Council Hears Flood Fundraising Update

There's only a couple of months left for the Disaster Relief Committee to raise 5 million dollars.  Chair Wayne Fletcher says they've raised almost 900 thousand dollars so far and they've got a long way to go.  Fletcher says they have to raise 5 million dollars because that's what the community needs to recover after the May 28th flood.  The deadline for fundraising is the end of November.

Virdiramo Talks AMO Conference

The City has hammered out a deal with the Provincial Government to create point people in Thunder Bay to deal with the city's Mining Readiness Plan.
Councillor Joe Virdiramo says seven provincial ministers have appointed designated senior staff members as a point of contact for input and support.
The City made the request at the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa.  The City also asked Minister of Health Deb Matthew to consider matching funding for RegenMed's sustainability plan.

Friendship Centre Program Renewed

A program run through local Native Friendship Centres is being renewed by the Federal Government. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister John Duncan says the Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth program will be offered for another year. The program encourages youth to get involved in cultural development, community engagement and leadership programs. Duncan says the program gives aboriginal youth the skills they need to enter the workforce.

NOSM Classes Start

64 student doctors start classes today at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine at both the Lakehead University Campus and in Sudbury at Laurentian University.  Just under half of those students are here in Thunder Bay earning their 4-year undergraduate degree.  Acting Dean, Dr. Bill McCready says the application process hopes to identify potential future doctors who will remain here in Northern Ontario.

Rib Fest Deemed A Success

Organizers of this year's Rib Fest are simply astonished.   They were hoping for roughly 25-hundred people per day for the three day event being held in the city's downtown Port Arthur site.  But as Donna Lee Morettin says the numbers went far beyond that as 25-thousand people attended the event.  Morettin says Rib Fest will definitely be back for a second year and that the Canadian Diabetes Association benefited the most.

Police Shoot & Kill Bear

Thunder Bay Police were forced to shoot and kill a bear over the weekend.  On Sunday, police were called to the 500 block of McLeod Street to deal with a bear that climbed up a back yard tree.  The bear climbed back down the tree before the Ministry of Natural Resouces was on site and was shot by officers due to public safety concerns.  Constable Julie Tilbury says they've responded to several calls for service to deal with bears in various residential areas within the city limits.  Police are stepping up patrols and will be patrolling pathways in the city where sightings have been noted.

Tornado Touched Down In Raith

Ministry of Natural Resources Fire Crews are looking over the Raith area for downed trees after stormy weather over the weekend. The M.N.R. was moved to look for possible fire risks after a tornado was confirmed in the area on August 24th. So far no damage has been reported.

Report Suggests City Stop Growing Flowers

City lawmakers are being asked to get the city out of the flower growing business to save $100,000. In a report to council tonight, city spokesperson Darrell Matson says administration will recommend the flowers be purchased from a private company instead of being grown at the conservatory.

Forest Firefighters Headed Home

Forest Firefighters are coming back today from British Columbia. All personnel that went to British Columbia on August 19th will be back in Ontario by the end of today. British Columbia has had a chance to recycle their staff and the fire situation has decreased. Typically, FireRangers and other fire response personnel can be out of province on deployment for up to 19 days.