Cancer Care Northwest sees improvements

Cancer Care Northwest has made improvements to its colorectal cancer programs.  That's one of the areas they saw improvements in a province wide cancer index.  Vice President Michael Power says even though they did well they will continue to work towards improvement.  Survival for colorectal cancer increased from 51.9 percent to 62.6 percent.  The screening rates for that cancer are below the provincial average and came in at 26 percent.

Rafferty expects no budget surprises

The Conservative Majority Government will deliver a post election budget on June 6th. Thunder Bay Rainy River MP John Rafferty says he expects the same sort of budget that was introduced before the election which included billions of dollars in cuts.    Rafferty also expects the Harper government to begin the process of axing of party subsidies.  He calls that an infringement on democracy.

Province helps area First Nation

Long Lake First Nation is set to build a new multi-purpose centre thanks to a million dollars from the Provincial Government.  The centre is expected to open its doors in December.

Fish Study Conducted in Nipigon

The health of area lakes and fish populations will be determined this summer as the Ontario Government prepares for a water monitoring exercise.  Fisheries staff will conduct surveys on 8-lakes in Sioux Lookout, Nipigon and north of Red Lake.  Officials stress that all nets will be clearly marked and ask that recreational activities around the buoys be avoided.  Information gathered will help in setting season and size limits for anglers. The surveys will also help staff check for invasive species.

Forest Fires in the Northwest

It was a fairly quiet weekend in terms of forest fire activity in northwestern Ontario, with just a couple of new blazes reported in the region.  But one fire in particular kept MNR crews hopping.  Fire Information officer Debbie McLeans says the fire broke out late last week in Wabakimi provincial park. On Saturday, the tiny community of Allanwater along the CN main line had to be evacuated.  By Sunday evening, the residents were allowed to return to their home.

Fort Frances Fatality

A Morley Township man has been identified as the victim of a collision involving a vehicle and a train near Fort Frances last Friday night.  92-year-old Donald Robert Bolen was killed in the mishap that occurred at a CN Rail crossing on Highway 617 in Stratton.  Both OPP and CN Rail Police have determined the red lights at the crossing were flashing and operating property at the time.  A post mortem examination is taking place in Kenora at the Lake of the Woods District Hospital.

Drowning on Lake of the Woods

One person is dead and another is still missing following a fishing expedition on Lake of the Woods.  The OPP say they were contacted Monday night about two overdue anglers near Morson.  The OPP's Marine Unit was dispatched to the scene, and officers managed to locate the body of one of the men on shore. His boat was located a short distance away and had capsized.  The Northwest Emergency Response Unit is continuing to search the shoreline for the other missing man. The OPP's Underwater Search and Recovery Unit is expected to be on the scene later today.

Quality Market supports local charities

Quality Market has donated 11 thousand dollars to three local charities.  Every time a customer opted against using a plastic bag the company made a ten cent donation to the charities.  Shelter House, Habitat for Humanity, and An Eagles Cry Life Centre are sharing the cash.

Alzheimer Society awards research grant

A Lakehead University student is the winner of a local research grant from the Alzheimer Society.  Stephanie Hendrickson will be using a thousand dollars to improve communication between support workers and patients about death.

LeBlanc to run for PC's

Thunder Bay Superior North has a Progressive Conservative Candidate for the upcoming provincial election.  Ice Edge Holding CEO Anthony LeBlanc has been acclaimed as the candidate for the PC's.

Fire ruled accidental.

The Monday afternoon house fire at 26 Banning Street is being treated as accidental.  Fire officials say it appears an electrical problem was the cause of the blaze.  No one was injured in the fire which caused extensive damage to the one and a half story home.

Video shows reality of city life

Thunder Bay Police are pumped about an educational video being shown to First Nations students in the north.  Spokesperson Chris Adams says it shows students moving to Thunder Bay the realities of adjusting to city life.  Adams says the video is being received well in the communities it's been shown.

NAN's Waboose calls for Fed support

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada is being called on to provide a support system to aboriginal teens attending school in Thunder Bay. Deputy Grand Chief Terry Waboose says more needs to be done to help accommodate the teens living in a new city.  Waboose spoke about the issue at NAN's annual education awareness week.

Local man dies in Pennsylvania

A helicopter crash 3 weeks ago in Pennsylvania has resulted in the death of a Thunder Bay man.  Reports say that 33 year old Greg Jacobsen died of respiratory failure following the injuries he received in the accident.  He was part of a film crew working on a reality TV show.

Train accident claims victim

A  Fort Frances area man has been identified as the victim of a collision involving a vehicle and a train Friday night. 92-year-old Donald Robert Bolen,  of Morley Township, was killed in the accident that occurred at a CN Rail crossing on Highway 617 in Stratton. Both OPP and CN Rail Police have determined the red lights at the crossing were flashing and operating property at the time.

Multi-plex to be discussed next week

A report on how the City will run a proposed multi-plex will be released Wednesday.  The report compares different business models for the proposed multi-plex and shows the financial impact on the City.  City Manager Tim Commisso held a press conference on the Multi-Plex on Tuesday at the Fort William Gardens. Two public information sessions are taking place next week at the DaVinci Centre and the Italian Cultural Centre.

Expressway blasting alert

The roadwork on the Thunder Bay Expressway will come with some blasting this week.  The Ministry of Transportation says there will be blasting taking place starting Wednesday morning and will last about 3 weeks.

Fire in Wabakimi Provincial Park

A large forest fire is burning in Wabakimi Provincial Park, about 38-kilometres east of Savant Lake. The fire is burning near fly-in-lodges and a railroad and at one point forced the evacuation of 11-residents from a subdivision. The Ministry of Natural Resources says the fire had grown to over 14-hundred hectares in size but notes thanks to the combined efforts of firefighters and air attack, no property was lost.  Evacuees have returned to their residence and operations on the CN main line have resumed. There are 21-fire crews and 5-helicopters still committed to the blaze. The cause is not known.

MNR send additional equipment to Alberta

The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending more equipment to Alberta.  100-pumping units, 3-thousand lengths of hose and portable water tanks are scheduled to leave Thunder Bay.  110-personnel remain in the fire-ravaged Western Province.

Fire Fighters respond to house fire

A Banning Street family wasn't in their house when it caught fire over the long weekend.  Fire crews were able to bring the fire under control and says the basement suffered heavy smoke damage.  The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.