Trowbridge Pedestrian Bridge Open

The Trowbridge Falls new pedestrian bridge is now open to the public.  City Spokesperson Brian Loucks says over 600-thousand dollars was spent to move the bridge from it's original spot.  The bridge connects Centennial Park and Trowbridge Falls campground.

Rail Traffic Moving Again In NWO

All appears back to normal in Fort Frances following a weekend train derailment in the community.    CN Rail spokesperson Louis-Antoine Paquin says as of this  afternoon  the track reopened, however the cause still remains a mystery.  About 40 carloads of grain parted with the track late Sunday afternoon. No one was injured.

Possible Problems On Board Plane

The Transportation Safety Board is now in control of investigating Sunday's plane crash in Red Lake that killed 5 people.  Spokesperson Peter Hildebrand says early indications are that there may have been some problems on board the plane just before it crashed 2 miles short of the runway.  Hildebrand says while the plane itself has had issues in the past they didn't relate to the airworthiness of the airplane

Operation Red Nose Gearing Up

Operation Red Nose is getting ready for another holiday season and they need volunteers. St. John's Ambulance Executive Director Diana Sustawenko says they're having an impact by preventing drinking and driving.  Last year 758 rides were provided. The safe rides will be offered starting on November 29th and 30th and then every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December excluding Boxing Day.

Million Dollars Provided To New LU Daycare Centre

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is giving a million dollars to Lakehead University to help build their new childcare centre.  Dr. Brian Stevenson says the new 82 hundred square foot building on campus is going to improve the lives of students with kids.  Stevenson says it will allow more students to come to University and bring their children with them to the on site daycare.  It will also be used as a training opportunity for early childhood education students.  40 day care spots and a new infant care program are also included in the Nanabijou Childcare Centre. The facility will open it's doors in the fall of next year.

Homeland Concerns For Local Filipinos

Members of the local Filipino community are watching events from their homeland anxiously.   Reuben Villagracia is the head of the local Philippine Association and says news of last weeks tragic typhoon is  hard to watch for many.   He says it really hits home when you see the television footage over and over again. Villagracia says there are fundraising events planned including one on Saturday at the farmer's market at the CLE

Dryden Police Like Camera Idea

Possible cameras for police officers across Ontario.  The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police is conducting a pilot project, where the officer wears a camera.  Dryden Police Chief Rob Davis says it's being done in Toronto, but he would be in favour it.  Davis says there are number of legalities that have to be looked at first before the Dryden Police Service considers it.

New Fire Bases Coming Soon

The Ministry of Natural Resources will be getting an upgrade of its fire fighting facilities across northwestern Ontario next year.  Two new bases are expected to be opened in the region.  Fire information officer Heather Pridham says the new bases will be located in Sioux Lookout and Armstrong.  Pridham says the Armstrong Fire Base should be ready by September 2014.

Survey Says...

The website our-health-system dot ca shows the Northwest Local Health Integration Network, which includes Thunder Bay, has fewer people that have a family doctor, 83 per cent compared to 85 per cent in Canada and 91 per cent in Ontario.   As well the stats show that life expectancy in our region is about 78 and a half years compared to about 81 years in both Ontario and Canada.   As for our regional hospital, it ranks better than the rest of the province and the country in hospital deaths and the average cost of staying in the hospital but lags behind in the number of patients who urgently have to go back to hospital within one month of being discharged.   A link to the survey can be found HERE

Moustache Riders On The Road

The Moustache Bike Riders are now back on the road.   They left Thunder Bay this morning as they continue their cross-Canada trip ending in Toronto. They started the fundraising excursion in Vancouver and rider Jordan Gildersleeve says they've had a warm response from the communities they've stopped in and is confident he'll be able to raise 100-thousand dollars for Movember.