More uses approved for Red River Road building

There will be some added uses for the old Safeway store at the corner of Red River Road at Clarkson Avenue.   Councillors have voted to include the uses of a community clinic and a mini-warehouse.   One of the concerns raised was whether there would be a methadone clinic located at the site.   Mark Smith the General Manager of Development Service says while there is nothing that the city can do to prevent such a clinic from operating, it's his understanding that the applicant has no intention of setting one up.  Pictured:   Officials with Red River Square state their case before councillors.

Forest industry finds an ally in NOMA

The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association is going to bat for the Ontario forest industry.  It's started an effort to exempt the industry from more red tape under the Endangered Species Act.   NOMA President Anne Krassilowsky says that forest companies are already required to file to identify threatened and endangered species when they prepare a Forest Management Plan.   NOMA has launched an email writing campaign to lobby the government on the issue.

Forest fire season heats up

Be careful with your outdoor fires this May long weekend.
Ministry of Natural Resources Information Officer Mitch Miller is urging the public to take caution when burning outdoors because of the hot dry conditions.
5 forest fires were reported in the Northwest Region over the weekend.

Local health coalition ponders report

The local chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition is still reviewing the finer points of a report on rural and northern hospitals.
The Ontario Health Coalition penned the document that deals with health services.
Thunder Bay Health Coalition Co-Chair Barb Maki says they want to ensure all health services in the region stay intact.
Maki says the local health coalition will keep an eye out for any possible service cuts to emergency departments or other areas of care.

Global Sticks open in July

The manager of Global Sticks is hoping to have the company's Thunder Bay operations up and running by July.  It will make sticks for ice cream bars, corn dogs and paint stirring paddles.  Earl Metcalf says they look forward to hiring up to 100 staff.  Metcalf adds they're in the process of ordering the equipment and building the plant.

Etienne wows 'em at the Gardens

School students in Thunder Bay are still buzzing about a performance Monday by a popular children's entertainer. Steven Langlois, who goes by the stage name Etienne, sang his eduational french songs to about 4 thousand students at the Fort William Gardens. He says the concert was as wonderful as he imagined it to be. Langlois says students respond well to his energy and motivation. There is video on our news website.

OPP arrest impaired drivers

A 35 year old woman is facing impaired charges after being arrested over the weekend. OPP pulled her over on the Expressway Saturday after noticing her driving erratically. Officers say her blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit and was driving with her 9 year old child. The next day officers arrested a 30 year old man at a RIDE checkpoint for being impaired.

Fire training course on council agenda

At City Hall Monday, councillors get to discuss a fire training program for Confederation College.  If approved the Thunder Bay Fire Service will be partnering with the Ontario Fire Marshal and the Association of Fire Chiefs to establish a fire training course at the college. It would be a one year course modelled after ones offered at 12 colleges in southern Ontario. Also tonight an application is being made to change the zoning for Red River Square at Red River Road and Clarkson. The purpose is for a mini warehouse and community clinic at that location

Bike rodeo teaches safety

The city police Bike Rodeo is all set to go. It takes place Saturday, June 19th at the Community Auditorium parking lot. Organizer, Detective Constable Tammy Reynolds,  says the purpose is to teach kids bike safety and to promote the Kids 'n Cops website.   Registration is limited to 300 participants and  forms are available at kidsncopsca.

Food Buddies inspires students

Students in the Foods and Nutrition class at Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute are making friends with the elementary students from Vance Chapman School. It's all part of a program called Food Buddies. Family Studies teacher Nancy White is proud of the program. She says the purpose is to educate and inspire the young students about making healthy eating choices. The program was inspired by the reality TV show Food Revolution. Pictured: Foods and Nutrition student Abaigeal Clark watchesVance Chapman students during the Food Buddies program

Program improves early reading skills

The Catholic School Board is pretty pumped about a new program that's helped grades 1 to 3 students with their early reading skills. Board spokesperson Joan Powell says the PALS program was introduced this school year and has gone beyond expectations. She is thrilled at the magnitude of the results and how all students, including those considered "at risk", are succeeding. Powell says that they're expanding the program next year to include math.

