A Kenora OPP officer will have to stand trial on a charge of dangerous driving causing death. Constable Troy Bender was charged by the Special Investigations Unit last fall after the cruiser he was driving collided with a semi tractor trailer unit at the intersection of the Redditt Road and the Kenora By-pass on September 23rd, 2012. A prisoner in the back of the cruiser, 42 year old Gloria Assin, was killed in the collision
A Thunder Bay police officer is being charged by the Special Investigations Unit. In May, the OPP brought a man into Thunder Bay Police custody where the SIU says Constable Andrew Johnstone used subsequent force with him. Johnstone is facing one charge of Assault and will be in Ontario Court of Justice on August 20th. .Meanwhile, Thunder Bay Police say Johnstone is on desk duty and isn't suspended. He's been with the Police force for 9 years.
One person is dead as the result of Tuesday afternoon's traffic accident at Brock and Ford. City police say 80 year old Ellinor Christiansen was a passenger in one of the two vehicles involved in the mishap. They say she died Thursday morning in hospital. Police say so far no charges have been laid, but they haven't finished the investigation.
The Ministry of Natural Resources is sending some of its fire crews out of province. Twenty firefighters, along with support staff, are being dispatched to lend a hand in the Northwest Territories and Quebec. There are 41 active fires in northwestern Ontario, the largest being an 11-thousand hectare blaze, 50 kilometres northwest of Red Lake.
OPP are releasing the name of the man who died in a collision on Highway 17 west of Ignace. 53 year old Cordell Majcher of Winnipeg was the driver of the pick up truck that hit a transport. Police are continuing to investigate the collision.
The Treaty Three Police Service board has finally broken its silence surrounding its decision to close down the aboriginal police department. A week after announcing the closure, the board has issued a press release saying government underfunding and not financial mismanagement were responsible for the decision. The board says a number of factors played into their decision, including an arbitration ruling which gave the Treaty Three officer wage parity with the OPP.
A 46 year old Thunder Bay man is due back in court next month on numerous sex related charges involving young boys. Jeff Paxton is now free after a bail hearing in court yesterday. Police say the charges stem from incidents that took place between 1983 and 2004.
There's a move on to get both sides back to the bargaining table to end the strike at Dilico Anishinabek Family Care. Tannis Smith runs an Aboriginal counselling agency in the city and says the strike is hurting families in the region. Smith is organizing a protest in front of the Dilico offices on the Fort William First Nation at 10:30 this morning.
It's a mix of good and bad news for the local Bombardier plant. Waterloo has decided to purchase 14 light rail transit vehicles from the company at the cost of 92.4 million dollars. However, CAW Union President Dominic Pasqualino says they also found out the Company is laying off 130 workers starting at the end of next week. 50 of the 130 employees laid off will be called back in the fall.
Shuniah Reeve Maria Harding is saying very little on the decision by Dorion not to amalgamate with her community. Harding says since her council hasn't even had a chance to even discuss it seriously, it wouldn't be right to express her opinions on the issue. Dorion officials have decided they will be able to run the township after all, since a hiring crisis has been averted.
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A chance for leaders across the northwest to bring concerns about a looming energy shortage forward. The provincial government has started 2-months of consultations on a long-term energy plan. Local leaders have been warning for months about an energy crisis and the potential for rolling blackouts. Members of the public, aboriginal leaders and municipal reps are encouraged to chip in their opinions through information sessions or by submitting comments through the Ministry of Energy's website. The only information session in the north is August 7th in Thunder Bay.
A bug expert is warning Northwestern Ontario residents about the threat of lyme disease. Dr. Curtis Russell says people should cover up bare skin if they’re walking through bush or tall grass, to avoid ticks that cause Lyme Disease. Russell says while these blacklegged ticks are most common in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario, they make their way north as well. Russell adds the Lyme-carrying ticks are highly prevalent as well in the northeastern United States.
Thunder Bay's Port Authority says they're experiencing a slower than normal shipping season. Grain shipments are down so far this year and Spokesperson Time Heney says it could be due to the changes to the Wheat Board. Heney says it could also be due to the cooler spring and a late planting season.
Smoke from an 11-thousand hectare forest fire continues to blow into Red Lake. The fire poses no threat to the community but the Ministry of Natural Resources states that the smoke isn't expected to leave anytime soon. Information Officer Heather Pridham says this fire is their number one priority. Reports from Minnesota indicate that smoke from the fire is also blowing into several communities in that state.
