to have everything finalized by the end of this month.

The company plans to invest more than 250-million dollars to convert the facility to dissolve wood pulp for rayon fibre.

Aditya Birla Group is a major world-wide company which has 130,000-employees in 36-country's.

The company also owns 2-dissolve pulp mill's in New Brunswick, similar to the one that will be established in Terrace Bay.

Terrace Bay Mayor Michael King says the move will create 275 mill jobs, 335 more in the woodlands and a total of 1,900 jobs.

Forest Fire Hazard Starting To Rise

The Ministry of Natural Resources is on high alert heading into the weekend.

The warm weather has pushed the forest fire hazard to high in most areas and is expected to move to extreme.

Six new fires have been reported in the last two days after thunderstorms moved through the region.

Five of those fires were lightning caused, one of them was human-caused and is being investigated.

The MNR is reminding everyone to use caution with outdoor burning this weekend.

Summer Heat and Your Pet

Man's best friend needs a break too.


When people leave their pets in vehicles on scorching hot days, it can be a sign of trouble.

The heat not only makes the wait unbearable, but can lead to asphyxiation.

Inspector Kevin Glenister of the Dryden says you wouldn’t leave a child in a smoldering car, so why would you leave an animal?

And just like humans, animals can get too much sun.

Director of the Second Chance Pet Network Rebecca Tibbs says animals with light colored fur can burn just as easily as people with fair skin.

Some tips when thinking of your pet are to keep them at home if you go out, and to make sure there is some shade outside.

Lac Seul Treaty Day

Today is Treaty Day for Lac Seul.

Festivities start at 10:30a.m. with a re-enactment of the old treaty days to follow at 11:30.

There will be a “Bringing the Children Home” ceremony at 3p.m. for the residential school survivals.

Chief Clifford Bull says there will be traditional apparel, shot gun shells, twine and items of that nature.

There will be a traditional feast at 4 p.m. with games fiddle.

The day will end off with the “Great Canoe Race Challenge” and a fireworks display at the Kejick Bay Causeway.

Two Year Contract For Catholic Teachers

The governing Liberals have reached a new labour deal with the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association.


Education Minister Laurel Broten says the union, which represents 45,000 teachers, has agreed to a two-year deal with no salary increase.

Broten says the deal should pave the way for any future agreements with the other teachers unions.

It's the first teachers group to break ranks with the other unions, who have refused to negotiate after they were told their wages would be frozen.

The Liberals are trying to get workers in the broader public sector to accept a wage freeze as they battle a $15-billion deficit.

They've said they'll legislate the freeze if all other options fail.

MNR Hoping For Enjoyable Free Fishing Week

Stay safe, have fun and follow the rules!

That's the message from the Ministry of Natural Resources on the eve of "Free Family Fishing Week".

You don't need a licence to cast a line starting on Saturday and running until July 15th.

However, officials are reminding first time and veteran anglers that they must follow all of the rules and regulations.

The MNR says fishing regulations, limits and fines for violations remain in effect during the event.

Officials also remind everyone hitting the lake to wear a life-jacket.

Copies of the rules are available by visiting the Ministry of Natural Resources website or by visiting ServiceOntario centres.

Information is available at www.mnr.on.ca.

Terrace Bay Mill

New life for the idled Terrace Bay Mill.


The Provincial Government says the Aditya Birla Group has agreed to purchase the assests of the mill and plans to invest more than 250-million dollars to convert the facility.

The company is based out of India and the reported sale price is 300-million dollars.

The mill will dissolve wood pulp for rayon fibre and will help in preserving 275 jobs.

The deal is subject to court approval.

The mill has been closed since a fatal explosion last November and subsequent downtime.

Northern Ontario Slams Cabinet Shuffle

A Northern Ontario MP is taking a shot a the federal cabinet shuffle.


Julian Fantino is the new Minister for International Co-Operation.

Timmins-James Bay NDP MP Charlie Angus says Fantino has mishandled the fighter jets file for the government, and Harper is signalling his disdain for international aid by moving another inept minister into the job.

Angus says the shuffle should have been a lot bigger if Harper really wanted to signal a cleanup.

Bev Oda resigned Tuesday after a large public outcry and internal Tory caucus dissent over her lavish spending habits.

Police Break Up Bootlegging Attempt

Nishnawbe-Aski Police say charges haven't been laid after a bootlegging operation was foiled on Canada Day.


Police were called to the Kashechewan First Nations airport and officers seized several types of booze in large bottles.

The amount of alocohol seized was roughly 30-litres and the value is pegged at $7,200

Kenora Woman Dies In Two Vehicle Crash

A 60-year-old Kenora woman has been identified as the victim of a two vehicle collision on Highway 11/17 west, near Sunshine.


Provincial Police say an eastbound 2006 Toyota Matrix collided with a westbound 2012 Ford Focus around 2 o'clock yesterday morning.

Police say the victim was a passenger in the Ford.

OPP say Deborah Schneider was airlifted to hospital in Thunder Bay but she succumbed to her injuries en route.

The male drivers of both vehicles were also airlifted to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The crash closed the highway for several hours and the cause in not yet known.

Schneider is the second person to die on area roads in as many days.

Tuesday morning, 88-year-old Jack Tiefenbacher of Fort Frances died in a single vehicle crash on Highway 11, near Atikokan.

Sioux Lookout's Birthday Triathalon

Sioux Lookout is turning 100!


And to celebrate, the town is holding their 23rd annual triathlon and 8th kids Triathlon.

The event will be held on August 6th and start time is 9am.

There is the option to sign up as a team, two or three participants.

There will be various races for different age groups.

Age group 11yr and under - 200m swim, 3.0km bike, 1km run

Age group 12 –13 - 300m swim, 5.4km bike, 2.5km run

Age group 14 –15 - 500m swim, 10km bike, 4km run

Age group 16 and up - 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run

For more information, check out www.siouxtriathalon.info or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/siouxtriathalon.

Free Family Fishing Week

Free fishing week is almost here.


From July 7-15, everyone can fish, even if they don't have a fishing license.

The event is held through the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.

Conservation Outreach Program Coordinator Alesha Caldwell thinks fishing is such an integral part of growing up and experiencing the outdoors.

For beginners, Caldwell suggests fishing off the dock.

She speaks from personal experience about the number of fish that hide in the cool shade.

For more information, check out www.ofah.org.