Mental Health

Mental health issues have been identified as a growing problem for local educators.


The Keewatin-Patricia District School Boards used Provincial funding to hire a Mental Health Leader.

Lisa Doerksen started her job last month and says one of her jobs is to work with teachers and raise awareness of mental health issues.

Doerksen says one in five students have a mental health or emotional disorder, but only 50 percent will talk to anyone about their depression or anxiety.

Ambulance Services

A comprehensive review of the land ambulance service in the Kenora District is now underway.


The Services Board is looking at the entire operation to ensure staff and resources are being used in an efficient and effective manner.

CAO Dan McNeil outlines one area they are looking at.
 
McNeil says the study will also look into a call for a land ambulance base in the Vermilion Bay area.

KDSB Changes

The Kenora District Services Board has finally found a replacement for a vacant seat.

Ray Leray has been appointed the member for Oxdrift.

He replaces Sarah Campbell, who was forced to step down when she was elected in the last Provincial election.

The Board says Leray was the only candidate to submit an application before the deadline.

The Board is also dealing with the loss of its Director of Housing Services.

Adrian De Porto announced his retirement at a KDSB meeting this morning.

Poverty Challenge

Twelve local residents learnt this week that $52 doesn’t go a long way.

Making Kenora Home has officially wrapped up the 2nd Annual Poverty Challenge.

 It’s one of many initiatives taken to raise awareness during the Week of Action Against Poverty.

Participants from Kenora spent the last week blogging about their experiences while on social assistance.

Making Kenora Home Website

Adam Beach

You might recognize him from the CBC Show "Arctic Air" .


Adam Beach is visiting The White Dog First Nations today to meet with community elders, community members and students.

His visit is encouragement to the community and is focused on suicide prevention.

Long-Gun Registry

Kenora MP Greg Rickford has finally got his wish!

The Conservatives used their majority Wednesday night to put the national long-gun registry out of its misery.

The Commons vote was 159-to-130.

Thunder Bay NDP MP's Bruce Hyer and John Rafferty broke party ranks and sided with the Government.

The bill now goes on to the Senate, where a Tory majority ensures passage.

Kin Carnival

Tis' the season for Winter Carnivals.

This weekend, Vermillion Bay is the place to be.

The community is hosting the annual Kin Carnival and one of the highlights is the 'Kids Carnival'.

Organizer Sarah Wilson says they will have lots of activities.

The Carnival is Saturday from 10 to 3 at Lillian Berg School.

Drummond Report

There's a lot to take in!

That's the feeling of Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle following the release of the Drummond report.

The Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP says the Government must go through the 362-recommendations with a fine tooth comb.

Gravelle admits there are some recommendations on cutting back on health care and education which he believes are not feasible.

Couchiching First Nation

Residents of Couchiching First Nation go to the polls today in elections for a new band council.


As many as eight people, including incumbent Chuck McPherson, are on the ballot for chief.

Thirty-one candidates were nominated for six council positions.

KDCC Executive Directors

It's a new year for the Kenora and District Chamber of Commerce but some things will stay the same.


Andrew Scribilo was re-elected president at last nights annual general meeting and says its good to know that we're all on the same page

“Initiatives for 2012: we’re really pressing on the business community for resolutions to take down to NOACC. We really want resolutions to make changes and improvements to the communities, not only Kenora but across the Northwest.”

Wes Romaniuk of the lake of the woods hotel is back on the board as 1st Vice President and Kathleen Novack from the Royal bank of Canada has stepped in the 2nd Vice Presidents position for for the 2012 season

Drummond Report

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says the Drummond Report gives Ontario a chance to move forward.

The NDP member says it’s now up to all parties to ensure that the report is used to lead the Province in the right direction.

Campbell is supporting recommendations to revisit the delivery of health care services, the creation of regional hydro utilities and a push to provide fair funding for First Nations' education.

She adds that not all recommendations should be acted on, such as scrapping full-day kindergarten.

Energy Consumption

The Keewatin-Patricia District School Board is being recognized for its work to reduce energy consumption at its schools.

