There is some support coming from the community for the proposed Indian Friendship Youth Centre on High Street. A community meeting was held Thursday evening at the Moose Hall with just under one-hundred in attendance including Mayor Keith Hobbs, MP Bruce Hyer and Councillor Joe Vidiramo. There was little opposition being directed towards the project but some concerns did surface around parking space and the impact the youth may have on the community. Hobbs added in closing that during a city survey ninety-five percent of youth surveyed said they support having a centre, that number fell slightly to seventy-five percent for adults surveyed.
The inquest into the death of Lee Antoniak is providing some suggestions for how further incidents like this can be avoided. A four person jury presented their seven findings Thursday evening which include: extra post-mortem blood testing for the presence of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), back-up and proximity sensors as well as cameras used to reduce blind spots for heavy equipment, personal communicators for workers, random drug testing for operators, increase in the use of signal persons and an increase in awareness of workers rights. Antoniak died of his injuries after being hit by a dump truck on-site at work in April 2012.
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With criticism continuing to pour in regarding northwestern Ontario winter highway maintenance, we decided to look south of the border. Pat Houston is with the Minnesota Department of Transport and says using chemicals on their highways doesn't happen until the highways are all plowed thoroughly to the pavement. Houston says though the chemicals won't work in sub zero cold like we had last weekend.
Thunder Bay once again has the dubious honour of being the murder capital of Canada. Statistics Canada says the 7 homicides we had in 2012 helped push our per capita rate to 5.8 murders for every 100 thousand people. Police Chief J-P Levesque did not want to comment on the figures.
It has been another tragic week on area highways and Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell has seen enough. She's calling for immediate action to winter road maintenance in northwestern Ontario. Campbell points to a recent decision by Iron Range Bus Lines to cancel service on a major route. Campbell says police are even indicating that most recent collisions have been caused by poor road conditions.
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| Tim Hudak, Jane McKenna |
The company that's demolishing the old Smurfit Stone mill on Strathcona Avenue is in trouble with the government after this weeks industrial accident. That's when a worker fell about 30 feet while on the job. Matt Blajer of the Ministy of Labour says until certain issues are cleared up, all work at the site is halted. That includes providing fall protection equipment to workers, to train them in fall protection and to develop and emergency plan. The condition of the worker who was hurt isn't known.
The Thunder Bay District Health Unit is looking into possible food poisoning following a banquet at the Moose Hall on Fort William Road. Officials say that about 54 people who were at the event on Friday became sick. They hope to contact as many of the 270 people that attended the event as possible, that includes people from Greenstone, Dryden, Kenora and even Hamilton. Meantime health officials say charges have been laid and until further notice, the Moose Hall can't serve food.
Members of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation are in Toronto rallying in support of St.
Anne's Residential School survivors.This is the final day of a two-day
hearing in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice where the federal government is
being challenged to release documents from a police investigation of residential
school abuse at St. Anne's in Fort Albany.NAN Deputy Grand Chief Alvin
Fiddler says the government's decision to keep evidence from survivors
compromises the rights of these survivors and notes they have a legal obligation
under the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement to release the
documents. Fiddler stresses the
survivors of St. Anne's have suffered enough.
One man is dead and another women in is hospital with serious injuries following an accident on Highway 11. OPP says both were a car that came into collision with a transport early yesterday afternoon near the junction of Highway 633, 30 kilometres east of Atikokan. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The woman was transported to Atikokan General Hospital. The driver of the transport was not hurt. The accident closed the road for more than seven hours and fully reopened just a couple of hours ago..
Ministry of Labour investigators are probing an industrial accident at Smurfit Stone on Strathcona Avenue this afternoon.. Police say that a 45 year old male worker fell about 1 story after his clothing got caught on some scrap material which was being thrown to the ground. He was taken to the Health Sciences Centre where he remains with unknown injuries.
