OLG Casino Makes Payment

The OLG Casino is paying the city it's latest share in slot machine revenue.  This time around the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Commission is providing just over 609-thousand dollars to Thunder Bay.

TSB Still Investigating Fatal Accident

The Transportation Safety Board is still working on the early stages of its investigation into a fatal plane crash in Pickle Lake.  Peter Hildebrand says crews are still trying to get through the heavily dense wooded area and get the plane upright.  He says that's when the true investigation can begin.  Three men from Quebec died in the crash.

Talk4Healing Live

Aboriginal women in Northern Ontario can now access a new help line. Talk4Healing Coordinator Robin Haliuk says it's often hard for these women to get support services.  The hotline is open 24 hours a day; 7 days a week and offers service to Northern Ontario women.  The help line is being funded by the Ontario Native Women's Association for the next 3 years.

Text HOPE

The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation is teaming up with Tbaytel on a new fundraising initiative.   A 10 dollar donation can be made for breast cancer research by texting the word "Hope" to the number 20222.  Foundation President and CEO Glenn Craig says the donation will appear on your next cell phone bill.

Aboriginal Business Day

The Entrepreneur Centre wants aboriginal business to expand.  They're celebrating aboriginal business day today by bringing in a slew of guest speakers.  Spokesperson Ron Humphreys hopes more people will inquire about their services.  To check out the guest speakers including CBC's Wab Kinew you can stop by the Victoria Inn.

Jasper Place Anniversary

Seniors home Jasper Place is celebrating it's 20th anniversary today.  Spokesperson Donna Ostram says their facility is one of a kind.  Jasper Place is home to over 100 seniors.

Food For Thought

The city is receiving 100 thousand dollars in provincial tax money towards a study on the local food system. The city's Leslie McEachern is co-ordinating the research project which will see if its possible to supply locally grown food to city institutions.  The study will be completed early in the new year.

Woman Runs Red Light

A 42 year old Brampton woman is charged with driving through a red light after a collision at the intersection of the Harbour Expressway and Highway 11/17.  Two vehicles were at the intersection when the left turn signal for west bound traffic turned green.  A driver across the road going southbound, then ran the red light and collided with the west bound vehicle.  No one was hurt.

Scherban Sacked

Officials with the Lakehead University Thunderwolves Hockey program have fired Joel Scherban as Head Coach. Wolves’ Assistant Coach Mike Busniuk has been named as the team’s Interim Head Coach, effective immediately.  The team's Board of Directors decided that a change was necessary if the team was to achieve its goals for this season..

Wequedon Lodge Grand Opening

The Wequedon Lodge is now open to area First Nation patients visiting Thunder Bay for doctors appointments.  The Lodge's new 110 bed facility was officially christened Thursday.  Executive Director Charles Morris says the new building has been 12 years in the making.  The Lodge sees an average of 140 clients each week.

Police Look Into Naked Teen Pics

Thunder Bay Police are looking into reports of nude photos of teens being sent to fellow teens in the city.  Police are working with school officials to deal with this issue appropriately. Lakehead Public School Board Spokesperson Charlie Bishop calls the incident troubling.  Officers say any nude image of anyone under the age of 18 years is considered to be child pornography.

Explosion Update

The investigation is underway to find out what may have caused a huge explosion that ripped apart a house on the 800 block of St. Claire Avenue this morning. One person was hurt and is in stable condition in hospital. Fire inspector Eric Nordlund says it's a scene like he has never witnessed before. Nordlund says there's windows and doors lying on neighbouring properties.  Nordlund says the explosion was likely caused by what he calls a huge expansion of gas, but whether it was a natural gas blast, he couldn't say.

O.P.P. Release Names In Fatal Plane Crash

O.P.P. are releasing the names of three people who died in a small plane crash Tuesday night near Pickle Lake. All three people were residents of Trois Rivières, Québec. Dead is the 57 year old pilot Michel Nadeau, 54 year old passenger Bernard Mailloux and 27 year old passenger Yanick Fournier. A 53 year old male passenger also of Trois Rivières, Québec remains in a Winnipeg-area hospital in stable condition.