Skateboarding safety promoted

The District Health Unit and the Skateboard Coalition are teaming up to promote safety. Marita Campbell of the Health Unit says the campaign will focus on the young people who use the Marina Skate Plaza. She says the Coalition told her that they were concerned that a lot of young people were trying tricks beyond their abilities, not learning the basics first and not wearing appropriate gear. Campbell says the promotion will include posters and a parents guide to safer skateboarding

Neebing fire crews move back to home station

It took over 3 months but the Neebing fire crew is back in their home but for how long that will be is still up in the air. Firefighters were forced out of the station February 10th, after mould was discovered at the facility. Deputy Fire Chief Greg Hankkio says the living quarters and offices were gutted to remove the mould so there is a lot of work needed before crews can move back into the station. For now crews are being housed in an onsite trailer next to the facility. Hankkio says a consultant will be used to see if its worth renovating the station or finding a new permanent home.

Provincial parks are open for business

If you're looking for something to do this weekend why not go camping. Most of the provinces parks are open for business starting this weekend. There will also be an alcohol ban for the next 44 days.

Jared joins Eric in Carolina

Eric Staal will be spending some more time with family and he'll be able to do it in Carolina. The Hurricanes have aquired his younger brother Jared from the Phoenix Coyotes for a 5th round draft pick. Jared was chosen 49th overall in 2008 and has yet to play an NHL game.

Atleo wants leaders to attend Treaty 5 ceremonies

Canada's top native leader says government leaders must attend the upcoming Treaty 5 celebrations in Northwestern Ontario. Speaking in Thunder Bay, Shawn Atleo the Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, says it would show a respect for past actions. He says that's critical because the Crown is the treaty partner and needs to take full responsibility for those errors, but it has yet to happen. So far no government officials have indicated they will be attending the ceremonies.

LRCA upgrades low water warning

We may have received a lot of rain, but the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority says drought conditions in the area are getting worse.  For that reason the organization has upgraded its low water condition warning from Level 1 to Level 2. The LRCA says that means that the overall precipitation hasn't been enough to ease water supply problems especially for those who rely on wells for their drinking water.

Fonteece escapes jail time for wife's suicide

A Waterloo man is not going to jail for his wife's suicide in Thunder Bay. 48 year old Peter Fonteece pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death in connection with the incident in a city motel room in February of last year.  The court was told his wife Yanisa took 40 sleeping pills and asked Peter not to interfere.   He then tried numerous times to take his own life but failed.   Fonteece says he's pleased he didn't get anymore time in jail than what he has already served.   He adds he's grateful for the understanding of Madam Justice Helen Pierce.  She called the case unique in Canadian law.  Fonteece will be on probation for a year and must stay in the care of The John Howard Society.

Hundreds turn out for Dunnill funeral

Father Michael Dunnill has said his final farewell. The Thunder Bay Police Service Chaplain was given a full police funeral Thursday complete with an honour guard at St. Paul's Anglican Church. Hundreds of people turned out to pay their last respects to the man who served as Chaplain since 1988. He died on the weekend at the age of 77.

Get ready for some rain

If you're still hoping to see some more rain you're in luck. Environment Canada's Peter Kimble says a low pressure system could drop as much as 20-30 millimetres of rain on the area by tomorrow morning. Kimble says it will cool off tonight, dropping to 3 degrees but will rebound to 20 for the weekend.

Collision closes a portion of the expressway

A portion of the expressway was closed for a few hours this morning after a transport truck collided with an SUV. OPP Constable Diana Cole says it happened at around 7:30 when the SUV crossed the centre line and collided with the truck. The drivers were taken to the hospital with non life threatening injuries. The investigation continues.

