Pedestrian Dies After Accident in Downtown

The OPP say a Kenora woman has died after being struck by a car on Monday morning.

Police say the accident occurred around 10:00 on the corner of Matheson Street and First Street South.

Eye witnesses says a car struck 2 pedestrians as they were crossing the street heading towards the Kenora Legion.

79 year old Marlyn Lowes was transported to Winnipeg for treatment where she died of her injuries.

The other woman who was involved has since been released from the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.


The driver has been charged with Failure to yield to a Pedestrian.

Hospital Receives Funding for Bariatric Treatment Chairs

Sit back and relax.

The Lake of the Woods District Hospital is purchasing 2 lounger style bariatric treatment chairs for heavier set patients thanks to a 38-hundred dollar donation by the Northern Cancer Fund.

Manager of Chemotherapy Kathleen Fitzgerald says they are purchasing the chairs this week and hope to have them in use within 6 weeks time.

Fitzgerald says they hope to get funding for 2 more chairs next year.

Kenora's Newest Mayors for a Day Introduced

Dave Canfield has a couple of shadows today.

Kimberly Korobanick and Nicholas Philipow are mayors for the day winners from Beaver Brae and Thomas Aquinas.

Korobanik says she wants to see more affordable housing and build
some unity in the community.

Philipow says his winning essay focused on expanding Kenora's recycling programs.

Operations manager Rick Perchuck told the mayors for the day that the city is currently at work on a composting program.

Bearskin Officials Unsure of Cause of Red Lake Crash

The vice president of Bearskin Airlines is expressing his condolences to the family of the five people who died in Sunday's plane crash in Red Lake.

Cliff Friesen says the tragedy is a tough time for staff within the company

Friesen says while the exact cause of the crash isn't known, there have not been any mechanical problems with the type of plane that was involved, a Fairchild Metroliner.

The Transportation Safety Board is expected to release more information today about fatal plane
crash.

OPP Release More Details About Red Lake Crash Victims

The OPP say three of passengers on the Bearskin Airlines flight that crashed
Sunday evening were from Red Lake.

So far the names of the deceased have not been released.

Police say they are still waiting for positive identification.

The pilots were from Winnipeg and Mississauga.

Two residents of Winnipeg were the only people to escape from the wreckage.

OPP To Host Public Meeting Tomorrow Night

It's time to offer your opinions on how the OPP operate in the City of  Kenora.

Detachment Commander Inspector Dave Lucas says they will be holding public consultation meeting this week.

Lucas says it should be a good night to share information.

The consultation will help create the OPP's priorities for the next 3 years.

The meetings will take place in the Rotary Room at the Rec. Center tomorrow at 7:00.

OFAH Pushing for Return of Spring Bear Hunt

The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters is disappointed with the provinces new bear management committee.

Dr. Terry Quinney says the OFAH is lobbying the government to take action and re-instate the spring hunt.

Quinney says they are also asking citizens to voice their concerns.

He adds the province has lost out on around half a billion dollars of revenue since the hunt was cancelled in 1999.

Indoor Soccer Facility Set to Open in New Year

You should be able to start renting field time at the new indoor soccer complex in Kenora by the new year.

That's the timeline set out by the Lake of the Woods Soccer Association.

Jess Rheault is a spokesperson for the group and says while the artificial turf will be installed this month, they still don't have a hard date for their grand opening.

Rheault says they do have an agreement with the City of Kenora that the Recreation
Department will be able to do all the booking for the indoor soccer complex.

Cliffs Pleased with Plans for Development Corporation for Ring of Fire

It's welcome news for Cliffs Natural Resources.

Spokesperson Jennifer Mihalcin says the province's move to set up a development corporation for the Ring of Fire mining project is something the mining giant believes could help to encourage the venture to move forward.

The new corporation is designed to help achieve the goals of all parties involved in the Ring of Fire.

Details still have to be worked out, but Northern Development and Mines Minister Michael Gravelle
says they are looking for interested companies to become partners in the new Developmen
t Corporation.

Hospital Gets Cancer Funding Today

Kenora, Dryden, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake are all receiving funds to help support cancer care in each of the hospitals.

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Center
is spending today and tomorrow in each of the communities, announcing funding for new cancer care equipment.