Boaters Rescued From Breakwall

Two sailboaters are witnesses to the quick response of the Coast Guard. They were called just after 7:30 p.m. last night to a report of a sailboat that had run aground on the breakwall near the entrance to the Kaministiquia River. Two people were rescued from the vessell with no major injuries and brought back to the coast guard station. The sailboat was left for the time being and will be recovered later. 

House Explodes On St. Claire Ave.

Police and fire crews are currenly at the scene of a house fire on the 800 block of St. Claire Avenue. Police say they received a call about a house exploding just after 4:00 o'clock this morning. One man has been taken to hospital with unknown injuries. Four pumper trucks, a ladder unit and a platoon chief were all called to the scene. Police say they will be on the scene for several hours as they look into the cause of the blast.

Steel Pre-Fab Homes To Be Built

A contracting company, a Chinese business and Wasaya Group are teaming up to provide affordable housing for First Nations and Mining Companies.  Dowland Contracting Spokesperson Don Wing says the agreement means they'll build pre-fabricated homes.  A formal signing ceremony was held Wednesday afternoon at the Fort William Historical Park.

Canadian Council ELA Poll

A new poll shows that a large chunk of Canadians are in favour of keeping the Experimental Lakes area near Vermillion Bay open.  Conducted by the Council of Canadians, the poll shows that 60 percent of Conservative voters oppose the Harper government's decision to stop funding the ELA.  In general, 73 percent of Canadians want to see the research facility stay open, and 42 percent are strongly opposed to the cuts.  Earlier in the year, the Harper government decided it would stop funding 2 million dollars a year to the ELA.

Gravelle Open To Being Leader

Michael Gravelle says he is not ruling out a run for the top job of the Ontario Liberal Party. The Natural Resources Minister says he would first like to see who decides to take a run at replacing Dalton McGuinty. Gravelle says if no candidates show any passion for the north, he will consider his options.

Terrace Bay Pulp Charged

Terrace Bay Pulp is in trouble with the Ministry of Labour after last year's fatal accident at the mill. An employee from Schreiber died when a tank used to cook wood chips exploded.  Ministry spokesperson Matt Blajer says the company will be appearing in court next month.

Health Unit Says There's A Bed Bug Problem

The Health Unit calls a bed bug problem at the Royal Edward Arms an infestation. Public Health Inspector Abby Mackie says the pests have become a problem.  Mackie says tenants need to keep their apartments clean and the landlord needs to treat the infected area as soon as possible.  The Health Unit says the District Social Services Board has been taking care of any complaints they've received.

Tbay Tel Gives Cash To Catholic Board

The Catholic School Board is on the receiving end of a 100 thousand dollar partnership with Tbay Tel.  Director of Education Joan Powell says it's a 5 year funding program.  The money will be used to buy laptops, iPads, and other technology.

Police Honour Their Own At Awards Ceremony

A number of members of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service will be honored at their 5th "Honours and Awards Ceremony" tonight in Thunder Bay. They will be recognised by their peers and the Chief of Police, Claude Chum. Officer of the Year honours will go to Constable Robert McPhail, and a Diamond Jubilee medal will be presented to Constable Marc Beaparland for his work with the Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program. Retired Sgt. Bob Baxter will also receive a jubilee medal for his work with victims.

Joint Meeting Tonight

A joint meeting is being held between Fort William First Nation and City Council tonight.  The two communities will discuss how they can work better together.  Tonight's meeting starts at 5 and will be held at the Current River Recreation Association.

3 Dead After Plane Crash

OPP and the Transportation Safety Board are investigating a fatal plane crash last night near Pickle Lake. Police responded to a report that an aircraft went down in a densely wooded area east of the Pickle Lake airport. Three of the plane's occupants are dead, one survivor was airlifted to hospital in Winnipeg for treatment of minor injuries. The names of the dead won't be released until the next of kin is notified.

Mining Readiness Winning Awards

The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission is celebrating two prestigious awards. A conference in Denver, Colorado has honoured The Ring of Fire and Northwestern Ontario with the Strategic Project of the Year award and also the Job Creation of the Year award. More than 500 executives from the public and private sector are in attendance at the 4th annual North American Strategic Infrastructure Leadership Forum.

