Radio Marathon for Christmas Cheer is a success

Christmas Cheer is almost 23 thousand dollars closer to its goal thanks to our 34 hour Radio Marathon.  Chair Linda Gambee says she was hoping for 10 thousand and is amazed how great it turned out.  Gambee says she doesn't have a hard number but thinks they've passed the 60 thousand dollar raised mark. 

Op Red Nose making its mark

There's two more weekends to go for Thunder Bay's Operation Red Nose.  Organizer Toni Lightwood says so far it's been another successful season driving party goers home safely. So far volunteers have provided almost 180 rides.

The LU Thunderwolves are 7th in the country

The Lakehead Thunderwolves Men's Hockey team is up in this week's CIS Rankings.  The wolves went from 8th to 7th this week after a weekend sweep of the Calgary Dino's.  The University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds remain first followed closely by the McGill Redmen. 

Local cancer care feted

The Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine have something to brag about.   They've been given Quality and Innovation Awards for their work in cancer prevention.    The Research Institute got it for its work with HPV screening while the medical school received  it for running a quit smoking program with the Regional Hospital

CRTC approves Minneapolis signals

Shaw Cable customers in Thunder Bay will be getting their Minneapolis TV back.   The Canadian Radio and Television Commission has approved Shaw's application to switch from the Detroit stations currently being offered.   The company argued that Minneapolis signals offer programming that is more relevant to our region.   Spokesperson Chris Kucharski says the change will take place in the new year and will involve all the major American network stations out of the Twin Cities.

Wasaya Christmas Cheer

Wasaya Airways is getting into the holiday spirit and flying food and toys into the First Nation communities it serves.  Spokesperson Jennifer Mihalcin says they're delivering goodies all this week.  Christmas turkeys and goodie bags will be delivered to Cat Lake, Pikangikum, Bearskin, Fort Hope and Deer Lake First Nations.

Campbell on auditor general's report

NDP Natural Resources Critic Sarah Campbell is concerned with the findings of the Auditor General. Campbell takes issue with the review of the government's renewable energy and forest management initiatives. Campbell is calling on the McGuinty Government to put more money into staffing the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Hupka returns as board chair

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.  Bob Hupka is returning for another year as the Chair of the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.  With his 13 years behind him Hupka is the longest serving Trustee on the board.   Tony Romeo is returning as the Vice-Chair.

Sudbury gets NDP Leadership debate

All nine NDP hopefuls vying for the top job with the Federal NDP will be duking it out in Sudbury for an all candidates debate.  The February debate is being organized by Richard Eberhardt who says they want to hear from each candidate about "northern issues".  The all candidates debate will take place February 5th.

Urban Bird in Thunder Bay

The City is showcasing it's young entrepreneurs.  Mayor Keith Hobbs took part in the grand opening of 27 year old Lauren Ischkin's new store "The Urban Bird." Ischkin says she couldn't do it alone and received support from the City and money from the Province.  Ischkin says it's great that she's able to operate a business in her home town.

ER troubles in Rainy River

Ontario's Health Minister says emergency room service at Rainy River Health Centre will be manned during the Christmas holidays.  Deb Matthews says interim help will be available from December 23rd to January 2nd to cover the communities only full time physician.  But Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says long-term solutions are needed.  A recruitment drive for another full-time physician is ongoing.

Man hit by car

Thunder Bay Police are trying to identify a man that was hit by a car at the intersection of Memorial and Isabel Street on Friday.  The driver who had hit the man picked him up and drove him from the Intercity Mall to Victoriaville.  Police are asking for any information about this incident or the identity of the man.

Council adopts Energy Management Strategy

Energy Management is a new focus for city council.  Council voted in favour of a new Strategy that will lead to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  Energy Analyst Vanessa DeGiacomo-Zwaresh says the strategy will help integrate current energy reduction policies already in place. DeGiacomo-Zwaresh says the next step will be attaching timelines to targets. 

Council Adopts a Solid Waste Management Plan

A City wide compost program could be a reality in the not so distant future.  Council approved the framework for a new Solid Waste Management Plan.  Coordinator Jason Sherband says the plan will provide strategic planning that will help in future decision making to reduce how much garbage goes to the landfill. Sherband says one way to do that would be to create a city wide compost program.

Scrap Yard is looking to buy waterfront land

The owner of a scrap metal yard is looking to purchase some waterfront land to expand the business.  Lori Dutchak of Dutchak Scrap Metal says they want to purchase some land on Hammond Avenue.  Dutchak says if they can't buy the land they will be forced to lay off staff. 

LU President gives a presentation to council

Lakehead University President Brian Stevenson gave City Council a state of the school address at Monday night's meeting. It was the same presentation he released to the public Friday November 18th. Stevenson says one of his priorities is to increase Aboriginal Numbers in the school and part of that plan is a new building that in Ojibway means Higher Learning.

Service to commemorate Montreal Massacre

The 14 women killed in the Montreal Massacre are being remembered at Confederation College Tuesday afternoon. It's being put on by the Student Union. Spokesperson Thomas Russell says it will be a solemn service complete with a candle lighting ceremony as a sign of remembrance.  It starts at 12:30 in the Student Commons in the Shuniah Building.

Kanate sentenced to 7 years

Gil Labine

A Round Lake First Nations man is going to jail for the manslaughter death of his cousin. 20 year old Patrick Kanate was sentenced to 7 years for the 2010 stabbing death in Thunder Bay of Keegan Williams. Kanate's lawyer Gil Labine has no complaints about the sentence saying it reflected the principles of justice set out by the Supreme Court of Canada when it comes to the sentencing of Aboriginals in such circumstances.   With time served the sentence is just over 6 years.

Hyer on leaders debate

Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer is weighing in on the first NDP leadership debate.  It was a polite exchange for the most part.  There are five other leadership debates planned leading up to the March 24th election.

Hyer on Canada withdrawing from Kyoto

Thunder Bay Superior North MP Bruce Hyer isn't surprised the Harper Government has pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol. Hyer is reacting to Environment Minister Peter Kent's announcement at a Climate Change Conference in South Africa. Canada is withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol by the end of next year.