Rickford reacts to Pikangikum Suicide Crisis

The federal government says it is taking action to deal with the suicide epidemic on the Pikangikum First Nation.

Last week a coronor's report made several recommendations help the troubled community, including re-building the school.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford says they have committed funding for the reconstruction of the school.

The Coronor's report dealt with the death of Sixteen people between the ages of 10 and 19 who killed themselves in Pikangikum, between 2006 and 2008.

Green Party Candidate in Kenora-Rainy River Ready to hit Campaign Trail

The Green candidate for the Kenora-Rainy River Riding says she feels stronger and more informed than she did last Provincial election.

Jo Jo Holiday is in her second Provincial election campaign and says its time for someone to represent the people of this Riding.

Holiday says health care, education and child poverty are all issues that need to be corrected.

Birth Rates on the Rise Across Northwestern Ontario

Birth rates are on the rise in Northwestern Ontario.

A recent report shows there's been a 5 percent jump in the number of births since 2004

The Kenora District has seen the biggest recovery with an increase of 9 percent followed by Thunder Bay District with just over 3 percent

NDP Candidates past and future make an appearance at Labor Day Picnic

M.P.P. Howard Hampton won't be standing for re-election in the Kenora-Rainy River Riding this October but he says we're in good hands.

Sarah Campbell is taking his place.

She has been working at Hampton's Dryden constituency for the past 6 years, and Campbell admits she's still learning. 

The NDP say they will be opening their campaign office in Kenora this weekend. 

Classes start at Confederation College despite Strike

Pickets are up at the nine Confederation College campuses in Northwestern Ontario.

Support staff walked off the job last week and no new talks are scheduled.

Today is the first day of classes at Confederation College and President Jim Madder is asking students and staff to take extra care and time when arriving to class.

Madder stresses its important for folks to stop and listen and respect picketers.

He says at the end of the day, these are valued staff and colleagues who are exercising their legal rights.

Discovery Center a big hit with visitors

The new Discovery Center on Lakeview Drive is proving to be a big hit with visitors.

The Discovery Center replaces the old tourism bureau on Highway 17 east.

Tourism Development Officer Heather Paterson says they've seen a big increase in their numbers.

The grand-opening of the Discovery Center took place on Friday afternoon.

Stunt Driving

An Edmonton man faces stunt driving charges after he was stopped on Highway 17.

Dryden OPP clocked the man doing 160 in a 90-zone on Sunday.

21-year-old Jessie Fraser had his driver license suspended for 7-days and his vehicle was impounded

Impaired Driver

A Galloway, New Brunswick man is in custody awaiting a bail hearing after he was stopped by Ignace OPP on the long weekend.

Police received a report of a possible impaired driver and officers stopped the vehicle on Highway 17. 45-year-old Joseph Vautour faces 2-counts of impaired driving.

He was also charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Chickenpox Vaccine

Your kids may not like this, but the Canadian Pediatric Society say when it comes to warding off the chickenpox, it seems two needles are better than one.


The doctors' group says there's evidence that without a second
dose of the chickenpox vaccine, some children could get the illness
as adults.

The society recommends that youngsters get the first dose between
12 and 18 months of age, and the second dose between the ages of
four and six.

Forest Fire Update

The forest fire season is slowly winding down.


There are now 28-active fires burning in Northwestern Ontario.

A total of 470-thousand hectares of forest are affected.

The Ministry of Natural Resources has started to tear down base camps and all of the large forest fires are either being held or are under control.

60-out of Province firefighters remain to support fire fighting efforts in the Northwest.

Fire Hazard drops for Labor Day Long Weekend

The fire hazard is starting to drop across northwestern Ontario.

Recent rains have reduced the hazard into the low to moderate range in time for the Labor Day Long Weekend.

Currently there are just 36 forest fires considered active in the region, two of those popped up in the last 24 hours.

The MNR is continuing to be assisted by 80 fire crews from out of the province.

