Indoor Tennis Courts Considered

The Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre is looking to build indoor tennis facilities. Tennis Centre pro Jamie Grieve told city council on Monday night that the centre needs indoor courts. Grieve adds that Confederation College holds two tennis courts, but won’t use them any longer once the facility’s use becomes exhausted.

Run For Women Registration Tomorrow

The Thunder Bay Run For Women is going into it's 34th year. Organizer Gordie Garriock says the rain in the forecast this past week didn't help with pre-registration. Garriock says you can register Saturday starting at 9 at St. Ignatius School. The 5K Run/Walk for Women is held at Boulevard Lake.

Municipal Leaders Meet

Beginning today, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Board of Directors is meeting in Thunder Bay. The 75 member Board will meet to discuss important questions of how the federal government's New Building Canada Fund will help to meet local needs, and will also talk about the growing housing crisis facing Canadians. The meetings will continue from March 5-7.

Report Urges Partnerships

Ontario's Advocate for Children and Youth is urging local, provincial, federal and First Nations leadership to partner with them in order to create safer and healthier First Nations communities. In a report released today, 3 recommendations are made, including the joining of provincial, federal, First Nations Leadership and other interested organizations to take immediate action to meet the needs of First Nations youth.

Communities Meet To Make EDO Plan

12 First Nation communities are working together to create a economic development plan.  The Robinson Superior communities are meeting this week in Thunder Bay to brainstorm.  Spokesperson Catherine Banning says it's going to take some time to create the plan over the next six months.  A consultant will be visiting all of the communities to get their feedback on what they would like to see in the plan.

OPG Power Plant Looking Into Biomass

Thunder Bay's Mission Island Power Plant is looking into using biomass instead of natural gas.  Ontario Power Generation Spokesperson Chris Fralick says he wants to keep the local plant alive.  Fralick says they're looking into many options for keeping the plant open beyond 2014.  Fralick says the Ontario Power Authority and the Energy Minister are aware that he's looking into other options of keeping the plant up and running.

Crown Presents Case In Kenora

The Crown will begin presenting its case in the second degree murder trial of 42 year old Kenneth Ivall and 24 year old Angela Duchesne.  Yesterday, the jury was selected and opening arguments were presented by the prosecution.  Ivall and Duchesne have been charged in connection to the death of 43 year old Ed Wilson in March of 2009.  The trial is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete at the Kenora Court House.

Bentley Coming To Town

Energy Minister Chris Bentley will be in town next month.  He'll be meeting with Mayor Keith Hobbs about the Ontario Power Authority's decision to halt the conversion of the Mission Island Power Plant.  Representatives from the OPA, and MPP Bill Mauro will also be invited to the discussion.  A Spokesperson with the Minister says Bentley will spend the day talking with officials about the conversion.

Domar In Talks With Northern Iron

In the region, ears are open at Domtar in Dryden.  They have been approached by Northern Iron group to gain access to a railroad right of way on a stretch in Northwestern Ontario that's been lifted for the past few years.

Northwest Kick Start Plan

A proposal for more cost-efficient energy generation in Northern Ontario. At the Ontario Waterpower Conference, the Northwest Kick Start plan was featured which will provide a cheaper power supply to the Ring of Fire and First Nations communities through a grid connection. President and CEO of Imperium Energy Larry Doran says there's no downside to the proposal. Doran says it also allows for the development of hydro-electric generation.

AGS Burns Last Piece Of Coal

It's the end of an era.  Atikokan's Generating Station burned its last piece of coal on Tuesday.  The plant is being converted from coal to biomass and the project is already underway.

Dryden Welcomes Familiar Face To Council

Sid Wintle says he's anxious to get started on Dryden Council.  The former Mayor and Councilor was elected in Monday's bye-election for the one vacant Council seat.  Wintle says cleaning up the City's finances is his number one priority.

Atikokan Renewable Fuels Talks Future

Atikokan Renewable Fuels is looking for some buyers before it can complete its wood pellet plant. President Ed Fukushima says Ontario Power Generation and some European Businesses are interested in their product. Fukushima says they should know more in 30 days.

Bear Wise Cut Backs Upset OPSEU

A union leader is warning Northern residents that they face greater danger from bears this year because of Provincial government cutbacks.  Smokey Thomas of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union says the number of staff trained to deal with bears has been cut by more than 50 percent.  The M.N.R. has said that relocating nuissance bears was simply not working.

Weather records broken

Weather records toppled across Northwestern Ontario over the weekend.  The hot spot yesterday was Fort Frances at 26.4-degrees.  Thunder Bay hit 15.7 beating the old record of 13.8 in 2010.

T.Bay breaks weather records

We had record breaking temperatures over the weekend.  Here in the City we hit a high of 9.3 on Sunday.  Our Meterologist Bill Laidaw says that beats the old mark of 7.4 in 1996.  Laidlaw adds the warm weather will be with us for the rest of this week.

Hospital not impacted by drug shortage yet

Thunder Bay's hospital has been spared from the nation wide shortage of drugs. Health Sciences Centre Pharmacist Jeff Chan says the shortage hasn't impacted the hospital yet but it might down the road. Hospitals in several provinces are reporting looming supply gaps for dozens of medications used in operating rooms, emergency departments and intensive care units.

Critic pays visit to T.Bay

The Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic says a regional approach is needed to move the Ring of Fire project forward. Dr. Carolyn Bennett issued the comment following a briefing in Thunder Bay on Tuesday. Bennett says they need everyone on the same page. Bennett met with advisers of area Chiefs and Council.

Mauro on Toronto's endorsement of LRT

Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro calls Toronto's transit plans a moving target.  Mauro is happy to hear the City recently endorsed the light rail transit plan.  The Provincial Government's money for the project is tied to Toronto Council's endorsement of the transit plan.  Our Bombardier Plant is in line to build the light rail vehicles.

Ignace has Mayoral vacancy

Ignace Council is accepting the resignation of Mayor Lee Kennard with regret.  Municipal officials say they haven't had a chance to sit down with Council and discuss the options of filling the vacancy.