Pepe Sees Hope In Early Tourism Numbers

The city's tourism manager is hoping some early numbers will bode well for the summer season.   Paul Pepe says visits are up 12 per cent from last year at the Terry Fox Lookout something he is cautiously hoping will translate into an increase in overall local tourism. Meantime Pepe says there will be a push to get more Americans to visit the city.

Feds Fund Applicants In E.A. Process

Federal funding is now available for individuals and groups interested in taking part in the environmental assessment for the Griffith Iron Ore project in Ear Falls. Applications must be submitted by August 1st. Northern Iron is proposing the redevelopment of the former Griffith Mine. The project would produce roughly 16-thousand tonnes of ore per day, with a mine life of some 20-years.

Private College Leaving The City

Everest College is pulling the plug on Thunder Bay.   Officials with the private school say they are no longer enrolling new students here.  Any existing students will get to complete their courses, but as of October of next year the school will be looking at the city in the rear view mirror.    Officials, who refused our request for an interview,  say they just weren't making money off the Cumberland Street operation.  

Police Nab Wanted Man

A 45 year old Calgary  man is cooling his heels in a Thunder Bay jail after a report of a dangerous driver on the Trans Canada Highway yesterday.  Police say they had stories of a driver in a white pick up truck speeding, driving people off the road and causing collisions in the Kakabeka Falls area.   They caught up with the driver west of Finmark Road trying to retrieve his vehicle from the ditch. They say alcohol was involved.   Turns out he's also wanted by police in Alberta.   

Athletes Taking Part In Summer Games

Thunder Bay's Special Olympic's program is being celebrated.  The President of Special Olympics Ontario was in the City today to praise the local force for raising over 50 thousand dollars for their organization.  Chief JP Levesque says its another feather in the police force's hat.  Money raised locally is going to send over 20 Thunder Bay Special Olympic athletes to the 2013 summer games in Southern Ontario.

Door To Door Fire Education Program

Thunder Bay's Fire Service is starting it's door-to-door smoke alarm education program this week.   Spokesperson Anthony Stokaluk says they'll go to homes and emphasize the importance of having a working smoke alarm on every storey of a residence. According to the local fire service you should be checking your smoke alarms on a monthly basis.

MNR Evaluating Training After Tragedy

The Ministry of Natural Resources is working to prevent a situation similar to the one in Arizona.  19-firefighters were killed battling an erratic blaze northwest of Phoenix.  MNR Spokesperson  Al Tithecott says they take firefighter safety very seriously.  Tithecott says they also have to look at shifts in fire behaviour.

Voluntary Self ID Program Starts In The Fall

Thunder Bay Public School staff are going to be asked to voluntarily identify if they are of First Nation or Metis background.  It's part of a larger program that also sees students volunteer that information.  Spokesperson Nicole Walter Rowan says it should start in September.  Walter Rowan notes the move will help foster cultural sensitivity and knowledge.

Cup Here Likely In August

 Expect to see the Stanley Cup in Thunder Bay sometime next month.  Patrick Sharp of the NHL champion Chicago Blackhawks says organizers are working at putting together plans for another community celebration centred around the cup. He says an exact date is still up in the air.   In an exclusive interview with our newsroom Sharp says winning the cup again was an amazing experience, even the second time around.
Sharp says he's looking forward to sharing the cup with those people who helped him get there.

Local Volunteers Help In Western Canada

Thunder Bay Red Cross volunteers are in Western Canada helping out with flood relief efforts.   Spokesperson David Wright says two volunteers and a staff member were deployed on the weekend to lend their experience to those in Saskatchewan and Alberta who have been hit hardest by the recent weather events.  Wright says the three will be there for a week to 10 days.

Police Arrest Robbery Suspect

Thunder Bay police say they have a 37 year old man in custody following two robberies last week.   The first was the Mac's Convenience Store  on Oliver Road, the other was the knifepoint robbery of a man near a credit union ATM on Syndicate Avenue.  Police also believe the man may be connected to a recent Canadian Tire store theft.

Target Announcement This Week

We should know very soon when the new Thunder Bay Target store will open.    A company spokesperson says they are performing the final inspections to make sure the Intercity Mall store is ready and will announce the opening date later this week.

Simpson Street Mac's Robbery

Thunder Bay Police are looking for a man they say is responsible for a robbery at the Mac's Convenience Store on Simpson Street.  Early this morning a man entered the store and threatened the employee with a needle.  He got away with money and the employee was not hurt.  The suspect is described as 25 years old, 5'11, weighing 180 pounds.  The man was last seen running southbound on McKenzie Street.

Air Canada Flight Diverted

Officials are playing down an incident on Sunday involving the unscheduled landing of an Air Canada Embraer jet.   Airport manager Scott McFadden says it began when a cargo warning light went off on the plane.   McFadden says it turned out to be a false alarm and the plane went on its way.

Iacobucci New Ontario ROF Negotiator

Ontario's lead negotiator for the Ring of Fire is former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Frank Iacobucci.  He'll report directly to Minister of Northern Development Michael Gravelle and will represent the province in negotiations with the Matawa Chiefs Council.  Iacobucci will be negotiating with Matawa Chiefs negotiator Bob Rae.

The Exchange Out In The Fall

A former Thunder Bay resident is set to release his first book in the fall.  In the book, Dave Mossman claims was locked in a room with only bread and water to eat when he was an exchange student in Belgium. Mossman says he noticed things were off upon arriving in the foreign country.  Mossman says he's working on getting the book to be sold in local stores.

City Lawyer Preparing For Inquest

The City's representative says they've been granted permission to take part in an inquest into the deaths of seven aboriginal youth in Thunder Bay.  Lawyer Stephen Wojciechowski says they've got some time to prepare before the inquest is held.  Other groups who received permission from Coroner Dr. David Eden include the Nishnawbe Aski Nation and the Police Services Board.

Picton Park Getting Makeover

It's going to be quite a week for residents of the Picton Park neighbourhood.  Their park is going to get a makeover thanks to the TV show "Giver".   Werner Schwar of the City of Thunder Bay says volunteers will take part as well.   The makeover will take place starting Thursday with the official grand opening on Saturday.

Beaches Looking Good

Thunder Bay's Health Unit is reminding swimmers to check the water quality at local beaches before they take a dip.  Beaches officially opened on Friday and Health Inspector Abby Mackie says you should keep an eye out for signage.  Recent tests have shown the water quality to be good for swimming.

Hwy 11 Open

Thunder Bay OPP are reporting that both lanes of Highway 11 are now open after a 3 vehicle collision early this morning.  The collision happened 30 km east of Atikokan at Sapawe.  Police say some of the people involved in the collision are injured.