Chambers Meets With Union

Elementary school teachers across Ontario are still looking for ways to send a message to the provincial government expressing their outrage regarding the imposed new contracts. President of the local chapter of the Elementary Teachers of Ontario, Ellen Chambers held a meeting yesterday with her members to discuss volunteering for extracurricular activities. Chambers says many parents may not realize what constitutes a volunteer activity that is performed by a teacher.  

Urban Forest Plan Passes

The way the City prunes its trees is changing now that Council has approved the urban forest master plan.  Parks Manager Paul Fayrick says it will help improve the condition of area trees.  Fayrick says now that they've received council's approval its full steam ahead on implementing the document.

Safety Concerns Over Layoffs

Thunder Bay MP John Rafferty is concerned about the Harper government's plans to reduce the number of grain inspectors in the city.  Rafferty is worried the prime minister's penchant for budget cutting could result in safety issues as the job of inspections becomes the responsibility of the grain companies.   According to the union the budget cutbacks could result in about 50 jobs being lost.

Murder Trial Continues In Kenora

Police officers have been providing the bulk of the testimony so far at the 2nd degree murder trial of Kenneth Ivall and Angela Duchesne.  Members of the OPP and former Kenora police were at the Tim Horton's Restaurant near the crime scene, the morning that Ed Wilson was killed.   Yesterday constable Miranda Duggan testified that she noticed several spots of a blood-like substance on the bathroom floor in the restaurant, and also by the sink.  Shortly after she was called out to an accident scene at the CP rail tracks, where the body of Ed Wilson was found.  Testimony will continue today at the Kenora Court House. 

Local Police Officer Back From Palestine

A Thunder Bay Police Inspector is back from a one year stint training Palestinian police officers.  Inspector Lorne Clifford left in September 2011 and returned this past fall.  He told board members this morning he has a better understanding of dangerous situations after having weapons pointed at him on a daily basis in the middle east.  Clifford says he was proud to help play a part in an international training program for Palestine.

NAN To Host Public Meeting

Nishnawbe Aski Nation is partnering with city police and the Ontario Provincial Police by hosting a Community Safety Forum tonight. The Forum is set to provide an opportunity for public education on police investigative procedures, to encourage dialogue on current concerns and conclude with a discussion regarding next steps aimed at ensuring safety. The meeting is scheduled to take place tonight starting at 6 o'clock at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. The forum is open to students and their families, Leadership, First Nations and Aboriginal organizations, and city residents.

Weather Statement Issued For Wawa

Travelers headed East of Thunder Bay today will want to use caution when driving near Wawa and White River.  A special weather statement is being released by Environment Canada saying heavy lake effect flurries will affect regions to the east of Lake Superior today, tonight and into Wednesday.  Up to 15 centimetres of snow could fall by tomorrow afternoon.  The main issue will be very low visibility under the heaviest flurries as conditions may be near zero.

Shuniah Man Faces Child Porn Charges

Thunder Bay Police say an early childhood educator is charged in connection with a case involving nude photos of a young girl who complained to police last month.  Police searched a home and found child pornography images on a computer along with a large number of adult female undergarments. Charged with Possession and Distribution of Child Pornography and Extortion, is 29 year old Mark Lehtonen of Shuniah township.

Kusznier Anniversary Being Remembered

John Kusznier's hat

Tuesday marks the 35th anniversary of the death of city Police Constable John Kusznier,  the only city police officer to die in the line of duty.   His son Stephen Kusznier was 12 when the tragedy occurred and says he's pleased with the way the city has always remembered his father.  The flags in front of the police station on Balmoral will be lowered to half mast in remembrance of Kusznier. 

Gull Bay In Financial Crisis

Wilfred King is back as Chief of the Gull Bay First Nation near Armstrong, but he is coming into a financial crisis.   Chief King says the first sign something was wrong was last week when the previous band Chief and Council laid off all employees, presumably because there was no money in the bank account.  Chief King discovered this morning the band is in a very serious deficit situation right now and they have to find a way to maintain essential services.

