Event Centre Open House draws big crowds

It's a question of location not of if its needed when you ask the resident of Thunder Bay about the proposed Events Centre.  Residents had a chance to learn more about the facility at Wednesday night's public open house and the question of, if it should be built got a resounding yes from most of those in attendance.  The big question centred on where it should be built with the majority of support going to either Innova Business Park or the Waterfront.  The consultation team will present an initial report to council March 12th.

 

LU BBall Coach getting national attention

The head coach of the Lakehead Thunderwolves Men's Basketball team is becoming a national celebrity.  Scott Morrison was at the centre of a feature story on the Wolves on the Score Sports Network and most recently was the topic of a story in a PEI newspaper article.  Athletics Director Tom Warden says Morrison has done an amazing job with the program, taking it to number 2 in the entire country. 

Its RRSP deadline day

If you didn't make your 2011 RRSP contributions yet then you have until the end of the day.  Blake Cameron of Scotia McLeod says if you head to your financial institution today you might as well make your 2012 contributions as well.  He says the sooner the better because it gets your money working for you sooner.

McGuinty to visit Thunder Bay

Premier Dalton McGuinty is coming to town. His press secretary says McGuinty is scheduled to tour the Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute on Thursday.  It's not clear if he will be making an announcement or not.   He is also scheduled to visit the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, however that is reported to be a private tour. 

Cliff's Natural Resources Open House Thursday

Cliff's Natural Resources is holding an open house Thursday night on it's proposed Chromite Project in the Ring of Fire. A consulting company that is helping Cliff's with the Province's Environmental Assessment process will be fielding questions at the event. The open house is from 4 until 8 Thursday at the Travelodge Airlane Hotel. A similar open house is being held next Wednesday night in Geraldton.

MNR big game draws online

The Ministry of Natural Resources hopes they can teach old dog's new tricks.  Hunters can now apply for big game draws for moose, deer and elk online.  Spokesperson John Cooper says mostly the MNR's new automated and online systems for licensing have proven popular.  Draws can be entered online on the Ministry website, through the telephone licensing hotline, and at Service Ontario sites.

City to talk about crossing guards

City Council is going to consider posting a school crossing guard at Woodcrest and Longbow Crescent. Councillor Trevor Giertuga wants a guard to be established at that location as a pilot project until the end of the 2012 school year.  There have been safety complaints from parents in that area.

Council gives out green awards

Thunder Bay City Council is going to openly praise those businesses in our City who actively try to be environmentally friendly. The City is honouring four local institutions in it's 2011 Municipal Green Awards. The Regional Health Sciences Centre, Superior Collegiate, OLG Casino and a French Catholic School are all being honoured. The awards will be handed out at Monday night's council meeting.

Teen girls learn healthy eating habits

Ecole Gron Morgan students are learning about healthy eating habits.  Thunder Bay's Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization is helping teach 20 pre-teen students about active living as away to battle eating disorders.  The program is for Grade 7 and 8 girls, and Vice Principal Jo-Anne Giertuga says they want to expand the program in the future.

Events Centre Open House

Thunder Bay's proposed Event's Centre will be in the spotlight Wednesday night.  An open house is taking place this afternoon from 3 to 9 at the Italian Cultural Centre.  The consulting team will be providing a presentation that will include concept designs for each of the three sites.

Government building trashed

Police are looking for two men they believe are involved in a break and enter at the James Street Government Building last night.  Just after 9:30 Police responded to a call of three men doing damage to the building including breaking large windows and office equipment.  Police have a 29 year old man in custody and are still looking for the other two.  The offices in the building suffered 10 to 15-thousand dollars in damage to computers, TVs, furniture and other office equipment.

Storm no more

It looks like the snow storm we were expecting today has fizzled.  Environment Canada Spokesperson Rob Kuhn says we can expect 2-4 centimeters of snow.  Kuhn adds we will also see strong gusting winds that will blow around existing snow.

Shuniah house fire

A clothes dryer was the cause of a fire at a Birch Beach Road home Tuesday. The home owner smelt smoke and went to the basement to find the clothes dryer on fire in the utility room. Shuniah Fire & Emergency Services managed to keep the fire to the utility room with some smoke damage to the rest of the house. Both occupants and their baby escaped the fire without injuries.

Hyer defends leadership hopefuls over attendance

The NDP Leadership hopefuls are taking some heat for going against some of former leader Jack Layton's words.  During the 2011 Federal Leaders Debate, Layton famously blasted Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff for missing votes in the House of Commons, saying most Canadians, if they don't show up for work, they don't get a promotion.  Meanwhile 5 sitting MP's vying for the leadership have the worst attendance record in the government.  MP Bruce Hyer says they may not be in the house but they are working hard. Hyer says they are learning what people are thinking across the country and that is very important for a leader to know.   Hyer says Ignatieff would intentionally leave so he didn't have to vote on contentious issues.

City's water once again exceeds standards

The City's water quality is looking pretty good.  The City's Environment Manager Kerri Marshall says the city has released the annual water quality report and we came in at or above every provincial standard.  More information can be found on the city's website.

Modified pen flare can shoot a bullet

Thunder Bay police have a new worry. Monday night they seized a pen sized emergency signal flare which was modified to shoot a .22 calibre bullet. Sgt. Rino Belcamino is issuing a warning about the safety of the device. He says not only is it dangerous to the person it's being pointed at, but people who modify it are risking their own safety. Belcamino says police are starting to see such converted devices more and more.

Guilty plea ends trial

A guilty plea to manslaughter means a murder trial in Thunder Bay is over before it began. A Fort Hope man is going to jail for 7 years in connection with the stabbing death of James Waswa in that community in 2010. The plea by William Oskineegish in a Thunder Bay courtroom puts an abrupt end to the trial that was to have started this week. The judge in the case accepted a joint recommendation by the prosecution and the defence on the matter. Immediately after the proceedings were over, there was a moving moment when the mother of the victim, hugged Oskineegish as a sign of forgiveness.

NDP motion calls for Northern Committee

John Vanthof says the NDP is not out to give Southern Ontario less of a voice, he's out to give Northern Ontario a stronger voice. The Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP has table Legislation to create a new Legislative Committee made up of Northern MPP's. Vanthof says the committee would have the power to examine legislation and make recommendations to the Government.

Osisko spending more $

The Hammond Reef gold project near Atikokan will get a lot of attention by Osisko Mining this year.  President Sean Roosen says the company will spend 59-million dollars this year on reserve development, exploration and feasibility studies.  He says they're aiming to have a feasilibty study completed by the end of the year.

Ignace Political Drama

A political drama is brewing in Ignace. Council will hold a special meeting Thursday afternoon to discuss what to do with the Mayor's seat. Lee Kennard submitted a resignation letter to the municipal clerk on January 27th but he decided to withdraw that letter 5-days later. Council declared the office of the Mayor vacant on February 6th, sparking a debate on whether Kennard should return as Mayor. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing says Council handled the situation correctly. Several options now lie on the table including holding a by-election, appointing a councilor as Mayor or appointing Lee Kennard as Mayor.