Friday is graduation day at Con College

Over 14-hundred Confederation College students from across the Northwest will be graduating today.  Ceremonies get underway at 9 Friday and again at 2.  The afternoon will be filled with honorary diplomas and the announcement of the Governor General's award.

Shuniah Street residents don't want a bike lane

A petition with almost 200 signatures is going to be presented to Thunder Bay City Council on Monday.  Shuniah Street residents don't want a bike lane placed on their roadway because parking will be impacted.  Active Transportation Coordinator Adam Krupper disagrees saying they've studied the street and noted the parking wasn't always utilized.  He adds the side streets also provide ample parking spaces.

E-bike rights to be discussed Monday

Electric bike owners could soon be cruising the city's bike lanes.  Active Transportation Coordinator Adam Krupper says they think it makes sense to share the lanes with e-bikes since they're too fast for sidewalks, but too slow for regular traffic.  Council will make a decision on the e-bikes at Monday's meeting.

Youth Group speaking at council

Municipal lawmakers will soon hear about how they can help keep youth in the City.  The group will be speaking at Monday's meeting and Chair Colleen Peters says council needs to take action.  Peters says youth are leaving the city because there isn't much to do outside of work hours.  The Youth Group is looking for a councillor to sit on their board.

Hampton talks Ring of Fire

The appointment of Former Energy Minister George Smitherman is not sitting well with NDP Critic Howard Hampton.  Smitherman will try to persuade a U-S company to locate a Ring of Fire ore processor in northwestern Ontario.  The Municipality of Greenstone has hired Smitherman to convince Cliffs Natural Resources to build a chromite processor on the outskirts of Nakina and Aroland First Nation.  However, New Democrat Howard Hampton says Smitherman's record as energy minister may be his biggest hurdle.  Hampton says it was during Smitherman's tenure that electricity rates went through the roof.

Census staff going door to door

Employees with Census Canada have started going door-to-door in Thunder Bay as part of this year's Census.  Those who have not completed the questionnaire, in paper form or on-line, can do so at the door.  All interviewers have an identification card that features their photo and census logo.

Huge pot bust in Oliver Paipoonge

Almost half a million dollars worth of pot is off the streets.  The Combined Forces Organized Crime Unit made the bust yesterday on Spence Street in Oliver Paipoonge and found 47 pounds of marijuana and 170 plants.  A 38 year old man was arrested and is facing several charges.

Horizon says Fort William First Nation Members were given false info

The CEO of Horizon Wind is saying the people of the Fort William First Nation have been misinformed about the proposed Big Thunder Wind Park. Anthony Zwig released a statement following Monday's public meeting on the reservation and says many of the concerns that citizens who spoke at the meeting have need to be corrected. Zwig says he hopes for a chance to give members proper information in the future. Meanwhile, at least one Band Councilor thinks Horizon may deserve a chance to give its side of the story. Georjann Morriseau says if its what the band members want Horizon should come back because they need all the information to make an informed decision. Morriseau says what the company thinks is consulting isn't the same as what band members think.

Ontario Legislature ends day early

Kenora-Rainy River M.P.P. Howard Hampton says he's surprised, but not shocked that the Liberal government cut short the current sitting of the Ontario legislature.  Today was supposed to be the final day of debate at Queen's Park, but Hampton suggests Premier Dalton McGuinty wanted to cut his losses.  Hampton says with the legislature officially adjourned, the provincial election campaign will hit high gear.

People want a Multi-Plex

Most of the people who attended an open house on the proposed Multi-Plex seem to be in favour of building a new facility.  Over 50 people were in attendance at the beginning of the evening.  Debbie Schmanka says the City needs to keep parking in mind when selecting a location.  People seem to be divided on where the facility should be located.  Greg Dubois favours the Innova Business Park.  Another gentleman has his heart set on the Pool six site.   A second open house is being held Thursday at the Italian Cultural Centre.

RegenMed takes the next step

The city's Centre for Regenerative Medicine is in the big leagues now that it has a deal with the Regional Hospital to collect donated human tissue.   RegenMed CEO Bob Thayer says the process is now in place.   He says their recovery teams come into the hospital and recover what they can from a dead donor. Thayer says since the agreement has been signed there has already been one donor.

Port Stats for May

Thunder Bay's Port Authority is seeing a decline in cargo shipments.  The port saw 766-thousand tonnes pass through in May of 2011,with slightly more coming through the year before.  Coal continued to be an area of decline, with grain shipments being the one area that saw an increase.

LU grads get work

Lakehead University's employment rate for the graduating class of 2007 is higher than the provincial average.  The results are from the Ontario University Graduate Survey.  Two years after graduating, 96 percent of LU grads found jobs.  Six months after graduating, 94.8 percent of the grads found work.

Grassy Narrows blockade

For the second year in a row, Grassy Narrows residents have defied a cease and desist order from the Ministry of Natural Resources.  Work is currently being done to repair the Segisse Bridge out of the community, but the MNR threatened to shut down the work because the band did not have a proper work order.  Instead the women of Grassy, who have been involved in a blockade in the community for the past eight years, blocked the passage of MNR enforcement officers. Grassy says the road is used as an alternate route out of the community during forest fires and floods.  The MNR had threatened a 10 thousand dollar fine if the work was not stopped, but community spokesperson Judy De Silva says repairs continued behind the blockade.

Full Day Kindergarten 2013

Full day kindergarten is coming to 6 more local public schools by the 2013-14 school year. Spokesperson Bruce Nugent says the schools are: Crestview, Ecole Gron Morgan, Edgewater, Kakabeka Falls, Nor'Wester View and Valley Central Schools. For the Thunder Bay and District Catholic Board the schools that were in the latest government announcement are: Our Lady of Charity,  St. Anne, St. Bernard, St. Jude, St. Paul, Holy Cross and St. Margaret.

Con College recruiting students

Confederation College is looking to entice more students from northwestern Ontario to consider enrolling in its Trades and Aviation programs.  Recruitment intern Pam Lamba says jobs in those fields are now high in demand.The College is visiting regional high schools over the next two weeks.

Mantis wants to run in Provincial election

An advocate for injured workers is throwing his hat into the provincial election ring.  Steve Mantis has decided to run for the NDP in Thunder Bay Superior North.  Mantis feels employment will be a big provincial election issue.  A date for a nomination meeting has yet to be scheduled.

MNR waterbombers fight bark pile fire

Thunder Bay Fire and Rescue crews continue to work on the Bark Pile blaze at AbitibiBowater.  Officials say the fire which started yesterday evening is now under control.  Two pumper trucks are on scene and are spreading out the remaining bark and spraying with water to prevent flare ups.   The Fire department was called to the blaze around 6 o'clock Tuesday night. The wind blew the thick smoke over much of Westfort. Waterbombers from the Ministry of Natural Resources were used to help douse the blaze

Community steps up for the kids

Thunder Bay's giant heart is coming through with help following the weekend break in at the Boy's and Girl's club. Executive Director Albert Aiello says even some businesses have come through to replace some of the items stolen. That included TBayTel and the Power Centre who donated a 52 inch flat screen TV. As well, Aiello says on Wednesday morning, someone dropped off two brand new 32 inch flat screen TVs

New Shopper's Drug Mart on the way

The building at the corner of Junot Avenue and Red River Road is being demolished to make way for a 19 thousand square foot Shoppers Drug Mart. Also included will be a medical clinic and other retail space.  Expect the store to open in early January.