Officials with both the Health Unit and Pinewood Court are announcing that a gastrointestinal outbreak is being expanded to include the entire facility. Access is being limited to only caregivers and family members. All activities are cancelled.
Confederation College and the Northwest Innovation Centre are launching a new manufacturing program today. It's called Mi-Zone and Innovation Centre Spokesperson Judy Sander says plenty of company will be using it. The college is providing the manufacturing equipment that's needed to help build products for local businesses.
Today marks the internationally recognized Elimination of Racial Discrimination Day. The Ontario Native Women's Association is bringing attention to the discrimination they say still runs rampant among the country's Aboriginal populations. ONWA Board of Directors President Dr. Dawn Harvard says derogatory actions towards Aboriginals can result in significant psychological effects on children. ONWA is calling on Canadians to recognize that Aboriginal discrimination has become entrenched in Canadian culture. They are asking Canadians to help put an end to the issue by no longer turning a blind eye to racism.
A possible food contamination is causing a product recall across Canada. Fresh House Foods Limited is recalling Kirkland Signature brand Grilled Chicken Breast Strips from stores due to a possible listeria contamination. People are asked not to consume the product. The product is known to have been sold in Ontario and Eastern Canada, but may have been sold in other provinces.
The Thunder Bay Hospital is announcing a new addition to their medical staff. Dr. Naana Jumah (Na-na Joo-Mah) is a Clinician Researcher who studied at Oxford University and Harvard University and is originally from the city. Jumah says she has a passion for working with aboriginal populations, something that started at a young age when working with youth that came to the city. Jumah will also help further develop the hospital's High Intensity Focused Ultrasound program.
The Competition Bureau is approving Loblaw's acquisition of Shoppers Drug Mart. The deal is expected to close as of next Friday. As a result of the deal Loblaws is selling 18 Shoppers Drug Mart stores around the Country. Thunder Bay isn't on the list.
The region's volunteers will be honoured at a ceremony planned for Kenora this May. The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards will be handed out to volunteers for continuous service to an organization of between 5 and 60 years. Youth will also be recognized for two or more years of volunteer service. The Kenora event will take place May 27.
Investigators with the Thunder Bay Police and RCMP are returning from Ottawa after conducting interviews with staff and players with the University of Ottawa hockey program. According to a release from city police the majority of players cooperated with investigators however a few chose not to speak. The investigation continues into an alleged sexual assault that took place when the hockey team was in Thunder Bay for a pair of weekend games early February.
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| Municipal League President Larry Hebert |
Health care providers from across the Northwest are in Thunder Bay this week for the Regional Stroke Forum. Regional Stroke Educator Elaine Edwards says the region sees a number of stroke cases. Area doctors will learn from the leading stroke neurologists over the next two days.
The 2014 Bluesfest lineup is out. Among the headliners coming to Thunder Bay this summer, Melissa Etheridge, Jimmy Vaughn and the Wallflowers. Community Auditorium General Manager Bob Halverson says there's several bands people should be excited to see. Bluesfest takes place at Marina Park July 4th to the 6th. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at the Community Auditorium.
CN Rail officials say work continues at the James Street Swing bridge. Scaffolding is in place at the site to assist the consultants in their extensive review of the bridge. The final report is still expected to be complete at the end of the month.
Diversity Thunder Bay welcomed a prominent figure to their 'Celebration Breakfast' this morning. Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish is a three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee and spoke at their event in support of ending racial discrimination. Chair Tina Tucker says their guest speaker brings with him first hand experiences living near the Gaza strip. Abuelaish is now an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.
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| Mercury Sludge |
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| Bruce Hyer |
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| John Rafferty |
A car is a total write off after an overnight fire. Firefighters responded to the vehicle blaze around 4 o'clock this morning in the 900 block of Mountdale Avenue. The car was parked in the driveway and there was some exterior smoke damage to the house. Fire officials aren't sure of the cause of the blaze, but have ruled out foul play. There were no injuries.
A 48-year old man is in Regional Hospital with non-life threatening injuries after being struck on a bicycle at the corner of May and Finlayson Street. City Police report the incident took place just after 9 o'clock last night. Ironically, it turned out the victim had been seen moments earlier smashing a window to break into a vehicle on the CLE Grounds. Witnesses stated the thief then took off on a bike. A tool box was recovered at the accident scene. The man has been charged with possession of stolen property, mischief and failing to yield under the Highway Traffic Act.
Three community agencies are rebranding their network to better target local teens. Thunder Bay Counselling Centre, St. Joseph's Care Group and the Children's Centre are behind the U-turn program which will help youth make positive changes in their lives whether it involves mental illness or substance abuse. The initiative will also include a new social media campaign featuring the Facebook & Twitter hashtag #sharehowUfeel
The Kingfisher Unit of the Pinewood Court long term care home is declaring an outbreak of a stomach illness. Visitors to this unit are limited to family members and caregivers only, so please call for more information. The Health Unit is urging people to refrain from visiting hospitals and long-term care facilities when feeling unwell.
City Police are charging a 57 year old Thunder Bay man with three counts of sexual interference involving a child under the age of 14. The alleged incident occurred between 1992 and 1996. Donald Neil Miller was convicted of a similar incident in 2003. Police say the victims in both occurrences attended the Round Lake Bible Camp between 1992 and 1998 when Miller was affiliated with the camp. Miller has been released with a court date of March 21, 2014.
There's a call for more ice-breakers on the Great Lakes from the Canadian Shipowners Association. President Robert Lewis-Manning says it's critical because, under current conditions, ships will not be able to navigate the lakes to move their cargo. He says it's especially serious here in Thunder Bay. Lewis-Manning believes there should be at least one Canadian ice-breaker sent to help break up the Thunder Bay Harbour.
City Council continues to get a piece of the public's mind when it comes to holding a vote on the event centre. Several organizations came out to ask the City to make the proposed arena a question in the upcoming municipal election. Andy Wolff thinks having a question on the ballot would result in a higher voter turnout. Meanwhile, Council is moving forward with the third phase of the event centre. Councillors awarded a 1.4 million dollar contract to BBB Architects. The company will be in charge of creating a design for the proposed facility.
Greenpeace is continuing it's public relations battle with Resolute Forest Products. This morning, the environmental group unfurled two banners on the Mount Royal Cross in Montreal. Greenpeace says the action is part of it's campaign against Resolute's operations in the Boreal Forest. It wants the pulp and paper giant to establish a better balance between it's logging practices and protection of public forests.
