Over 300 People Attend Multiplex Meeting

Around 350 people attended Wednesday night's public meeting on the City's proposed event centre.  Opportunity Thunder Bay held up signs in favour of the downtown waterfront project. Meanwhile, the Concerned Taxpayers group asked people to sign their petition calling for a vote on whether the project should go forward and if it does at what location.  City Council will discuss the full report on the proposed waterfront event centre at its meeting Monday night.

Fednor Gives Sachigo Lake Help

Improvements are on the way for Sachigo Lake First Nation.  Fednor Minister Tony Clement announced today that the federal government is providing 490 thousand dollars to the community.  The funding will allow the First Nation to construct a small business center which will house a number of businesses and provide a space for entrepreneurs.  Clement adds that it will allow for new investments in the area and allow existing businesses to grow and prosper.

Paterson Park Public Meeting

The City wants to hear your thoughts on what to do with Paterson Park.  A second meeting on the green space is being put on Thursday night at McKellar Park School by the non-profit group 8-80 Cities.  City Spokesperson Werner Schwar says 8-80 Cities will be sharing their findings from their first visit to Thunder Bay.  The goal of the project is to make the park more user friendly for users of all ages.

Koltun In, Evans Out

The City has appointed Nadia Koltun as their new lawyer.  Koltun acted as Rosalie Evans replacement over the last year.  City Manager Tim Commisso says after 9 years in the job Evans decided to pursue other opportunities.

Nickle Seeks Nom for Kenora Rainy River PC party

Making Ontario a have province.  That's the goal of Randy Nickle who has declared his intentions to run for the provincial PC party.  Nickle says Northwestern Ontario needs to take advantage of the resources we have.  The PC's will select a new representative for the Kenora-Rainy River riding on December first.

Black Friday Deals

More and more retailers in Thunder Bay are jumping on the Black Friday bandwagon. They are hosting their own promotions to counter the Black Friday in the United States, known for huge sales. Chamber of Commerce President Harold Wilson notes it's a growing trend, especially in the 3 years he has been with the Chamber. Wilson says the move may help to prevent people from cross border shopping and show prices here are comparable to the States.

Report Isn't Walmart Bashing

They say it's not Walmart bashing, but a new study predicts there will be a loss of jobs in the retail sector as the result of the expansion of the retail giant in Thunder Bay.  Consultant Keith Wootten  says they aren't trying to paint a negative picture with the results of their study. The Lakehead University study for Thunder Bay Ventures also says that most residents felt more Walmarts weren't needed, but they prefer the cheaper prices.  

Generic Oxy's Causing More Concern

The opposition continues to mount against the federal government's decision to allow generic Oxycontin on the market. Bob Herman of the Nishawbe Aski Police Service says it's a big step backward in the fight against addiction in First Nation communities.  Herman believes the feds should be taking a leadership role on the issue by banning the product.

Ontario N.D.P. Launch Healthcare Survey

The Ontario N.D.P. want to hear from you and your concerns about the healthcare system. A new survey has been launched by the provincial New Democrats. Party Leader Andrea Horwath says she and her MPP's will be hosting a series of town hall meetings in the coming weeks across the province. A link to the survey is available here.

Events Centre Gathering Tonight

The proposed multi-plex takes centre stage at tonight's public meeting at the Community Auditorium.   Consultant Conrad Boychuk will be giving a detailed presentation on his recommendation that the city's north downtown core be the site of a new events centre.  If you wish to watch the program the city is streaming it live, you can link up to it here. 

Police Seize Drugs & Weapons Worth $10,000

Two Sioux lookout residents are facing drug and firearm charges after O.P.P. executed a search warrant just over a week ago. Police say a 25 year old man and a 26 year old woman will next appear in court on December 18th after cocaine, Oxycodone and marijuana were found. Provincial police say they also seized two firearms as well. The value of the drugs seized is said to be worth $10,000 dollars.