A report from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing shows that Dryden is still facing high challenges in four out of seven key financial indicators. Ministry reps addressed Council last night and stated they still have concerns but realize that the City is taking steps to fix the problem. Chief Administrative Officer Andre Larabie says all of the concerns of the Ministry will be addressed. He says a recovery plan is being put together for council's consideration. The report indicated Dryden doesn't have the ability right now to cover payments or unexpected costs on short notice as well as meet short-term capital obligations.
The Province says that more construction on Highway 11 in northwestern Ontario is scheduled to begin in spring 2014. Over 27 kilometres of the highway between Geraldton and Jellicoe will be repaved. Aecon Construction has received a 10 and a half million dollar contract as part of the government's initiative to introduce a new three-part plan that will help create jobs and boost economic growth. The project will open up 100 new jobs for Ontario workers.
A memorial will be placed at the end of Pier Two on Prince Arthur's Landing honoring Katherine Dugmore who passed away in March. Community Services General Manager Greg Alexander says the estimated cost would fall between ten and fifteen thousand dollars but believes that companies may offer their work free of charge.
Thunder Bay's Fire Service is talking to the hospital, old age homes and all other organizations that are deemed vulnerable occupancies. Fire Chief John Hay says they want those building owners to know how they'll be impacted by new Ontario regulations which will require more scrutiny and changing habits.
It was a tough day on area roads Sunday. A single vehicle accident on Highway 17 claimed the life of 55-year old John Lackey from the Barrie area. OPP say yesterday afternoon around 3 o'clock a pickup truck rolled over, one kilometre west of Finmark Road, that resulted in the highway being reduced to one lane. Meanwhile, a two-vehicle collision on Highway 61 near Mount Forest Boulevard sent four people to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The male driver of the Nissan truck was charged with Unsafe Lane Change contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
Six time Olympian Clara Hughes is cycling across Canada raising mental health awareness. Mary Deacon is Chair with the Let's Talk initiative and says events will kick off soon with Bell Let's Talk Day which over the past few years has raised 62-million dollars. Clara's trip begins in Toronto on March 14th and will be in Thunder Bay in June.
It's almost time to pick up your Christmas Cheer hampers. If you live on the south side of the City Tuesday is your chance to pick it up, while the north ward will pick up their hampers on Wednesday. Hampers can be picked up at the CLE from 9 in the morning till 7 at night.
City Council is set to clear up some administrative duties during the last meeting of 2013. Deputy Chief of Superior North EMS Ernie Kadikoff says they're asking council to approve the spending of their new ambulance for Armstrong. The Provincial Government provided 165-thousand dollars towards the vehicle. Meanwhile, A permanent memorial for Katherine Dugmore will be discussed at council tonight. Dugmore was the city's Project Manager for the waterfront development before passing away in March to cancer. The memorial would be placed at the Viewing Circle entrance at the end of Pier Two. Also up for discussion tonight, the city's Community and Cultural Funding grants are expected to remain consistent with last years. Council will review a submission tonight passing two point three million dollars in funding. Finally, an application to have the Sister Leila Greco Apartments included in the cities Charitable Tax Rebate program should be looked at favorably according to councillor Brian McKinnon. If approved the apartments would receive a full tax rebate.
Hydro One is releasing some gift ideas to help homeowner save money. Some of the gifts include cold water laundry detergents, LED and CFL light bulbs and window insulating kits.
The Regional Food Distribution Centre is getting some help from Safeway. Customers are being asked to purchase a five or ten dollar care package that are filled with the food banks most needed non-perishable goods. RFDA Spokesperson Brendan Carlin says the partnership with Safeway is vital when stocking shelves.
Loblaw is issuing a voluntary recall of three kinds of outdoor Christmas lights. The company says lights may have loose or exposed wires which could provide shocks, electrocution or fire. The lights being recalled are Life at Home 70 C6 LED Outdoor White, Life at Home 70 LED Outdoor Blue and Life at Home 70 C6 Outdoor Multicolour. The lights have since been taken off the shelves, and were sold at Real Canadian Superstore locations and No Frills. No injuries have yet been reported.