Government Court Appeal Launched

The provincial government is launching its appeal today of an Ontario Superior Court ruling in favour of the Grassy Narrows First Nation. Last August, the court ruled the government does not have the right to unilaterally take away treaty rights and allow clear cut logging and mining activity in its traditional land use area. The province is arguing that it has exclusive jurisdiction over all public lands and forests.  The government of Canada and Resolute Forest Products are also appealing the decision, while Goldcorp and other First Nations have asked to  intervene.

Flu Associated With 7 Deaths

The District Health Unit is confirming there have been at least 7 deaths associated with the flu in the Thunder Bay District.  Spokesperson Darlene Binette they all happened as the flu was making it's way through many seniors homes and that all the victims were elderly.    Binette says that's why it's important for the most vulnerable people, seniors and infants, to get a flu shot. 

Mount Baldy Conditions

Mount Baldy Ski area is still boasting that 80 percent of their hill is good for skiing, despite the record breaking temperatures and rain that fell last week. Owner/Operator Craig Spiess says this Winter has been anything but ordinary. Spiess says he still expects a large snowfall in the coming weeks to boost conditions and hopes that will attract a larger number of recreational skiers to the hill. 

Idle No More Supporters Walking

The Idle No More moment in Thunder Bay is on the move.   Members of the organization are walking east on the Trans Canada Highway.  It began with a sunrise ceremony today at the Spirit Garden on the waterfront.   According to spokesperson Teresa Trudeau the walkers plan to be in Nipigon in time for this week's National Day of Action taking place on Wednesday.   That's when a rally will take place in the community starting at noon. 

Regional Road Conditions

The O.P.P. and Ministry of Transportation say all Highways are back open this morning following a Winter storm that moved through the region over the weekend. It took until early Sunday morning to re-open Highway 17 from Dryden to Sistonen's Corner because of poor weather conditions. Caution is still being urged for those travelling around the region with the M.T.O.'s website reporting a number of snow covered or partially snow covered roads with slushy and or icy conditions.

Thunderwolves Weekend

It was an up and down weekend for Lakehead University teams. The men's hockey team split a pair of games on the road against York. The Thunderwolves are tied with the Lions for 4th place in their division. The men's basketball team split against the Brock Badgers, while the women lost both to the #7 ranked team in the country. One team that is heating up is the women's volleyball team. They won their only match of the weekend 4-1 over Guelph and are now 6-8 and winners of five in a row.

Three Teams Advance To N. Ont. Tankard

Three Thunder Bay Rinks are now entered into the Northern Ontario Tankard to be held at the beginning of February in Nipigon. Trevor Bonot booked his spot by going 4-1 in the six team round robin tournament at the Port Arthur Curling Club. Bryan Burgess and Jeff Currie claimed the final two berths by posting records of 3-2. Rinks who are on the outside looking in will have one more chance to qualify in two weeks in Keewatin.

Robin's Tournament Wraps-up

The 22nd annual Robin's Donuts Minor Hockey Classic wrapped up Sunday with champions being crowned in 12 age divisions. 11 of the 12 divisions were won by Thunder Bay teams. A total of 146 teams were involved in the 4 day tournament which used 9 rinks across the city over the weekend. 

Crime Of The Week

Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers is asking for any information about a robbery that occurred at the Shopper's Drug Mart located in Grandview Mall. On January 4th, 2013 at approximately 6:35 pm a lone man armed with a knife and with his face covered with a balaclava entered the Shoppers Drug Mart and demanded narcotics.  The man fled with an undisclosed amount of narcotics. The accused was last seen heading westbound from the store carrying a blue reusable grocery bag. He is described as a 5'8" Caucasian with a thin build, wearing a light coloured baseball hat with sunglasses, a tan coloured waist length coat, black gloves and blue jeans. Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers is asking for anyone with information about this robbery to call Crime Stoppers at 623-TIPS or 623-8477.

