UNESCO Designation for Boreal Forest In NWO Moving Forward

Northwestern Ontario's Pikangikum First Nation is among those
involved in a plan to co-manage a vast tract of northern boreal
forest as a United Nations world heritage site.

Manitoba is awaiting final touches by two First Nations before
moving ahead with a bid for the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization designation for the region.

The process is supported by the Ontario and Manitoba governments
and Ottawa.

The area covers 43 thousand square kilometres and is the largest
tract of boreal forest in North America to be recognized as jointly
controlled with aboriginal people.

MP Concerned About Lakes in Northern Ontario

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says all Canadians should take interest in the environmental issues raised by the Idle No More movement.

Rafferty says the changes made to the Navigable Waters Protection Act, contained in Bill C-45 will have a detrimental effect on many.

Only a few lakes in Northwestern Ontario will be protected that include Rainy Lake, Rainy River and Lake of the Woods.

However the act does not protect the water systems leading into the lakes.

O.P.P Searching for Missing Teeenager

Kenora O.P.P are asking for public assistance in locating a missing 15 year old girl.

Chantel Cameron from the White Dog First Nation was said to be in Edmonton when she was last heard from on January 1st.

Police says at that time she was trying to get back to the community of White Dog.

Cameron is described as being 5 feet 5 inches tall with long dark hair and is 7 months pregnant.

Anyone with information is asked to call their local police service.

CUPE Reaches Deal with Public School Board

In spite of recent labor unrest with the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board, at least one union has settled on a new two year contract.

Educational Support staff with the public school board has ratified a new agreement.

CUPE local 1939 says the deal addresses a number of issues important to them including protecting services through better job security, better sick leave support, and protection of pension contributions.

Union president Jim Favreau says despite the agreement, the union still has a number of concerns
with the provincial government's Bill 115.

Province Begins Appeal Against Grassy Decision

The provincial government is launching its appeal today of an Ontario
Superior Court ruling in favour of the Grassy Narrows First Nation.

Last August the court ruled the government does not have the right
to unilaterally take away treaty rights and allow clear cut logging and mining activity in its traditional land use area.

The province is arguing that it has exclusive jurisdiction over all public lands and forests.

The government of Canada and Resolute Forest Products are also appealing the decision, while Goldcorp and other first nations have asked to be interveners.

Public School Board Hopes to Resume Extracurricular Activities

A sign that extra-curricular activities might make a comeback in 2013.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is reassessing its decision to
suspend after school programs.

Director of Education Jack McMaster says they met with teachers last week
to discuss the issue.

McMaster adds that they are communicating with other school boards in
order to align their actions in regards to extra-curricular.

Rickford Feeling Positive Following Meeting With Aboriginal Leaders

The meeting may be over but changes are just about to begin.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with First Nations Leaders in Ottawa on Friday evening, where they discussed eight priorities to build on their relationship.

Kenora MP Greg Rickford was in attendance and says he will take what was said back to his riding.

Rickford says Harper and National Chief Shawn Atelo will both meet with their constituents in the coming weeks to determine the next steps.

Shoal Lake #40 Seeks Federal Support

The Chief of the Shoal lake #40 First Nation was also in Ottawa last week.

Irwin Redsky handed a letter to prime minister Stephen Harper asking the
federal government to honor its historical agreement on Shoal Lake.

The letter is in response to the City of Winnipeg seeking an expedited
decision from the International Joint Commission about selling water
it draws from Shoal Lake.

Winnipeg is asking the federal government to support its request.

Chief Redsky accuses Winnipeg of doing a political end-around instead of
sitting down with the band to work out the dispute.

Northwestern Ontario Digs Out from Winter Storm

The Ministry of Transportation is reporting a number of area roads throughout the region as being snow covered or at least partially covered with slushy and or icy conditions.

A Winter storm caused several of the region's highways to be closed over the weekend with the last major Highway between Dryden and Sistonen's Corner near Thunder Bay, re-opened early yesterday morning.

Sergeant John Haley with the O.P.P. says traffic may be slowed or stopped as crews work to remove a number of vehicles that went into the ditch.

Haley says all of the highways in the area are open but some are still listing icy road conditions.

Local Girls Hockey Teams Continue to Excel

Local girls hockey teams continue to excel.

Beaver Brae's girls squad was called into action this weekend to face the Assinaboine College Cougars
from Brandon after Confederation College had to back out of its two game weekend series due to the
weather.

The Broncos ended up winning both games, skating to a 2-0 win on Saturday, and coming back for
a 3-2 win on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Lake of the Woods Chaos took top honors a a PeeWee hockey tournament in
Dryden over the weekend.

