Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Officers have arranged events all over the city this week to provide information about Fire Safety. The information being given will go along this years theme "Two Ways Out". Fire Prevention Officer Bob Vander Ploeg says for families to have two ways out of each room of the house. This will assure families with always knowing two ways out of each room if possible during a fire emergency.

Leblanc Flying Back To Nova Scotia

RCMP say a man facing charges of sexually assaulting and confining a teenage boy will return to Nova Scotia today.  Sgt. Alain LeBlanc says 47 year old David James Leblanc will be returned to the province from Geraldton sometime after 5 p.m. via a police airplane.  He says Leblanc will appear in court in Bridgewater on Tuesday.  Leblanc was arrested Sunday in the Greenstone area and was reported to be suffering from frostbite.

Con College Program Gets Approval

Confederation College's Medical Radiation Program is happy after they received a six year approval from the Canadian Medical Association.  Accreditation  means that the college program has met national educational standards and that it effectively prepares graduates to work in the field of medical radiation.

A Case Like No Other

A Thunder Bay man is going to spend at least the next 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to second degree murder in the death of his wife. 64 year old John Robertson admitted to hitting, then strangling his wife to death at their Oliver Road apartment in April of last year. He was sentenced to life in prison and will be eligible for parole in 10 years.    Crown Attorney Dan Mitchell says it was a case like no other.  He says Roberston turned himself in to police after the incident and helped the case proceed through the system quickly.

Tragedy At The Royal Edward Arms

Police are reporting a tragic accident at the Royal Edward Arms on May Street.  They say that a woman died after falling down an elevator shaft.   Safety inspectors are also looking into the incident as is the coroners office.   No name has been released.

Not Too Late Say Activists

The sands of time are running out for those people in the city who are fighting to keep a seniors care home on James Street open.   One of them is labour activist Evelina Pan who believes with public pressure,  the decision to close can easily be reversed. Pan says closing the facility doesn't make sense because it comes at a time when there's already a shortage of long term care beds.

Antcliffe Memorial Set For Tonight

Preparations are underway for tonight's memorial for anti-cancer crusader Michael Antcliffe.  It's being organized by Stacey Voss who says they are hoping for a packed house at the CLE Coliseum.
The memorial, which they are calling a celebration of his life,  gets underway at 6:45.

Leek Northern Region VP Liberal

A local liberal is looking to the future.  Anthony Leek has been named the Northern Region Vice President of the Ontario Liberal Party.  Leek says he's looking forward to the numerous possibilities.  Leek hopes to fill the gaps between Northwestern and Northeastern Ontario.

Campbell Talks Travel Costs

Be prepared for unexpected health costs outside of Ontario.  Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says people aren't fully covered if they were to go to Minnesota or Manitoba.  Campbell adds that getting an ambulance in Winnipeg has cost some people 700 dollars, compared with 75 in Ontario.

OPP Distracted Driving

That one text isn't worth losing a life.  The Ontario Provincial Police want to remind the public about the seriousness of using a mobile device while driving.  Acting Sergeant with the Northwest Region Anne Mccoy says drivers already have enough to worry about.  Mccoy adds that using a handheld GPS is just as dangerous, and says to pull over when programming it.

Environmental Commissioner Wind Turbine Report

Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro is weighing in on the Environmental Commissioner's report on wind turbines.  Gord Miller's report states birds and bats will die if they fly into a wind turbine's propeller. Mauro says the Provincial Government has accommodated the bird and bat populations in their environmental reviews of proposed wind turbine projects.

Thanksgiving Fire Safety

Thunder Bay Firefighters are reminding you to be careful this Thanksgiving long weekend.  Spokesperson Bob Vander Ploeg says a fire could start from basic candles on the dining room table.  Vander Ploeg adds you should also keep an eye on the stove when your cooking and never leave your cooking unattended.

Thanksgiving Dinner Sunday

Thunder Bay's Salvation Army and the Professional Fire Fighters Association are holding a Thanksgiving dinner for 300 people Sunday.  Major Rosena Halvorsen says it's good to give back to the community.  The dinner will be held from noon until 3 and a shuttle service is available from City Hall and the Water Street Terminal at 11:45.

Human Trafficking In NWO?

Human trafficking may not be prominent in our area, but an ex-RCMP officer says don't let that fool you.  Marty Van Doren coordinates a RCMP human trafficking awareness program and says many young people in remote First Nations are becoming victims. Van Doren calls human trafficking the modern day form of slavery.

Moose Hunting Season Underway

Hunters across Northwestern Ontario are heading into the bush this weekend with their scopes set on shooting a moose.  Conservation Officer Ross Johnston is reminding enthusiastic hunters to use common sense.  Johnston also reminds hunters that it's illegal to carry another person's hunting licence.

OPP Long Weekend Tips

Provincial Police will be out in full force this weekend in Northwestern Ontario.  Acting Sergeant Anne  McCoy says especially with this long weekend, people will be travelling up to cabins and using waterways.  McCoy wants to remind the public to watch out for wildlife.

Southcott Hosts Monaco's Prince

Lakehead University Professor has returned from hosting Monaco's Prince Albert the second.  Dr. Chris Southcott spoke with the Prince during his visit to the Iqaluit.  Southcott says Prince Albert and his foundations are amazing to work with.

N.O.S.M. To Host World Conference

A major international conference is about to hit Thunder Bay next week. The Northern Ontario School of Medicine is welcoming 850 delegates from 45 countries around the world for its "Rendez-vous" conferences, which is five conferences wrapped-up into one. The conference runs from Tuesday until Saturday with sessions happening at the Victoria Inn and Airlane hotel.

Charitable Basketball Game Set To Go

A charitable and fun basketball game is taking place this afternoon as volunteer Brandon Walker has challenged the youth in the Evergreen neighborhood. Walker has been raising money that will benefit the city's Disaster Relief Committee. It all starts at 4:00 o'clock at Minnesota Park and even Mayor Keith Hobbs is expected to be in attendance.

Thunder Bay Jobless Rate Stays The Same

There is no change to the unemployment rate in Thunder Bay. It remained at 6.3 percent for the month of September, the same as it was for August. Canada's national unemployment rate edged up by one-tenth to 7.4 percent, despite the creation of 52,000 jobs nation-wide.

NOBA Winners

Form Architecture Engineering in Thunder Bay is celebrating a victory at the Northern Ontario Business Awards. They were voted as the winners for company of the year with 16 to 50 employees. The awards were held at a ceremony last night in Timmins. Form is the lone company from Thunder Bay who walked away with an award out of 11 categories.

O.P.P. Re-open Highway 17 Near Kenora

Provincial Police in Kenora are saying that Highway 17 at the Junction and Highway 17 at Redditt Road are back open to traffic. Numerous motor vehicle accidents were reported at those locations overnight thanks to a winter storm moving through the area. Vehicles were re-routed through Kenora but transports were held against travel. O.P.P. have since re-opened the highway to traffic.

Thunderwolves Win Over Wesmen

The Lakehead University men's basketball team will be looking for a better performance in game two of their series tonight against the Winnipeg Wesmen. They managed to pull out an 84-75 win despite a poor shooting performance from the floor and the free-throw line. Forward Ryan Thomson led the team with 27 points. The Thunderwolves tip-off again against the Wesmen tonight at 7:00 o'clock at the L.U. Thunderdome.