Paras steps away from NOSTA

There is one less member on the board for the North of Superior Tourism Assocation. Lori Paras has announced she is resigning from NOSTA. Lately the board has been plagued by infighting among its members over who is legally on the board and who is not. This appears to be the reason Paras has stepped down.

LU and Con College collaborate

Students of a science program at Lakehead University are benefiting from a new agreement with Confederation College. LU President Fred Gilbert says students in the water management program get to use resources at the College. He calls it the future of post secondary education and says for too long most Universities and Colleges have operated in their own world. Gilbert says he'd like to think both insitutions in the city are trend setters. College President Pat Lang says the program creates job opportunities for students in Northwestern Ontario.

Tuchenhagen will not seek re-election

There's no turning back for Councillor Robert Tuchenhagen. He has decided not to run for another term as McKellar Ward representative. Tuchenhagen says he's had enough of the antics of some of his fellow councillors who he says help to drag meetings on much too long. He says multi million dollar decisions are being made at 1 and 2 o'clock in the morning which isn't right. Tuchenhagen will try to bring about changes to help shorten meetings as one of his last acts as councillor

Local student vies for spot at the G8 and g20

A Thunder Bay student has a chance to become a part of history. Melissa Courte is one of 100 finalists who have the opportunity to be a student rep for their province at the G-8 and G-20 conferences in southern Ontario next month. The LU political science students calls it an honour just to be a finalist. The preliminary gathering of the group takes place this weekend in Ottawa.

Cabbies welcome news of arrest

There is relief among cab drivers in Thunder Bay. News that a suspect has been arrested in connection with a string of taxi cab robberies is welcome news to cabbies. For Dianne Sheparski it's a week she never wants to re-live.   She says everyone was concerned their lives were in danger not knowing what would happen next.  Sheparski says the robberies caused her to have many sleepless nights.

Students stand up against racism

Students at Hammarskjold High School are standing up for racial equality. They organized an anti-racism day. Jesalynn Beebe spearheaded the event because she's sick of racist attitudes saying she has seen so much racism in the school and the community that she felt someone had to stand up and do something about it. As part of the event students stamped painted images of their hands on a large mural.

Councillor lives like a paraplegic for a day

A number of city leaders now know what it's like to live as a paraplegic would. They volunteered to live in a wheelchair for a day. For Councillor Rebecca Johnson it was an eye opener. She has a better handle on what obstacles people in a wheelchair have to face everyday from getting through doors to getting in a taxi. Johnson admits that even some parts of City Hall can be difficult for the disabled.

Host says take stock and stay out of "debt hell"

The host of a reality TV show says many of us are heading for "debt hell". Gail Vaz Ox-lade of Till Debt Do Us Part says since she started the program she has been amazed at how many people aren't aware of how much money they spend or what they're spending it on. She says it's important to take stock of where your finances are going if you're concerned you're going over your head in debt. Vaz Ox-lade was in Thunder Bay to be the featured speaker at a woman's conference on money.

Robbery suspect arrested

City Police have a suspect in custody in connection with the recent rash of taxi driver robberies. They say he was arrested yesterday evening. Over the last two weeks three Roach's taxi cabs were stolen in armed robberies. In all cases the driver was not hurt. Charged is Paul Joseph Vukmanich of Thunder Bay. The 23 year old is facing a number of charges and will be in court today.

Paramedics vote to accept new contract

There is labour peace among local paramedics. The 90 employees of Superior North EMS have voted to accept a new two year contract with their employer. The deal will see them get a wage increase of 3 per cent over the life of the contract. There are also improvements to some benefits. They are members of the Canadian Auto Workers Union.

Pharmacists continue attacks on local MPPs

Thunder Bay MPPs Bill Mauro and Michael Gravelle continue to be the targets of a campaign by Ontario pharmacists. It's the latest salvo in the war over so called professional allowances. Donnie Edwards,  of the Community Pharmacies Coalition,  says a poll shows the local MPPs are in danger of losing their seats over the issue.  He says the Angus Reid poll in both the Thunder Bay-Superior North and Thunder Bay-Atikokan ridings indicates that roughly two thirds of those surveyed say that failure to speak out on the issue will negatively impact their chances of being returned to Queens Park in the next provincial election. 

