Festive RIDE program set to begin

The police will be starting their Festive Ride program soon. Scott Smith of the city police says there will be scores of officers who will be out stopping vehicles starting December first.   It will be dedicated staff from  the city police, OPP, RCMP and the Anishinabek Police. New drunk driving laws mean the vehicle you are driving could be impounded.

Creative writing award for Thunder Bay youth

Several Northwestern Ontario first nation youth are being honoured for their writing.  Vanessa Trimble from Bearskin Lake, Erik Fiddler from Sandy Lake, and Thunder Bay's Nakita Guillet all received the James Barleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing award.

Mauro wants snow tire rebate

Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro wants more Northerners to use snow tires.  He's calling on insurance companies to offer a rebate for those motorists who pay extra for the heavy duty tires.  Mauro says a snow tire rebate is win win for both drivers and insurance companies since people will be safer on the road and there will be less claims.  Mauro introduced a motion in the Ontario Legislature on Thursday.

Wildlands league likes new route

The Wildlands League is happy with a transmission line route in Northwestern Ontario. The route will be ran along side exsisting roads in the Dryden and Ignace area. Spokesperson Anna Baggio says the new route won't hurt the boreal forest habitat, caribou, or waterways.  The re-routing of the transmission line to Pickel Lake was part of the McGuinty Government's "long term energy plan." The transmission line will provide electricity connections north of Pickle Lake.

Bell Canada Under Attack

Bell Canada is being accused of failing its First Nation customers.  The Union of Ontario Indians says its members have had a hard time getting their PST refunds.  Spokesperson Maurice Switzer says some people have had to wait on the phone for over 4 hours.  Others have reported that the customer service agents knew nothing about the pst exemption situation.  All phone, cable and satelite bills were expected to be PST free as of two months ago.

Students help the needy for Christmas

The students at St. Bernard's elementary school are helping needy children and their families. They're donating items for Dilico Family Services. This is the second year of the program.

A flash freeze is coming our way

Its going to go from bad to worse for road conditions today.  Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says a flash freeze warning is in effect.  He says temperatures will drop to minus 10 this afternoon which will freeze the wet slushy conditions we have right now. Coulson says the cloudy wet weather will move out of the area tomorrow but return again for the beginning of next week.

Student Transportation Services explains bus cancellations

Slippery conditions gave many students in the area another day off of school today.  Dave Carroll of Student Transportation Services says he and a collection of bus operators decided conditions were too dangerous this morning.  Carroll says wet weather and below zero temperatures often make driving difficult this time of year.

ONWA explores violence issues

Aboriginal women remain vulnerable to violence according to a local activist. Lorene Rego has organized a day of information to educate people on the issue. She wants to keep it top of mind adding that violence against Aboriginal is pervasive and in most cases it ends tragically.  They are also the most at risk group in Canada on issues relating to violence.  The day of information is being put on by the Ontario Native Women's Association

Another Snow day for Rural Students

For the second time this week rural students will have a snow day.  Kakabeka Falls, Gorham and Ware, Valley Central, Nor'Westerview, Whitefish Valley, McKenzie, Five Mile and Crestview schools along with Thunder Bay Christian School are all closed today.  As well all city and rural school buses have been canceled.

Contraband booze seized

Almost 6 thousand dollars worth of alcohol bound for a northern First Nations community, is out of circulation.  Police along with security at the Deer Lake Airport seized numerous bottles of vodka this week. Alcohol is not allowed in the community located about 700 km northwest of Thunder Bay. 

Evans to discuss curfew proposal with colleagues

The idea of a youth curfew in Thunder Bay is getting the attention of city Lawyer Rosalie Evans. Mayor-elect Keith Hobbs is floating the proposal. Evans says she plans to find out how other municipalities handle the issue when she meets with municipal lawyers in Toronto.  That gathering takes place a week from this Friday.

LU Prof awarded Research Chair

Lakehead University's research efforts continue to rewarded.  This time it's through a Canada Research Chair in Environmental Education for Dr. David Greenwood.  Greenwood is one of 8 LU Professors to be awarded a Canada Research Chair.

Johnson says curfew idea has merit

Mayor-elect Keith Hobbs may have at least one councillor on his side that's in favour of a youth curfew. Hobbs says he'd like to see a midnight curfew for those under 16. Councillor Rebecca Johnson says the idea has merit and is worth discussing.   Johnson says in the past police have said curfew would be too hard to enforce

TRC hearings underway

The healing is starting for those taking part in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission hearing in the city. About 20 native residential school survivors are expected to tell their story according Sam Achneepineskum of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.   He says it takes about 2 or 3 hours for one person to give their statement,  meaning that about 7 people are heard in a day.  All statements are videotaped.  The Commission is here until Friday.

More snow to fall

Thunder Bay could see anywhere from 10 to 20 centimeters of snow in the next two days.  Meterologist Bill Laidlaw says it's a slow moving low pressure system.  Laidlaw adds the snow falling will be wet and heavy.  The snow is expected to stop by Friday.

Bill Mauro weighs in on opposition

Everybody's a critic.  That's the thought of the Liberal Government when it comes to their long term energy plan.  Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says it's time to put up or shut up.  Mauro says it's easy to knock a party's plan without providing your own ideas.

Angus cool on curfew idea

If our mayor-elect is looking for support for a curfew for city youth,  he won't get it from Councillor Iain Angus. Keith Hobbs says he supports a midnight curfew for kids under 16. Councillor Angus says the new Crime Prevention Council should be allowed to get it's work done.   He calls the idea premature and that it's not right to do an "end around " on the process.

The future is now at the Health Sciences Centre

A ground breaking medical procedure is now available in Thunder Bay. The Health Science Centre is partnering with Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto to offer ultrasound surgery. Vice President Michael Power says the clinical trial doesn't require any cutting.  Power says eventually he hopes the procedure can be used to remove tumors in hard to reach areas like the brain or liver.

Jimi the dog's court date postponed

 Jimi the dog will get to have Christmas with his family.  His fate will be decided in court in two months time on January 26th.  Lawyer Francis Thatcher says Jimi's owners purchased him from the Thunder Bay Humane Society in 2007 and are now facing accusations that he's a pitbull. Fletcher adds the court will look into whether or not an attack took place between the two dogs and if Jimi's DNA shows he's a pitbull. Jimi supporters gathered outside the court house this morning.  Lawrence Hurd says they're pleased with today's decision.  Jimi's owners have been ordered to keep him muzzled.