Kenora's donation is being made this morning at Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

The Health Science Foundation will be funding a number of new bariatric treatment chairs
for chemo patients.

Bearskin Staff Devastated By Airline Tragedy

The vice president of Bearskin Airlines is expressing his condolences to the family of the 5 people who died in Sunday's plane crash in Red Lake.   Cliff Friesen says the tragedy is a tough time for staff within the company.  He says many are very devastated by what happened and it's very difficult for them.  Counselling is being provided for those who wish it. Friesen says while the exact cause of the crash isn't known, there have not been any mechanical problems with the plane that was involved, a Fairchild Metroliner.

Rafferty Calls Treatment Of Vets A Shame

It's Remembrance Day a time to honour our veterans. Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty says its an extra sombre day because the Federal Government still insists on closing Thunder Bay's veteran affairs office in 2014. Rafferty says he's not going to give up the fight to keep the local office open. The Thunder Bay office serves most of Northwestern Ontario.

Fort Frances Train Derailment

Officials with the Transportation Safety Board are investigating a train derailment in Fort Frances. They're deploying a team of investigators to look at why 40 carloads of grain came off the track over the weekend.

Christmas Hamper Applications Available

The Salvation Army in Kenora is hoping to include something a little extra in this year's Christmas Hampers. Sandra Poole is their business manager and says they would like to include some cold weather gear like mitts and toques this year. Poole says applications for the Christmas Hampers are now available at their office on Matheson Street.  Last year, the Salvation Army handed out over 400 Christmas Hampers to families in need in the Kenora area.

Bearskin Crash Kills Five

More information is being released by the OPP about who was on the Bearskin Airlines plane that crashed Sunday night in Red Lake. Deceased is the two pilots, a 25 year old man from Mississauga and a 34 year old man from Winnipeg.  The three passengers who died are a 53 year old woman, 53 year old man and a 64 year old woman from Red Lake.  Sgt. Shelley Garr says they're continuing to investigate the scene of the accident alongside the Transportation Safety Board.  The deceased identities have yet to be confirmed.

Local Shelter Box to Support Philippine Typhoon Victims

Two Kenora residents may be going to the Philippines to support people affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

Ron Nelson and his wife are volunteers with Shelter Box who are trained to go assist in disaster locations and hand out box to victims of disasters.

Their previous efforts include deployments in the Japan Tsunami, and the Haiti Earthquake.

Nelson says they will be reaching out the to Philippine community in Kenora for support along with community groups, and hosting fundraising events.

Typhoon Haiyan is the largest storm ever recorded, with winds speed over 315 kilometers an hour.

By comparison Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans in 2005 saw winds speed maxing out at 280 kilometers an hour.

For more information on Shelter Box visit www.shelterboxcanada.org

Development Corporation to be Set Up for Ring of Fire

The province is looking to take a big step forward in the Ring of Fire project.

A Development Corporation will bring all parties involved in the project together to manage issues.

Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle says it's a significant move.

He says the corporation would bring the groups involved together, manage finances and address issues surrounding infrastructure.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has written to Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking for the Federal Government to partner with the province.

Traffic Moving Again On Highway 17 East

The OPP say it could take days for the wreckage to be cleared away from a
multi-vehicle accident between Kenora and Dryden.

Last night, police closed both lanes again for about an hour in order to clean
up some debris.

Today however, traffic is moving normally again.

The Trans-Canada was closed for almost nine hours yesterday following an
early morning accident near Nelson Granite.

A total of 14 transports were involved in the collision.

Hospital Patients Satisfied

Some room for improvement.

Lake of the Wood District Hospital has released the results of it's latest patient satisfaction survey.

Mark Balcaen is the CEO of the Hospital and says for the most part the result are very good, however one areas needs some work.

Balcaen says the hospital will be hanging up more posters up throughout the hospital to help inform patients of their aboriginal services.

He adds that apart from that one exception the hospital has a 97 percent approval rating.

NAN Adopts Education Treaty

The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is again calling for the right to control their own education on NAN territory.

Over two hundred delegates met to create the Right to Education treaty.

Grand Chief Harvey Yesno explains the importance of this treaty for aboriginal youth.

Yesno says for the treaty to be effective, communities must work together.