NAN Demands Inquiry

 Members from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Women's Council are in Ottawa today. They're taking part in a ceremony to honour missing and murdered aboriginal women in Canada. They were on Parliament hill for a ceremony that began yesterday and wraps up tonight. They were joined by NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, representatives of women’s organizations, First Nation and other political leaders at a press conference this morning

Police Awards Being Given Out

It's a special evening for several local law enforcement agencies.  The Kiwanis Club of Westfort is handing out its annual police appreciation awards.   The recipients this year are, Normand Roy of the RCMP, Carol Michtics of the OPP, Jeff Saunders of the city police and Jackie George of the Nishnawbe Aski Police.

Letter Carrier Duties Change

You may notice some changes to the way your mail is being delivered in Thunder Bay.   Starting today,  John Caines of Canada Post says the letter carrier making those deliveries has more responsibilities including sorting their mail along the route.   He says the carriers are now driving vehicles and performing several duties like delivering and collecting mail and parcels.  Caines says it will enable letter carriers to stay on the road longer.

Evacuation Complete

Thunder Bay is now hosting close to 600 evacuees from the James Bay community of Kashechewan.   It follows a state of emergency called by First Nation officials due to flooding from the Albany River.   City Deputy Fire Chief Dave Paxton says no further evacuees are being accepted The evacuees, mostly the elderly and the young, are being housed in a couple of city hotels.

Horwath Pledges HST Break

NDP leader Andrea Horwath is continuing her northern Ontario election swing.  Today she went to a home on University Drive in Thunder Bay to make her hydro announcement.   She says under an NDP government the HST would be eliminated from all hydro bills starting in 2016 saying the average family will gain about 120 dollars a year on their household budget.   As for the other leaders....The PC's Tim Hudak is in southern Ontario campaigning in  the Niagara Region with Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne on the hustings in the Toronto area.

Horwath Visits City

Provincial NDP candidate Andrew Foulds' campaign office is now open. Many supporters were on hand for the opening, including provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath, who says northerners are ready for change adding that residents in the region are frustrated with the current government. Foulds is running against Liberal incumbent Mines Minister Michael Gravelle, and PC candidate Derek Parks in the Thunder Bay-Superior North riding.

Kashechewan Evacuees Arrive

Up to 160 evacuees from Kashechewan First Nation are expected in the city after the community re-declared a state of emergency due to potential flooding of the Albany River. The state of emergency was lifted last week after water levels had receded. A state of emergency was called for the second time in a week on Saturday, after flooding in the community became a possibility. Thunder Bay has agreed to host 600 evacuees if requested by the province.

College Student Wins Award

A Thunder Bay student is a winner at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition. Confederation College's Tyler Brown won gold in Aircraft Maintenance. He now moves onto the National Competition in Toronto in June.

City Adds To Women's Exhibit

Thunder Bay's Archives division is looking to build its online exhibit for Women's History Month. The archives division is accepting nominations of women to be included in the exhibit until July 1st. New biographies will be added by the archives division to the online exhibit during Women's History Month, which is in October.

UMD Helps Local Football Players

The Thunder Bay Minor Football Association is aiming to make football more than a one-season sport in the city. Coaches from the University of Minnesota Duluth football team will be at the Lakehead University hangar this weekend to put on a clinic for minor football coaches and players. One session will be held for 8 to 13-year-olds, and another for 14-18 year old players.