Cats sign local pitcher

Thunder Bay's Eric Brown gets to pitch in front of his family and friends this year at Port Arthur Stadium. The Border Cats say they have signed the local righthander for the 2010 Northwoods League season. As well the club has signed three other Canadian pitchers in Corey Pappel, Paul Barton and Nathan Kennedy.

Motorists ignoring Expressway speed limit

OPP say drivers are still having problems obeying the posted speed limit on the Thunder Bay Expressway during construction periods. Constable Diana Cole says many are speeding when there are workers present. She says motorists have to be aware of when the limit is 70 kilometres per hour and reduce their speed. Cole says fines are doubled if you're caught speeding through an area under construction.

Fatal accident kills one man

OPP are investigating a fatal accident on the Trans Canada Highway at Kenora. They say that a tractor trailor unit drove off the road, crashed and caught fire. The 47 year old man driving the truck was killed. He was from Cardinal in Southern Ontario.  Police say the accident took place early this morning. There is no indication why the truck veered off the highway.

Cabbies on edge after third robbery

There are nervous cab drivers in the city. For the third time in two weeks a Roach's Taxi driver has become the victim of an armed robbery. In all three cases the taxi was stolen, but the driver wasn't hurt. Roach's owner Dennis LeBeau thinks the robberies may be isolated and hopes police can get those responsible off the street.  He says the drivers have come up with ideas they hope can be implimented to help prevent future occurances.

John Howard Society in its new home

The local John Howard Society is celebrating the opening of it's new location. The new digs are located at 315 Syndicate Avenue. Executive Director Liisa Leskowski calls it a dream come true for the organization that provides a transition for those who come out of the justice system. She says it marks a new era for not just the residents but for the Society as a whole. They were forced out of the former location, the old YMCA, when the Archibald Street building was demolished to make way for the new courthouse.

Another cab is stolen in the city

For the third time in two weeks a city cab has been stolen. The driver picked up two men at a bar on Cumberland street last night and took them to Waverly Park. Once there police say the men demanded money, and the driver and the men got out of the cab. The men then stabbed one of the cab's tires. The two men then drove away with the cab which was found shortly after on Pearl Street.

Housing starts hold steady in April

New housing starts in Thunder Bay continue to hold steady. April saw 5 single detached starts down one from 2009. So far this year there has been 18 starts in the city which is up one over the same period last year.

River Terrace expansion approved

The River Terrace Development expansion is a done deal.  City councillors have voted to say yes to the growth of the subdivision inspite of the objection of the current residents. In a last minute effort to derail the project Councillor Brian McKinnon tried to have fellow councillors support an amendment which would have set up roadblocks for the developer, but it was soundly defeated.

Sidewalk and lighting contract a go

Almost one million dollars worth of sidewalk and lighting improvements  will be going ahead as planned.  A group of residents in the High and Parsons Street area held up approval of the contract for one week.  They didn't want a planned sidewalk being laid on the west side of  High Street.   However councillors voted to award the contract to Bay City Contractors which includes the High Street development.  Pictured:  City Engineering Manager Pat Mauro answers questions about sidewalk contract.

Taiji Park gets key city funding support

The proposed International Taiji Park on the city waterfront is one step closer to reality.   It comes after city councillors have voted to provide the group spearheading the  project close to 100 thousand dollars.   The total cost is pegged as about 200 thousand dollars.   The group has already raised 40 thousand on it's own and is hoping council's approval will help get extra funding from the provincial government.

