Festive RIDE program set to begin

The police will be starting their Festive Ride program soon. Scott Smith of the city police says there will be scores of officers who will be out stopping vehicles starting December first.   It will be dedicated staff from  the city police, OPP, RCMP and the Anishinabek Police. New drunk driving laws mean the vehicle you are driving could be impounded.

Creative writing award for Thunder Bay youth

Several Northwestern Ontario first nation youth are being honoured for their writing.  Vanessa Trimble from Bearskin Lake, Erik Fiddler from Sandy Lake, and Thunder Bay's Nakita Guillet all received the James Barleman Aboriginal Youth Creative Writing award.

Mauro wants snow tire rebate

Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro wants more Northerners to use snow tires.  He's calling on insurance companies to offer a rebate for those motorists who pay extra for the heavy duty tires.  Mauro says a snow tire rebate is win win for both drivers and insurance companies since people will be safer on the road and there will be less claims.  Mauro introduced a motion in the Ontario Legislature on Thursday.

Wildlands league likes new route

The Wildlands League is happy with a transmission line route in Northwestern Ontario. The route will be ran along side exsisting roads in the Dryden and Ignace area. Spokesperson Anna Baggio says the new route won't hurt the boreal forest habitat, caribou, or waterways.  The re-routing of the transmission line to Pickel Lake was part of the McGuinty Government's "long term energy plan." The transmission line will provide electricity connections north of Pickle Lake.

Bell Canada Under Attack

Bell Canada is being accused of failing its First Nation customers.  The Union of Ontario Indians says its members have had a hard time getting their PST refunds.  Spokesperson Maurice Switzer says some people have had to wait on the phone for over 4 hours.  Others have reported that the customer service agents knew nothing about the pst exemption situation.  All phone, cable and satelite bills were expected to be PST free as of two months ago.

Students help the needy for Christmas

The students at St. Bernard's elementary school are helping needy children and their families. They're donating items for Dilico Family Services. This is the second year of the program.

A flash freeze is coming our way

Its going to go from bad to worse for road conditions today.  Environment Canada's Geoff Coulson says a flash freeze warning is in effect.  He says temperatures will drop to minus 10 this afternoon which will freeze the wet slushy conditions we have right now. Coulson says the cloudy wet weather will move out of the area tomorrow but return again for the beginning of next week.

Student Transportation Services explains bus cancellations

Slippery conditions gave many students in the area another day off of school today.  Dave Carroll of Student Transportation Services says he and a collection of bus operators decided conditions were too dangerous this morning.  Carroll says wet weather and below zero temperatures often make driving difficult this time of year.

ONWA explores violence issues

Aboriginal women remain vulnerable to violence according to a local activist. Lorene Rego has organized a day of information to educate people on the issue. She wants to keep it top of mind adding that violence against Aboriginal is pervasive and in most cases it ends tragically.  They are also the most at risk group in Canada on issues relating to violence.  The day of information is being put on by the Ontario Native Women's Association

Another Snow day for Rural Students

For the second time this week rural students will have a snow day.  Kakabeka Falls, Gorham and Ware, Valley Central, Nor'Westerview, Whitefish Valley, McKenzie, Five Mile and Crestview schools along with Thunder Bay Christian School are all closed today.  As well all city and rural school buses have been canceled.