The Chaos beat the Lakewood Tire Eagles from Fort Frances 4-1 in the A-side final yesterday.

The Kenora girls finished the tournament with a 3-1 record.  The lone loss coming at the hands of
the Eagles in the Round robin.

First Blood Donor Clinic of 2013

It's in you to give.

Canadian Blood Services will be holding their first clinic of the year in the city on Monday January 14th.

Harvey Heater from Canadian Blood Services says the need for donors continues to rise.

The first clinics run from 4 until 9 on Monday evening and 9:30 until 12:30 Tuesday morning at St. Thomas High School.

You can book your appointment by calling 1-888-2-DONATE (1-888-236-6283)

Highway 17 Closed at Highway 71 Junction

O.P.P have closed sections of highway 17 east of Kenora due to a collision near Percy Lake.

Constable Ronni Grosenick says the Eastbound lane is closed at the Highway 71 Junction and the Westbound lane is closed from Vermillion Bay.

Grosenick adds that more closures may happen as a winter storm crosses the region tonight.

O.P.P are advising against travel on any area highway.

Highway 71 Re-opened

Highway 71 from the Highway 17 junction to Sioux Narrows was re-opened early this afternoon.

The highway had been closed due to slippery road conditions and 2 tractor trailer units getting stuck.

The semi trailers have since been cleared.

However O.P.P are advising against travelling on area highways as a winter storm rolls into the area bringing heavy snow, ice pellets, and freezing rain.

Rickford Looking Forward to Today's Meeting

Kenora MP Greg Rickord is looking forward to this afternoon's meeting between aboriginal leaders, the Prime Minister and other government officials.

Rickford says he continues to work closely with area First Nations on addressing their concerns.
and feels most communities are making some headway.


Rickford will be in attendance at the meeting along with Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan.

He says open dialogue continues to be key for the Federal Government.


The meeting comes at a time when tensions are starting to flare between the government and First Nations.

School Buses Cancelled This Morning

A long weekend for some students in the Kenora area today.

The Northwest Student Services Consortium says its canceling all its
school buses this morning due to treacherous road conditions.

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board says it has also closed its
elementary schools today in preparation for a planned protest by its
elementary teachers.


High schools and all schools operated by the Kenora Catholic District School
Board will be open today for anyone who walks or can get a ride to class.

Municipal transit service is operating as usual today.

Highway 71 Closed This Morning

There is one road closure this morning.

Highway 71 from the Junction of Highway 17 to almost
Sioux Narrows has been closed due to slippery road
conditions.

Police say two transports have become stuck and are blocking
the highway.

Weatherwise, the worst is still to come.

Rob Coon from the Ontario Storm Center says a classic Colorado Low is
on the way.

Coon says we can expect about 10 to 15 centimters of snow overnight
and another couple of centimeters tomorrow.

Liberal Delegates Selected this Weekend

Provincial Liberals can select their candidates for the leadership convention at the end of the month.

Leadership Candidate Charles Sousa wants to see a good turnout at the vote this weekend.

The selected delegates will vote at the Leadership convention to select the new Premier.

Delegate selection will take place at the Best Western in Dryden tomorrow.

Day One of Murder Trial in the Books

Testimony has started in the in second degree murder trial of 42 year old Kenneth Ivall and 24 year old
Angela Duchesne.

A number of people took the stand yesterday at the trial looking into the murder of Ed Wilson on March 21st, 2009.

His daughter and the two members of a CP rail crew gave testimony this morning.

Donald Gordon was the engineer of the locomotive and says they noticed a body lying on the train tracks
about 1.8 miles west of the Kenora train station.

He says he tried to stop the train, but it still ran over top of the body.

The conductor of the train, Burton Bastin says the body was severed at the shoulders.

The engineer went down to the Tim Horton's on Lakeview Drive, where he noticed police cars in attendance.

The trial is schedule to continue today.

Temperature Records Set

Its been a crazy 24 hours for weather in the Kenora area.

Yesterday smashed previous highs for January 10th, with the
thermometer topping out at 5.9 degrees.

The previous record was set last year, when the temperature hit
2.7 celcius.

The hot spot in the region was Fort Frances which hit 8.3 degrees
yesterday.

Saints Boys Win Again

The Thomas Aquinas boys hockey team continues to roll along.

Last night the Saints edged Sioux Lookout  2-1 in overtime.

Tanner Kapera had the game winner.

The Saints are now off for the next couple of weeks for the exam break.