Wesway project gets extended

Employees at Wesway services in Thunder Bay are celebrating. The non profit organization provides care to those people who are close to death. It was taking part in a special pilot project that provided those services to seniors living in communities throughout the Thunder Bay district. The provincial funding was to have run out at the end of last month. However officials have received word the funding will be extended another year.

No major controversy expected at City Hall

City councillors should be getting a break from any controversy Monday night. They won't have to deal with wind farms, bus depots or subdivision expansions. Instead they will hear a presentation from the Thunder Bay Oil Sands Consortium. Thats the group that tries to secure contracts for local businesses from the Alberta oil sands project. Also on the agenda, councillors will be asked to approve a policy on Violence in the Workplace as part of the changes to the provinces Occupational Health and Safety Legislation

Snowbirds making a return visit next month

The Snowbirds are coming back to Thunder Bay. The Armed Forces precision flying team will entertain us May 26th. It will be part of Confederation Colleges' Aviation day according to organizer Paul de Oude. He says they'll perform a fly-by and not a full aerobatic show. The fly by will take place over the airport and city during the lunch hour and last about half an hour

Young soldier injured in Afghanistan back home

A bottle of scotch and some Pink Floyd. That's how Master Corporal Chris Drewes wants to relax now that he is back home in Thunder Bay. Drewes was injured in Afghanistan in the same roadside bomb blast that killed fellow soldier Private Tyler William Todd. The 24 year old Drewes doesn't consider himself a hero. He says if anyone should have that tag, it's Private Todd. Right now he is recovering from a shrapnel wound to his shoulder. He says he does have limited use of it. Drewes was welcomed at the airport by family and friends Friday afternoon.

Two hurt in John St. fire

Two people are hurt following a fire this afternoon at 960 John St. The fire is believed to have originated in a top floor bedroom of the semi-detached home. District Fire chief David Grant says one of the injured had smoke inhalation trying to put out the fire the other suffered a cut hand breaking a window.  Four people were in the house at the time the blaze broke out.  The cause of the fire was undetermined at the time

Local MPP's the target of attack ads

MPP Michael Gravelle denies accusations he and fellow MPP Bill Mauro are cutting frontline healthcare. The attack ads are aimed at the McGuinty governments' decision to cut professional allowances to pharmacies. Gravelle says the whole story isn't told, saying its about cutting the cost of generic drugs. He calls it a pretty tough battle that's going on, but believes the decision is in the best interests of Ontarians who are paying more than they should for generic drugs.   Gravelle says government grants to the pharmacies will help offset the losses they incur. Meantime, Mauro says he won't comment on the attack campaign.

Report targets suicide prevention

Youth leaders in the city say they are encouraged by a report on preventing youth suicide. The report was compiled after workshops with local high school students. Spokesperson Debbie Sault says the community should pay attention to this report because youth need support from adults, but many adults are terrified of the topic and they won't talk about youth suicide or don't know how to respond. Some of the recommendations in the report include, having more activities available for youth and having more access to professional help.

Thunder Bay's inflation rate drops

Thunder Bay saw a small drop in the inflation rate last month. Our rate was 0.8 percent in March down from February's 1.1. It was the same story nationally where the rate went from 1.6 to 1.4. The core inflation rate saw an even bigger drop from 2.1 to 1.7 last month.