Haley Irwin receives heroes welcome

Thunder Bays' Haley Irwin is back home. The Olympic gold medal winning member of the Canadian womens' hockey team arrived to the cheers of over 100 people at the Thunder Bay Airport on Friday. Irwin says she was overwhelmed by the support of her fans. She says she expected family and media to greet her, but instead she was given a heroes welcome by all sorts of local supporters, and in some cases school children who skipped classes to be there. Irwin says she'll be taking a few months to rest before playing competitive hockey again.

Stadium repairs on the council agenda for Monday

City councillors will be asked to approve 2.7 million dollars worth of rehab work for Fort William Stadium on Monday night. Parks Division manager Paul Fayrick says the upgrading includes putting in artificial turf and replacing the track. Work will begin in June after the school track season ends and be ready in time for the SSSAA football season. Also Monday night councillors get the update on the recruitment of health care professionals to the city. Norine Howardson, the citys' Family Physician recruiter, says 2009 was a good year with 25 professionals settling here. Thunder Bay Tourism will also present it's year end report.

The province announces new doctor recruitment programs

There are two new government programs to recruit doctors to northern Ontario. The first , The Northern and Rural Recuritment and Retention Initiative, will be providing grants to doctors and new medical grads who agree to practice in the north or highly rural communities. In making the announcement in Thunder Bay Health Minister Deb Matthews says it replaces the Underserviced Areas Program which she says wasn't working anymore.   As well Matthews announced a program that allows graduates to pratice for five years in any Ontario community except Toronto and Ottawa. In return they get postraduate training opportunities

North of Superior Film Festival will go on

Good news for film buffs, the North of Superior film festival will be a go this year. After the closure of its pervious home the Cumberland Theatre caused concerns the event would have to be cancelled. Organizer Marty Mascarin says Silver City will host this year's festival on consecutive Sunday's, March 21st and 28th. Mascarin says there will be about a dozen titles featured in this year's festival.

LU has new VP

There's a new Vice President at Lakehead University. Lee Gould takes over one of four VP positions at the institution. Starting Monday he becomes the new Vice President of University Advancement. Gould says he knows his immediate priority will be the Orillia campus and giving it a presence in central Ontario. In the longer term Gould says he will build the programs and meet the vision of the university.

Lakehead's Men's basketball team members earn OUA honours

This year's outstanding season from the Lakehead University men's basketball team has led to OUA West honours for four of the players and Coach Scott Morrison. Morrison was named Coach of the year, Guard Jamie Searle was named to the first team all-star squad and is also the West nomination for the CIS Ken Shields Award.  Yoosrie Salhia was named to the second team all-star squad, Greg Carter is this year's defensive player of the year and Ryan Thomson was named to the all rookie team.

Lakehead men's basketball team goes for glory

The Lakehead University men's Basketball team will look to continue their Cinderella story tomorrow when they visit Windsor in the West Division final.  Lakehead earned their spot in the final by winning their first ever home playoff game last weekend.  Coach Scott Morrison says improved team play and tough defence has led to this year's outstanding season. 

Thunderwolves could be forced to make a goalie change

There could be some changes to the lineup for the Thunderwolves this weekend when they travel to London for game two of the OUA Western Conference final against the Western Mustangs. Starting Goalie Alex Dupius could be staying home after waking up with a sore leg yesterday. Dupius has led the Wolves to 5 straight wins in the playoffs and made 34 saves to lead Lakehead to a 4-1 game one win over the Mustangs Wednesday. If Dupius can't make the trip Kyle Moir will step back into the crease as the starter.