Kim Carlson is the Operations Manager and says they've upgraded almost all of their schools in recent years and its paying dividends.

Carlson says they've seen significant energy savings in all their schools, including about 80 thousand a year at Beaver Brae due to recent renovations.

National Panel on Aboriginal Education

Grand Council Treaty #3 says its unwilling to buy into the recommendations released by a National Panel on Aboriginal Education.

Grand Chief Diane Kelly says while they agree with the principals of the panel, they don't want to see a National Education Act.

She says they would prefer to see a distinct education system for Treaty Three.

Last November, Treaty Three launched a 100 million dollar lawsuit against the Federal Government for violating their treaty rights to education.

Murder Trial Underway in Kenora Court

The second degree murder trial for a 26 year old Deer Lake man is underway in Kenora Court.

Jason Miller has been charged in the death of 27 year-old Joey Crow.

Nishnawbe-Aski Police were called to the nursing station in Deer Lake on July 10th, 2010 and officers found Crow's body.

27-year-old Neilson Meekis was transported to Hospital in Thunder Bay for treatment.

Meekis took the stand Wednesday.

Miller is represented by Winnipeg lawyer Greg Brodsky.

Broncos lose in NorWOSSA semis

Not a good day for Beaver Brae at the NorWOSSA championships taking place in Fort Frances.

All four Bronco teams were eliminated in semi-final action earlier today.

The Beaver Brae Junior Boys basketball team was upended 43-23 by Dryden this morning, while the Bronco senior boys dropped a 61-40 decision.

Things weren't any better for the Beaver girls volleyball teams.

The Broncos junior squad lost in three straight sets to Fort Frances, while Beaver Brae's senior girls were also ousted in three straight by the Muskies.

Tomorrow, the NorWOSSA single "a" championships take place at Thomas Aquinas, with both the Saints senior boys basketball and senior girls volleyball teams earning byes into Friday's gold medal games.

NorWOSSA "AA" Championships Today in Fort Frances

Beaver Brae's boys basketball and girls volleyball teams have their work cut out for them.

All four teams will see action in the semi-finals taking place in Fort Frances today at the  NorWOSSA Double "a" championships.

Up first at 10:00 are the junior semis.

Beaver Brae is taking on Dryden in basketball, while the Broncos will face Fort Frances in volleyball.

At 11:30 the Bronco senior boys basketball team will take on Dryden, while the senior girls will see

Beaver Brae battle the Muskies for the right to play Dryden in the volleyball final tonight.

Drummond Report

The highly anticipated final report from economist Don Drummond is out today.

It's expected show how the provincial government can cut its $16-billion deficit.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell is worried that the Liberals have taken upon themselves to listen to one expert than hold traditional pre-budget consultations.

Campbell says the government has essentially shut out the opposition and the public from the budget process.

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care is trying to empower area First Nation leaders with knowledge on how to help their residents deal with addictions.

A two day conference on drug addiction kicked off this morning (Tuesday) in Thunder Bay and Spokesperson Rose Pittis says they've provided conference goers with takeaway tools.

Pittis says the emphasis is trying to heal internally.

Northwestern Ontario Man Killed in Winnipeg

A Northwestern Ontario man who was only months away from becoming a father is Winnipeg's fourth homicide victim of 2012.

18-year-old Wahb Mandamin was stabbed early Tuesday near the Canad Inns Polo Park hotel.

Mandamin was in Winnipeg from the Shoal Lake First Nation for his girlfriend's ultrasound appointment.

Those close to Mandamin said he was staying at the hotel when a fight broke out.

Mandamin's father, the chief of Shoal Lake First Nation, has come to Winnipeg searching for answers to what happened.

The Kenora Genealogical Society

The Ontario Heritage Trust has singled out a local group for its work at Lake of the Woods Cemetery.

The Kenora Genealogical Society was presented certificates for their work in cataloguing all the grave sites at the Cemetery.

Gloria Harvey says they have also been able to make that information available on-line.

Harvey says their next task is to microfilm all the back copies of the Daily Miner and News for the Kenora Public Library.