Highway 17 is now open between Dryden and Ignace. The Trans-Canada was closed yesterday due to a fatal collision, about 15-kilometres west of Ignace. Provincial Police are confirming one fatality. Witnesses say the collision involved a half ton truck and a transport.
34 hockey players will be taking part in this year's Freedom 55 Hockey Celebrity Golf Classic at the Whitewater Golf Course today. Spokesperson Tom Mihaljevic says one hockey celebrity will join each team of four golfers. Money raised through the event goes to the Northern Cancer Fund.
Highway 17 is closed between Dryden and Ignace. The Trans-Canada is closed due to a fatal collision, about 15-kilometres west of Ignace.. Provincial Police are confirming one fatality. Witnesses say the collision involves a half ton truck and a transport. No other details are known at this time There is no word on when the highway will reopen.
Local musician David Smyth (Smy-the) now has a Life Membership in the Canadian Federation of Musicians. He was awarded the honour at an anniversary event held in Thunder Bay recently. Smyth says he's happy to get the support from the organization and notes it's nice to have your peers honour you. Smyth joined the Thunder Bay local back in 1968.
Thunder Bay's Ontario Lottery and Gaming Casino is getting it's Responsible Gambling accreditation. According to the company the accreditation program is one of the most rigorous in the world.
A 23 year old man is in police custody after OPP charged him with mischief, possession of a weapon and breach of probation. Police say Schreiber residents heard loud shots and noticed damaged property in the residential area. Officers eliminated the possibility that firearms were used in the incident and charged the Schreiber man who will appear in court today.
Another successful Teddy Bears Picnic. Hundreds of children and their parents enjoyed an afternoon of music, games and food at Vicker's Park. The annual children's event is put on by the city.
Thunder Bay Police say a 47 year old man is in hospital after being seriously injured last night on Fort William Road. He was assaulted in an outdoor area which is known for the use of intoxicating substances by transients. Police are trying to determine the cause of the man's injuries.
City Council is preparing for it's upcoming battle with Resolute Forest Products over the company's decision to appeal their property tax assessment with the Municipal Property Corporation. A special closed door session meeting of Council was held last night to discuss the City's options going forward. Councillor Ken Boshcoff says they're getting a game plan together. Resolute wants to have their assessment dramatically lowered from 72 million.
Thunder bay businessman Don Wing is dead. His wife Gwen Dubois Wing confirms that he died suddenly this morning. Funeral arrangements are pending. Dubois Wing says while her husband was well involved in the construction industry, he was also part of the city hospital foundation and airport authority boards and was an all around entrepreneur. Don Wing, dead at the age of 53.
The suspect had his face covered and fled the scene. No one was seriously injured. Anyone with information should contact police or Crime Stoppers. City Police are reporting a strange incident that happened at the Shoreline Motor Hotel Sunday. A man entered a hotel room and sprayed bear spray. 4 men and one woman was in the room at the time.
The organizers of Bluesfest are deeming the three day music festival a success. Organizer Trevor Hurtig says they don't have final attendance numbers but says it looks good. Hurtig says they're already starting to plan for next year's event.
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Confederation College is looking forward to higher enrollment numbers this fall. President Jim Madder says early enrollment confirmation numbers are up 5 percent. He adds there are a number of courses that could see an increase in applications. Madder notes the health care courses are also very popular with some already full.
A man and a woman will be in bail court today after a weekend incident at Trowbridge Falls Campground. Police say two sisters in their 20s were assaulted while camping on the weekend. The man faces an assault charge while the woman was charged with two counts of assault.
350 Dilico Anishinabek Family Care workers are on strike. They walked off the job just after 8 this morning and are picketing the Dilico office on Anemki Drive. Marvin Pupeza of Canadian Energy and Paperworkers Union says they have a number of issues with the employer. The workers have been without a new contract for over a year.
Parks Canada wants to make the best out of your road trip across Northwestern Ontario. They have launched their "Heritage Hide'n'Seek Geotour", which guides folks to various locations to learn more about the people and events that helped shape this country. Communications Officer Nancy Saunders says it covers a wide area from Algonquin Park all the way to the Manitoba border. All you need to to take part is a GPS or smart phone!