Union To Talk With Quality Market Staff

The union representing workers at Thunder Bay's two Quality Market stores is speaking out.  United Food & Commercial Workers Rep Colby Flank says they were shocked to hear that the two stores will close.  Flank says the closure will impact 80 to 90 people.  A meeting between the union and its members will be held next Wednesday to discuss employment insurance and the possibility of finding work in other grocery stores in the City.  The owners of Quality Market have declined to comment on the closure notice.

Man Caught In Nipigon

A 50 year old man from Barrie, Ontario is now charged with fleeing from police, theft over $5,000 and breaking and entering. O.P.P. in Nipigon received a tip from an alert citizen and along with help from the Emergency Response Team and Canine unit, were able to arrest the man. He was the subject of a search following an incident on October 11th when police reported a vehicle had failed to stop for them and was later found abandoned in Nipigon. The man will make a video court appearance today.

Quality Market Closing

Quality Market is closing it's two locations. The family owned company has operated in Thunder Bay for 24 years and will be closing their doors soon. All stock is being marked down immediately.  The owners are declining to comment on how many people will be affected or why the stores are being closed.

Chamber Doesn't Like Golf Decision

The head of the Chamber of Commerce is upset the city has decided to keep Municipal Golf Course open for one more year. Council decided in the spring to close Municipal but at Monday night's meeting delayed the closure until the end of 2013. Chamber President Harold Wilson is concerned about the impact this decision will have on the development and delivery of the City's core business review.

OPP Looking For Suspect

The OPP are continuing to look for a man wanted in connection to a stolen vehicle investigation from last week.  Nipigon police tried to stop a stolen vehicle on Highway 17 when the driver fled.  Recently, officers were notified about a break and enter to a camp on Nipigon Bay Road. They believe it's the same person and are looking for a man between the ages of 30 and 50 years old with dark curly hair.

Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite

The Social Services Board is taking complaints of bed bugs at the Royal Edward Arms seriously. Spokesperson Terry Flaherty says they've dealt with five confirmed cases this month alone. Terry Flaherty says any future cases of bed bugs should be reported immediatly and they will deal with it as soon as possible.

A Cautious Response From Virdiramo

The chair of the city's Police Service's Board says he supports the mayor's decision to step down from the board. Keith Hobbs says he's too restricted in what he can say and do sitting as a board member. Chair Joe Virdiramo was cautious in his reaction to the news and would only add that he looks forward to working with the new member.  The new city council representative for the board is going to be chosen October 22nd.

Mauro Credits McGuinty For North's Progress

Premier McGuinty's decision to step down as liberal leader is a surprise to Thunder Bay MPP Bill Mauro who says McGuinty has been good to the north.  Mauro says we have made great strides in this part of the province, and it couldn't have happened without McGuinty.  Mauro says he respects McGuinty's decision and says he personally thanked the premier for the support he has shown to him and his riding of Thunder Bay-Atikokan

Gravelle Saddened By Premier's Decision

Premier Dalton McGuinty's decision to resign is stirring up the passions in some of his most loyal supporters including Natural Resources Minister Michael Gravelle. He says McGuinty will be missed  and calls him an extraordinary supporter of Northern Ontario, a great man and the best premier the province has ever had. 

Hobbs Stepping Down From Police Board

Mayor Keith Hobbs is resigning from the city's Police Services Board.   Hobbs says his past policing career has frequently created situations where he's had to declare a conflict of interest.  He says the move will help him to freely comment on community safety issues.  A new city council representative will be chosen on October 22nd. 

Hobbs On McGuinty

Mayor Keith Hobbs isn't surprised by the Premier's decision to step down.  Hobbs says he was tipped off by Liberal insiders.  The Mayor says Thunder Bay will be fine during the transition to the new Leader.  Hobbs says the City has met most of the important players in the McGuinty cabinet.  Hobbs says they've met most of the possible replacements.

Golf Course Saved

Municipal Golf Course is going to stay open for another year. The City is letting the course operate for just one more year while a group looks at making it more affordable.  City Councillor Rebecca Johnson was one of several to vote against the course. Johnson says she can't support keeping a course open when people are having a hard time paying their taxes.