St. Joe's working to solve detox problem

Talks are going on behind the scenes to get more beds at the Balmoral Detox Centre.   There has been a cry from Police Chief Bob Herman for more beds to help solve a shortage which he says hinders police on a regular basis.   In a presentation to city councillors St. Joseph's Care Group president and CEO Tracy Buckler said that  increasing capacity is always a challenge because it requires funding.  She says there have been some early discussions with the police and the city to see what can be done to make that happen.

City wants to go Age-Friendly

The city has voted to take the first step to become part of a new world movement. In a presentation to city councillors Monday evening a committee made the request to have the city declared an Age Friendly City. They say that because we are considered a city that is aging rapidly, it would be logical to make the declaration. It would create a policy environment that would cater to that segment of the population and ensure the city is a good place to grow old. The issue will be back to council May 31st for a final vote. Pictured: Ray Riley and Mary Kelly of the Age-Friendly-Thunder Bay Stakeholders Committee make their pitch to councillors.

CAW makes it's case

Ben Lefebvre and Paul Pugh of the Canadian Auto Workers Union state their case to city councillors in Thunder Bay Monday night. They pleaded for council's support in protesting the decision by Xtrata to close it's ore smelter in Timmins. Lefebvre says the decision is costing hundreds of jobs and eliminating a value added operation.

Protesters greet councillors

The River Terrace battle isn't dead yet. A handful of protesters with signs and slogans camped out in front of City Hall before Monday's city council meeting. They are against plans by a developer to expand the River Terrace Development next to the Regional Health Sciences Centre. In this photo protester Tom Molkoski sports a t-shirt that says "My Thunder Bay cares about the earth."

Bad medicine, city rockers won't open for Bon Jovi

A Thunder Bay band is disappointed it will not get to open for Bon Jovi in Winnipeg. Money Honey was in first place after internet voting but guitarist Michael Kondakow says in the end it didn't mean that much. The band thought that because they finished first that they would be the winner, but that wasn't the case. Kondakow feels that it only confused a lot of people. He believes it was Bon Jovi that had the final say on the winning entry.

Safeway stores take recalled meat off shelves

The latest concerns over recalled meats has affected Safeway stores in Thunder Bay. It's a voluntary recall by a company that makes a variety of pre-packaged Italian meat products. Safeway took them off the shelf Monday morning because of Listeria concerns. The Thunder Bay Health Units Christopher Beveridge says they are aware of the recall and that all inspectors have been alerted to it and will make special checks during their rounds. A list of the recalled meats can be found here.

Police Chaplain passes away

The Thunder Bay Police Service is without one of it's long standing members. Father Michael Dunnill died on the weekend at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, he was 77. Father Dunnill served as the police Chaplain since 1988. Police Chief Bob Herman says Dunnill's death leave a deep sense of loss in the organization. His funeral will take place at St. Paul's Anglican Church on Ridgeway Street, Thursday morning at 11.

Woman dies in Atikokan house fire

One woman is dead following a weekend house fire in Atikokan. 31-year-old Amy Rachel Lee was inside a home that caught fire Saturday morning around 7:30.  An unidentified man was taken to Atikokan hospital and later transported to Winnipeg in serious condition. Atikokan Fire Department was on scene for nearly five hours before fire fighters were able to contain the blaze. The Ontario Fire Marshall's office and OPP are investigating it's cause.

Library unveils new look

The Thunder Bay Public Library is launching a new look. Along with the new logo goes a new attitude according to Chief Librarian Gina La Force. She says it will mean revamping everything from library cards to library letterhead and website. La Force is hoping the new look will attract new members who may think they know what the library is about but dismiss it as the world of yesterday, when in fact it's quite a modern and tech savvy organization. The new logo was designed by Generator Advertising. The cost of the change was 21 thousand dollars

Two dead after shooting in Whitefish Bay

Two people are dead after an incident on the Whitefish Bay First Nation. The OPP says officers responded after shots were fired in a house yesterday morning. When they arrived a 39 year old man was shot during a confrontation. The man was taken to hospital where he died. The SIU was called in to investigate the shooting and the OPP are also investigating after finding a body inside the house.