Lakehead School Support Staff Ratify Agreement

Support staff of the Lakehead District School board have ratified a two-year provincial agreement that will protect services and students while ensuring stability in schools. CUPE 2486 President Rodney McGee says the committee has concluded this round of bargaining but the membership still has concerns about Bill 115 and they still want to campaign against democratic infringement that they feel the Bill has created.

Department Promotes Motorcycle Tourism

Thunder Bay's tourism department is taking part in a Motorcycle show in Minneapolis this weekend. Tourism Manager Paul Pepe says they're taking in the Minneapolis International Motorcycle show followed by other shows in the coming weeks. The department hopes to promote Thunder Bay as a motorcycle-friendly city with partnerships like Ride Lake Superior. Pepe says motorcycle tourism is growing rapidly in the United States.

Rafferty Wants Conservatives to Listen

The Federal Government gets back to work on Monday January 28th. MP John Rafferty says he hopes the Conservatives have a change of heart and start consulting Canadians on important issues. Rafferty says most of 2012 was spent arguing with the Harper Government and notes they need to start working with MPs of all parties.

Extra Flu Clinic Available Today

A high increase in flu activity this year is resulting in the Health Unit holding an extra flu shot clinic today. Spokesperson Darlene Binette says the walk-in clinic will be held in the Health Unit's auditorium, seeing clients on a first-come, first-serve basis. Several lab-confirmed cases of the flu have been reported to the local health unit.

LU Women's Basketball Hosts Shoot for the Cure

A national initiative to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer comes to Thunder Bay today. The Lakehead University women's basketball team is hosting its annual "Shoot For The Cure" fundraiser at today's games being played at the L.U. Fieldhouse. Women's Coach Jon Kreiner says the Women's Basketball Coaches Association started the campaign. A triple-header is being played today starting at 2 o'clock with both the women's volleyball and basketball teams wearing pink uniforms.

Face Lifts for Catholic Schools in the Area

The Catholic School Board in Thunder Bay continues to focus on capital projects for its schools.   Earlier this week a multi-million dollar face-lift to St. Martin School was announced and board spokesperson Tom Mustapic says that's in addition to the work that's already underway. Mustapic says the province has injected over 40 million dollars for board capital projects in the last ten years.

DFC Students Armed With Alarms

Students at Dennis Franklin Cromarty school are now being given something to help keep them from harm.  It's a safety tag which can sound an alarm if a person is attacked or needs assistance according to Principal Jonathan Kakegamic.  The tags were donated by the Ontario Native Women's Association. 

4 Vehicle Collision Closes Hwy 17 Near Kenora

OPP in Kenora are dealing with a four vehicle collision this afternoon.  Highway 17 is closed east of the highway 71 junction.  It's closed to east bound traffic at the 71 junction and closed to westbound traffic at Vermilion Bay.  Three tractor trailer units and a passenger vehicle have been involved in the collision and no injuries have been reported at this time.

A Plan To Ease Hospital Overcrowding

The regional health authority and the Health Sciences Centre now have a plan in place to help ease the overcrowding pressures at the hospital.  The plan includes 300 thousand dollars from the Local Health Integration Network to move patients out of the hospital and into the community.  It also requests the public consider alternative options to going to the emergency room.

Arrest Spurs Gang Probe

A 27 year old man from the Fort Hope First Nation is in police custody and being  investigated as being a gang member.   The police made the arrest in Thunder Bay yesterday based on several outstanding charges and warrants.  The man is currently being held in custody with a bail hearing scheduled for January 11th.   The name of the gang the man is allegedly involved with is not being released by police until they interview him.   

Highway Closures

A number of Highways around the region are closed because of poor driving conditions. O.P.P. have closed Highway 527 to Armstrong. Highway 524 between Highway 17 and Shirley Lake.Highway 11 from Hearst to Longlac is closed. Highway 101 near Wawa is closed to Highway 144 due to poor weather conditions. Highway 502 is closed approximately 10 kilometres north of Highway 11 due to a collision.

Morning Commute Relatively Safe

City Police say despite the slippery road conditions most people made the morning commute without any difficulty. Police say they did receive a small number of reports because of accidents and responded to less than half a dozen reports of cars that had gone off the road and slid into ditches.