First Nation Leaders speak out against drug abuse

The Nishnawbe-Aski Nation is calling on Ottawa to help stem what its calling an epidemic of prescription drug abuse across Northwestern Ontario.


Deputy Grand Chief Mike Metatawabin says it has been 2-years since they declared a state of emergency because of drug abuse, but government response has been minimal.

He says oxycontin addiction did not begin in their communities and the drug is not made in their territory.

He made the comments yesterday came as Lyle Fox arrived in Thunder Bay to end a 380-kilometre walk from Sioux Lookout to raise awareness and funds for the fight against prescription drug abuse.

Fox is calling on youth to take up the fight against prescription drug abuse on First Nations.

The Bearskin Lake First Nation resident says oxycodone tablets are selling anywhere from 500 to 600-dollars each.

Discovery Center Holds Grand Opening Today

The new Discovery Centre is holding its grand opening today on Lakeview Drive 

The ribbon cutting is at 11:00 AM this morning and tours will be conducted from

10AM to 4PM.

The Discovery Center is the new focal point for tourism in the City of Kenora.

The building cost about a three million dollars to build. 

McKay hits the Campaign Trail

The official start to the provincial election is still a few days away, but that hasn't stopped candidates in Kenora-Rainy River from stumping for votes.

Progressive Conservative candidate Rod McKay was in Fort Frances yesterday to speak to party faithful and area business leaders.

McKay also wants to help break down barriers that hurt area businesses to be competitive.

Leek Supports Doctor House Calls

The Liberal candidate for Kenora-Rainy River is standing up in support of a party policy to have doctors make house calls.

Anthony Leek says it makes sense - there's a high number of seniors who could benefit.

Leek says other Liberal initiatives will help bring more doctors to the area to help fulfill that promise.

Telemedicine gets funding to hire more nurses

The North West Local Health Integration Network is investing just over two million dollars to hire 28 new "telehealth" nurses.

As a result of the investment, organizations from across the region will be able to hire additional staff and more residents will receive care from specialists closer to home.

In 2010-2011, the use of telemedicine in Northwestern Ontario resulted in more than 11-million dollars in avoided travel costs and more than 27-million kilometres in avoided patient travel.

Man Fined for East Highway Forest Fire

A Southern Ontario man has been ordered to pay 35-hundred dollars for starting a fire that spread into the surrounding woods back in May.

Court heard that Matthew Major of Stoney Creek started a fire to burn boxes of paper in a grassy area in Kenora.

Major didn't have a day burning permit and he left the fire unattended and went into town.

The fire spread into a wooded area and sparked a point 5 hectare forest fire.

City fire crews and the Ministry of Natural Resources were forced to extinguish the blaze.

Treaty Three seeks to block hydro contracts

Several First Nation communities in the Far North are seeking legal action to stop provincial power contracts to hydro dams on their traditional lands.

Grand Council Treaty 3 is concerned that the contracts will have adverse effects on aboriginal and treaty rights and is asking an Ontario court to set them aside.

David Estrin is the lawyer for Treaty Three and says they want a review over  they way the government issued long term electricity contracts for these dams.

The complaint is related to 5-hydro generating plants in Kenora, Norman, Fort Frances, Calm Lake and Sturgeon Falls.

Con College Promises Classes will start next week as scheduled

Confederation College is open for business across Northwestern Ontario despite the strike.

Most programming will run as scheduled when classes resume on Tuesday and staff are in place across the District to assist students.

Vice-President Academic Judi Maundrell doesn't expect major problems when students report for class or obtain financial aid.

Both sides have expressed a willingness to return to the bargaining table.

Broncos win exhibition game in Dryden

A promising start for Beaver Brae's football team.

The Broncos marched into Dryden yesterday and left with a 18-0 victory over the host Eagles.

John Lee, Spencer Wickham and Allan Hansen each scored majors for Beaver Brae.

The Broncos open the regular season next Friday on the road in Steinbach to take on the Sabres.