Local med students are wooed

Thunder Bay is the latest stop for the Health Professionals Recruitment tour.   Organizer Ceara McNeil  says its a chance for communities to strut their stuff to attract potential doctors  The tour stopped at Lakehead University Thursday.   There are also stops in Ottawa, Kingston, Hamilton ,London, Toronto and Sudbury.

DSSAB awards building contract

Finn Way Contracting of Thunder Bay is the winner of the contract to build the new District Social Services Building. At 11.6 million dollars, it was the low bidder to build the new facility at Arthur, May and Brodie Streets. Construction is expected to begin next month and it should be completed by the end of next year.

Fair Wage Policy discussed

The City of Thunder Bay is set to receive a report on a fair wage policy for road, bridge, and sewer and water contracts.Administration is bringing a study on the matter to council Monday night. City Spokesperson Dan Munshaw says they don't really have a use for the fair wage policy, since mostly local businesses have won city contracts. The study shows from 2008 to 2010 95 percent of the contract awards were given to local firms. 

Heritage Buildings in Thunder Bay

City administration will be recommending a number of old buildings to the municipalities heritage register. The George Graham, John King, and Ross Residences are being considered for the register. The Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame, and Canadian Car and Foundry Historic site also being looked at.

Student remains in critical condition

Still no arrests to report in connection with a vicious assault on the weekend. A 22 year old Lakehead University student from Southern Ontario remains in critical condition in hospital.    Police say they have interviewed several people in the area of Darwin Crescent and Newton Street, which is a student rental hub.  Police say the man was assaulted there by a group of about 5 men who are also believed to be LU students.

Drug suspect turns himself in

Police have a person in custody in connection with a recent million dollar pot bust. They say that a man they had an arrest warrant out for, has turned himself in. They say he has been charged in connection with a marijuana grow-op they found last week. Police say it was located at a home on the 100 Block of Nelson Street. It followed complaints from the landlord.  Meantime drug officers were busy recently with several busts.  One in Lybster Township saw two people charged after police say they found marijuana.   Two men are charged after oxycodone pills were found at a Fitzgerald Street address and a woman was arrested at the airport for trying to bring oxycodone to a remote First Nations community. 

Contact North helps program expand

More remote First Nations communities now have access to a program from the National Centre for First Nations Governance.  The Centre is using the distance education services of Thunder Bay's Contact North to train more first nations the art of governing.   Brian Smith, the Centre's Director of Operations,  says the focus is teaching young people.   He says it's possible that one day the program could be taught across Canada from here.

Far North Act passed

The McGuinty government's Far North Act has passed in the Ontario Legislature despite the objections of First Nations and many northern communities.  The Conservative's Northern Affairs Critic Randy Hillier says plenty of people have come out against the legislation; yet the McGuinty Government won't back down.  Nishnawbe Aski Nation has said that if their concerns are not met they may blockade and protest in response.  The law is designed to protect about half of the north's land from development.

Council tackles LRCA levy

Thunder Bay could be paying more money to the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority. Administration is recommending council provide almost 113-thousand dollars extra to their 2010 levy. The extra cash is for the recovery of professional fees associated with the failed facility on Fort William Road. The remaining funds are to be used for maintenance and capital expenditures for the old facility.

Calling before you dig is easier now

The city is partnering with a Dryden company to help contractors call before they dig. Dig North provides the service. The company has information from various sources to find what utilities are underground.  The Construction Association of Thunder Bay is also part of the new program.

Council prepares for election

City administration is taking steps to keep the municipal government rolling after the upcoming election.  A resolution is being brought before council on Monday night asking them to delegate power to the City Clerk and the General Manager of Finance and Corporate Services.  The senior adminisitration team would then be able to issue debentures for capital projects that were previously approved in budgets prior to 2010.

Wet weather in store for Thunder Bay

What you see is what you'll get weather wise for the next little while. Environment Canada's Jim Prime says we could see as much as 40 millimetres of rain by tomorrow afternoon. Prime says things will clear up over the weekend with temperatures hitting the high teens early next week.

The Full Moon Memorial Walk hits city streets

There will a walk tonight to honour the hundreds of murdered and missing aboriginal women in Canada. Ontario Native Women's Association spokesperson Tasha Sheilds says the walk starts at 6 o'clock at the corner of Simpson and Victoria but everyone is encouraged to show up by 5:30.  Sheilds says its important to remember all these women to raise awareness about violence towards aboriginal women. 

High School students meet with Kenyan Runners

A Thunder Bay high school is learning from the winner and runner up of the Miles with the Giant Marathon.  Members of the Westgate Tigers Cross-Country Team will meet with Kenyan Runners Philip Kipchumba and Gilbert Kiptoo.  The duo will be speaking to a library full of students and runners today.

Go Tobacco Free, get money

Local sports teams in need of cash can get financial aid just by promising to be tobacco free.  The provincial government is providing a 500 dollar grant to teams that adopt a tobacco-free policy.  According to the local health unit, 15 Thunder Bay teams are tobacco free including the diving club, women's hockey association, and Fort William Figure Skating Club.