Highway 71 Closed Due To Conditions

Provincial Police are saying Highway 71 is closed this morning near Kenora due to icy road conditions. Police say two transports got stuck on the highway. Freezing rain and deteriorating road conditions are the result of a Colorado low that is moving into the region that is expected to result in hazardous driving conditions over the next couple of days.

Stirling Man Arrested

A 20 year old man from Stirling Township will appear in a Thunder Bay court today facing a number of charges. Nipigon O.P.P. arrested the man on Wednesday night after a transport truck driver reported he had been passed by an erratic driver who was making threatening gestures. Police stopped the vehicle a short time later and a search revealed a small amount of marijuana along with other illegal drugs. The 20 year also faces charges of assault with a weapon and breach of an undertaking. 

Basketball Teams Back On Home Court

The men's and women's basketball teams are back on home court tonight at the Lakehead University Thunderdome to take on the Brock Badgers in the first of a two game series. The women's team sits in 4th place in their division but will be in tough against the undefeated Badgers who are 9-0 and ranked 7th in the country according to Head Coach Jon Kreiner. The women's game starts at 6:00 and the men's team tips-off at 8:00. Meanwhile the L.U. men's hockey team is on the road this weekend playing a pair against the York Lions.

Men's Curling Regionals Start Today

Three spots are available for the Northern Ontario Tankard playdowns as the Men's Curling Regionals get started today at the Port Arthur Curling Club. The top three teams will move on to play in Nipigon next month for the right to represent Northern Ontario at this year's Brier. The round robin gets underway this afternoon at 3 o'clock with the rinks of Dylan Johnston, Bryan Burgess, Jeff Currie, Mike Assad, Al Hackner and Trevor Bonot competing for the three available spots.

Public Elementary Schools Still Closed On Friday

The Public School Board is saying all elementary schools will remain closed today despite the overnight ruling against the teachers. All city High Schools will remain open, however they will not be receving students from rural areas via the bus because those bus routes have been cancelled. All rural bus routes for the catholic and french boards are cancelled for today as well, however their schools are open. Thunder Bay Christian School is also closed today. Daycare centres within elementary schools are also open today. Public elementary schools are to re-open on Monday as regularly scheduled.

Rash Of Break, Enter and Thefts

Thunder Bay Police are investigating a rash of break, enter and thefts to commercial businesses.  In four separate incidents officers found glass had been broken to gain entry and cigarettes had been stolen by a lone male suspect.  The suspect is described as wearing dark clothing, white shoes, and work gloves.  A dark toque and a black balaclava have been worn in some of the thefts.   In one incident the suspect was seen getting into a dark coloured pick up truck.

Arrest Made In Villa Street Murder

A 20 year old Thunder Bay man is charged with second degree murder in connection with the death of 25 year old Desmond Mathews.  Mitchell Suganaqueb was picked up by police at a bus stop on Academy Drive yesterday afternoon around 4:20.  The second injured male from the Villa Street incident remains in critical condition at the hospital.

Hobbs Hopes Wynne Wins

With Glen Murray gone from the Ontario Liberal leadership race, Mayor Keith Hobbs is putting his hopes behind Kathleen Wynne.  The Mayor says next to Murray, she has the best understanding of our needs here in northwestern Ontario.  He says that includes being to Thunder Bay on a number of occasions especially after the May 28th flood.  Hobbs believes Wynne has the pulse of the city.  

Counseling Centre Likes Proposed Legislation

Thunder Bay's Counseling Centre is supporting proposed Provincial Government legislation that aims to regulate debt settlement companies to protect consumers from exaggerated claims and abusive practices.  Spokesperson Sheri Fata says often consumers don't fully understand the contracts they're signing with the company.  Ontario's proposed regulations would ban debt settlement companies from charging up-front fees, and require better more transparent contracts.

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.

