Chair Acclaimed To Learning Foundation

Two familiar faces are back at the head of the Lakehead Learning Foundation.  Clint Harris and Sue Peever were acclaimed as Chair and Vice Chair at the foundation's annual general meeting.  The foundation was created in 2003 to provide support for students such as field trip fees, team and uniform fees and emergency shelter.

Big Lots Closing T.Bay Store

Thunder Bay's new Big Lots store is going to close it's doors in the near future. The parent company of Liquidation World announced it's closing 78 stores across the country and its head office in Brantford, Ontario. The former Liquidation World store officially opened its doors under the big lots title at the end of October.

NAN Wants Far North Act Scrapped

The provincial government is downplaying First Nation demands to scrap the Far North Act. Natural Resources minister David Orazietti says first nations are buying with more than 30 communities already participating. Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Harvey Yesno says the legislation is too restrictive and limits opportunities for development.

Bisson Not Happy With Results

NDP MPP Gilles Bisson isn't pleased with the outcome of the recent Northern Leaders Forum in Timmins. Bisson says not much has changed for the daily lives of northerners following last week's meeting.  Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle defends the gathering. Gravelle calls the meeting a historic event.

College Gets Cash For New Program

The province is giving some money to Confederation College to start a new program for expectant mothers.  President Jim Madder says they're currently working on the curriculum for the new "Maternal Care" program.  Madder says they're teaming up with First Nation health care organizations to develop the program that they hope to offer in the fall of 2014.

Province To Maintain Caramat Road

The community of Manitouwadge has its road problem resolved.   The road to the landfill has not been plowed or maintained because of  bureaucratic red tape.    In the legislature Transport Minister Glen Murray said the province is coming to the rescue.   He says the MTO will be opening Caramat Road, maintaining it and working with the the community to repair the full length over the coming months.  The closure of  forced the township to suspend garbage collection.

Housing Numbers Down

As the year winds down the number of new houses being built in Thunder Bay is slowing.  The latest government statistics from Canada Mortgage and Housing show that compared to last year there's been a drop.  Warren Philp is CMHC's local number cruncher and says the drop is about 15 per cent

Morning Mishap

No one is hurt following a single vehicle collision on Water Street and Villa this morning at around 9:30.  Officials say that an SUV knocked down a light pole and rammed into a building.  It's unknown why the driver lost control.

Dawson Road Blaze

There were no injuries following a huge two-alarm fire on Dawson Road.   The fire broke out early last night night at a home between Dog Lake Road and Shirley Road.  Five pumper trucks and over 20 firefighters battled the blaze, however the house was virtually destroyed.  Early indications are that the fire may have started in the basement of the residence.  

Dawson Heights To Be Expanded?

The Dawson Heights Subdivision that began in the early 1990's may be seeing some new life. Council will look over a Draft Plan tonight that would include the creation of two new streets and twenty-five dwellings that would fill in the space between Wardrope Road and Dawson. The development would mark the fourth and final stage of the Dawson Heights Subdivision

Whalen Building 100 Years Old

The City's Whalen Building is officially 100 years old.  2013 marks the anniversary of the the completed construction of the heritage building in the city's north core.  Andrew Cotter is the Chair of the Heritage Advisory Committee says it's a great structure. Cotter says they want to hold an anniversary celebration in the spring of 2014 because that's when the building's first tennants moved in.

City Council Preview

The City is considering extending the Community Improvement Plan for the Downtown Core areas and Simpson street Business Improvement Area.  It's been in place the past 10 years and is scheduled to end on December 31st.  City staff are recommending to council to keep the program with its financial incentives for businesses in place for another year.  Meanwhile, City staff are putting a couple of subjects that were set to be discussed this month on the back burner.  A report on what other communities are doing to deal with the number of pets a person can own is now going to be discussed in the New Year. Another report on what the City will do with the Royal Edward Arms in the future is now going to be discussed in the first half of 2014.