Regen Med Gets Cash

City Council is giving Regen Med 150 thousand dollars.  Council decided to provide the not for profit bone and tissue bank an interest free loan.  Councillor Trevor Giertuga has concerns over giving out more money to that group.  The money gives the organization an almost 3 month window to complete a business plan for the Provincial Government.

Youth Centre Is A Go

The City is spending 122-thousand dollars towards setting up a youth centre in the Victoriaville mall.  They approved the spending for the 18 month pilot project at last night's meeting.  Youth Centre Spokesperson Colleen Peters says they're thrilled.  The group hopes to have the youth centre open by November 1st.

City Receives Consultants Report

City Council is one step closer to voting on building a multi-plex on the newly redeveloped waterfront.  Council received the consultant's study at last night's meeting.  Council will vote on whether to proceed with the 106 million dollar project at it's November 26th meeting.  A public meeting on the project is set for November 21st at the Community Auditorium.

McGuinty Resigning

Premier Dalton McGuinty is stepping down as Liberal leader. He dropped that bombshell at an emergency meeting of his MPP's this evening. No reason was given for the move except to say it's time for a change. He says the party heirarchy has been asked to get the wheels in motion for a leadership convention to be held as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Thunder Bay Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro says he was surprised by the announcement  but respects the Premiers decision.

CEP CAW Merger Vote

Canada now has its biggest private-sector union.  The Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada has approved a merger with the Canadian Auto Workers.  Thunder Bay's CEP Spokesperson Marvin Pupeza says it's a big move for the two unions.  A union official says more than 90 per cent of delegates at Monday's C-E-P national convention in Quebec City endorsed the merger.

Border Cats New Manager

The Thunder Bay Border Cats are hiring a new field manager for the 2013 season.  Dan Holcomb becomes the tenth manager in Border Cats history.  Holcomb is currently the pitching coach at Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa.

City Ring Of Fire Project Up For Award

Thunder Bay is nominated for a strategic project of the year award.  The award is being put on by the City's North American colleagues.  The city's Ring of Fire project is being considered for the award.   The winners will be announced Tuesday afternoon.

Car Goes Through TD Store Front

A 79 year old woman isn't hurt after crashing her vehicle through the Dawson Road TD Bank.  Police were called to the scene of the collision just after 3 o'clock Monday afternoon.  The woman was parking at the front of the TD Bank when her vehicle sped up and over the curb and continued into the glass window.  The vehicle came to a rest inside the bank.  No charges are being laid because it happened on private property.

Flu Clinics Announced

It's time to consider getting your yearly flu shot. Clinics have started in the city today organized by the District Health Unit. Spokesperson Darlene Binette says it's important to get vaccinated because there are some new flu strains about.  The vaccine will help protect you from A-California, A-Victoria and A-Wisconsin strains. The free clinics run until the middle of November.

Football Blowout Defended

A lopsided victory in a weekend senior high school football game has one official wondering what can be done to prevent such a blowout in the future. David Pineau, the head of school sports programs in the city, says Churchill's 79-0 victory over Superior is something that will likely come up with officials of the SSSAA when they meet next. He says there is no mercy rule in the system.    Pineau says he spoke with both coaches and is confident there was no intention to run up the score.

Waste Reduction Week Kicks Off

It's Waste Reduction Week in Thunder Bay and right across the country.   Jessica Bracken of Eco Superior says once again the organization is teaming up with the city to keep waste reduction top of mind.  It kicked off with a ceremony at Franco Superieur Catholic School this morning.

Youth Centre Up For A Vote

City Council is considering moving ahead with a youth centre. City staff are recommending to council they spend over 122-thousand dollars towards the 18 month pilot project. Councillor Rebecca Johnson says it's a good idea.  Council will vote on whether or not to go ahead with the project at it's meeting tonight.

Muncipal On Life Support

City Council will re-evaluate the fate of Municipal Golf Course. Councillor Rebecca Johnson isn't pleased council is considering operating the golf course for another year while a group looks at how to make the course more affordable.  Johnson says if they vote to keep the course open until the end of 2013 she'll be very disappointed.  Under the proposal, during the 2013 season a group would be set up to look into how to make Municipal more cost efficient and sustainable.