Early Morning Accident On Highway 17

An early morning crash on Highway 17 between Ignace and Upsala has sent one person to hospital in Dryden with minor injuries.  Provincial Police say an eastbound transport went into the ditch around 12:30 this morning.  Police say the 48-year-old driver from Manitoba lost control when his trailer got caught in some snow on the shoulder of the road.  Police say the driver was trying to avoid a westbound transport who was passing another tractor trailer unit.

Rickford Looking Forward To Friday's Meeting

Kenora MP Greg Rickford is looking forward to tomorrow's meeting with the Prime Minister and aboriginal leaders.  Rickford will be in attendance at the meeting.  He says open dialogue continues to be key for the Federal Government.  Rickford doesn't believe the recent release of a government appointment audit of Attawapiskat's finances will impact discussions.

Bad Weather On The Way

Environment Canada is issuing a special weather statement for the city of Thunder Bay and areas across Northwestern Ontario from Kenora to Wawa in advance of a pair of storm systems moving in from Texas and Colorado. Meteorologist Peter Kimbell says Thunder Bay will likely be saved from large snowfall amounts because of the mild weather but he does have a warning for anyone headed West over the next couple of days. Kimbell says 10 to 30 centimeters of snow could fall West of here on Friday into Saturday.

LHIN Continues To Meet With Hosptial

Talks are continuing behind closed doors between local health officials and the regional health authority to try to solve the continuing overcrowding problem at the Regional Hospital.  MPP Bill Mauro says its the root of the  problem, not enough bed space for ailing seniors, is not likely going to be resolved soon. The Local Health Integration Network is expected to make a statement on the issue Friday. 

OSSTF To Hold One Day Protest Wednesday

High school teachers will be hitting the pavement on Wednesday to protest the Provincial Government's decision to impose contracts on Ontario's teachers.  Paul Caccamo is with the local chapter of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation and says this labour action is because of the Province's Bill 115.  Caccamo adds they haven't decided where they will be rallying just yet but suggests it will be at several sites in the City.

St. Martin's School Gets $$$

St. Martin's school is getting a 3.6 million dollar face lift thanks to the Ontario government.   Catholic School Board spokesperson Tom Mustapic says the money will be used to expand the gym and to build extra kindergarten space.   Construction is expected to start in August with completion by the summer of 2014.

Good Year For Airport

Thunder Bay's Airport is reporting record breaking passenger volumes in 2012.  Manager Scott McFadden says last year over 761-thousand passengers flew in and out of the City.  McFadden attributes the 5.8 percent increase in passengers to a number of things like a good winter charter program, and excellent service from Porter, WestJet and Air Canada. McFadden adds Wasaya expanded some of its regional flights and that too helped boost passenger numbers.

ETFO Will Rally At Mini QP

Over 300 elementary school teachers will be rallying at the Provincial Government buildings on James Street tomorrow.  Local Union President Ellen Chambers says the protest is aimed squarely at the Province and that's why they chose to picket Mini Queen's Park and not local schools.  Chambers is disappointed the Province views their one day protest as illegal strike activity.  The ETFO considers the labour action as their democratic right.

Child Porn Charges Laid

Schreiber O.P.P. are charging a 19 year old man with possessing, publishing and distributing child pornography. The charges stem from an incident on January 6th at a Schreiber hotel, when the 16 year old victim was video recorded and that recording was subsequently uploaded to a social media website. The name of the accused is being withheld to protect the identity of the victim. The individual is scheduled to appear in court on April 25th. Police say they've done everything they can to ensure the material has been taken off the internet but are warning anyone that criminal charges can result from anyone viewing sexually explicit images and video of a young person who is under the age of 18.

Robin's Tournament Begins Today

Minor hockey players from around northwestern Ontario are gathering in Thunder Bay this weekend for the annual Robin's Donuts Minor Hockey Tournament. Chair Joe Rizzuto says this tournament has been around for 37 years with Robins Donuts the sponsor for 22.  Round robin play begins today with 146 teams taking part ranging in age from 5 to 18 years old. Championship games will be played on Sunday at various rinks around the city.