Thunder Bay dominates NOBA

Thunder Bay dominated the 24th annual Northern Ontario Business Awards.  Cook Engineering won the company of the year award for a business with over fifty employees.  Architect Ahsanul Habib won the Entrepreneur of the Year award and was honored for his work saving heritage buildings in Thunder Bay. Other Lakehead winners include Salt and Pepper Catering, and Casey Howard.

RCMP arrest fugitive in Thunder Bay

A fugitive with Hell's Angels connections is now in custody at the Thunder Bay District Jail.  46 year old Paul Douglas Gallagher was wanted on a Canada wide warrant for parole violation.  RCMP Staff Sgt. Normand Roy says they knew Gallagher was in the city days prior to his arrest. Roy says that Gallagher was arrested on the north side of the city without incident Wednesday.

New ED for NOHFC

There's a new Executive Director at the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.  Bruce Strapp is taking on the job.   Strapp was the CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie economic development commission.  He also worked with Red Lake's economic development corporation.

Wasaya expands fleet

Wasaya Airlines is expanding. The Thunder Bay based First Nations owned company has added a Bombardier Dash 8 to it's fleet. President Tom Morris says that's not where it ends. He says future plans include an additional Dash 8.   The new aircraft will be used to fly Goldcorp workers to it's Musselwhite mine site.

Thunder Bay police not involved in yesterday's drug busts

There were no arrests in Thunder Bay in connection to yesterday's massive drug bust in Quebec.  Police Spokesperson Chris Adams says there was information about a possible person interest here but no-one was arrested.  About 370 officers were involved in the raids yesterday.  One man was killed after being shot by police in Val d'Or.

OPP officer charged with theft

An OPP officer in Geraldton is facing charges.  Police say Constable Brian Bellefeuille has been charged with theft under 5 thousand dollars following an incident while he was off duty.  Bellefeuille has been with the OPP for just over a year and a half and will be in court November 4th.

New ships could soon be sailing the great lakes

The Thunder Bay Port Authority is happy about the removal of an import duty on ships built overseas. CEO Tim Heney says the Federal Government decision will greatly benefit shipping on the Great Lakes because it will make the purchase of new ships feasible.  Heney says the current average age of the fleet is 38 years old and the expected life span of these ships is 40 years old, which means an upgrade is overdue.  The duty was 25 percent and the cost of the new ships is around 45 million dollars.

Pullia calls Hobbs inexperienced

Mayoralty candidate Frank Pullia says Keith Hobbs inexperience in politics is showing. Pullia is critical of his opponent for saying that it's administration that runs city council. Pullia thinks Hobbs is being presumptuous and that he sees what he wants to see. Pullia says he often challenges administration and calls the relationship a balancing act.

McDonald's employees wins scholarship

A local McDonald's restaurant employee is still beaming after receiving a 10 thousand scholarship towards his university education. Tim Schonberger is one of only three employees in the province to get the company scholarship.  Schonberger is taking computer sciences at Lakehead University.

Shoes and Champagne a success

Over 15 thousand dollars was raised at the Habitat for Humanity's first ever Shoes and Champagne fundraiser.  Over 300 people took in the event that auctioned off a number of shoes from celebrities like Jessica Simpson and Mike Weir.

OPP looking for missing woman

OPP in Sioux Lookout are looking for help after a woman apparently drove her car into Bindo Lake.  The underwater search and rescue team has been called in but police are asking anyone who may have seen something in the area to call police.

Few people show up for election forum

There appeared to be more candidates in the audience than interested voters as the Ontario Secondary School Teachers held a election forum Wednesday.   School Trustee hopefuls took part as did at-large and mayoral candidates. 

Local connection to fatal Quebec busts

A man has died during a major police drug bust that has a Thunder Bay connection. Details are expected to be released Thursday on drug busts that took place in Thunder Bay and various regions of Quebec Wednesday. About 370 officers were involved in the raids. Police say the man was fatally shot during the raid in Val d'Or.

LU explains lobbyist

Lakehead University has sent out a press release explaining their use of a lobbyist.  Recent reports from the provincial NDP have stirred up controversy surrounding lobbying efforts by hospitals, schools and cities. Over a five-year period, LU spent around 33 thousand dollars per year to enlist the support of a lobbyist for strategic counsel in building relationships with federal and provincial governments. Lakehead reiterated that it has never used government grants, tuition fees, or donor funds for this purpose. The university says it will fully comply with any future legislation governing this matter.

Minor injuries in accident

No serious injuries to report following a single vehicle accident at the corner of Cumberland and St. James. Police say just before 11 Wednesday morning a car with 4 people inside hit a house. The injuries are considered minor

Gravelle probes Shag controversy

MPP Michael Gravelle says it would be a shame to see an end to Shags in Thunder Bay.   The popular wedding fundraiser is being threatened because of provincial laws regulating raffles.   Gravelle is investigating exactly what the rules are to see if something can be done

WFN Ultimate Fishing Town announced

Port Alberni has been officially declared Canada's Ultimate Fishing Town. The World Fishing Network says the British Columbia community defeated Nestor Falls in its on-line contest that went down to the wire. Nestor Falls does pick up a 5-thousand dollar donation for its efforts. Thunder Bay came in nineth out of ten and won two thousand dollars from Shaw Cable.

Wellness in Far North

Aboriginal youth living in the remote Northern community of Kashechewan will be able to participate in new recreational activities this winter.  2-new youth wellness workers have been hired to develop programming.  The workers will promote leadership skills, self esteem and physical activity among Aboriginal youth on the reserve.  Ontario and Kashechewan joined together in this initiative after calls came from the community to provide intervention and prevention programs to support youth in crisis.

Former Border Cat signed by Red Sox

A former Thunder Bay Border Cat has been signed by the Boston Red Sox.  Matty Johnson's contract with the Gateway Grizzlies was purchased by the Red Sox.  Johnson joined the Border Cats midway through the 2009 season.

Faye Peterson house weighs in on wage increase bill

The Faye Peterson Transition house is concerned about the provincial government's recent passage of a bill.  Bill 16 prevents Child Welfare agencies, hospitals, boards of Education and violence against women groups from granting wage increases to their employees until April of 2012.  Faye Peterson's Executive Director Debbie Zweeb says if they're unable to attract educated and experienced staff with salary increases, it will put their clients at risk.