Canada Day brings the implementation of new long term care rules

The new long term care homes act comes into effect Canada Day and Thunder Bay's nursing homes are preparing for its implementation. Pioneer Ridge Administrator Cindy Jarvela says both the ministry of long term care and area homes are scrambling to implement the new rules. Jarvela says the homes will keep up the status quo and will have fully implemented the new act by years end. Jarvela says inspection teams will be coming into homes and conducting one on one interviews with residents and provide positive and negative feedback to the homes. The new act will ensure home infrastructure is kept up to date, and will also look at how residents are treated. 

City waiting for Hydro Board report

The City of Thunder Bay is going to wait to see what the Hydro board has to say about its size and structure.  Council was considering reducing the size of municipal representation on the board, but has since decided to wait for a report from the board itself.  The proposed make up of the board, if approved, would have only one member of city council on it. The city manager would also have a non voting position on the board.  Council is asking the board to review some of the proposed changes and provide a report on what they would like to see in their organization's makeup.

Police locate lost group

A group of five young adults are safe and sound after being lost in the bush over the weekend. OPP say that they went for a walk on a road in in the area of Adrian Lake Road in Marks Township and couldn't find their way back. Police walked into the bush for about a kilometre and half before the group was found.

Habs re-sign Pyatt

Tom Pyatt is officially with the Montreal Canadiens again. He signed a one year half a million dollar contract. For Pyatt it's a relief to get it done early and it gives him a chance to enjoy the summer worry free. He says he's happy to be back with the Habs. Pyatt says he hopes to use the contract as a springboard for something more longer term in the future.

NAN supports reading program.

The Lieutenant Governor's Summer Reading camp is getting the stamp of approval from the Nishnawbe Aski Nation.  The First Nations organization is helping to promote it. David Onley says the future of the program looks solid.   He says they're getting longer term committments from sponsors.    There are 100 youth counsellors in the program.

L-U hosts 11th Shad Valley

Some of the smartest teenage minds in Canada are at Lakehead University for the annual Shad Valley program . This year there are 65 participants. Local organizer Sultan Siddiqui says it's important to host the program in Thunder Bay. He says it exposes the city to future leaders of Canada. The students will be in the city for a month. This year they're being asked to develop a product that will help to fill a need for the aging population of Canada.

Shelter House Food Drive a success

The Thunder Bay Fire Department's food drive for Shelter House was a huge success. Food was collected at the City's Safeway locations and all but one Metro locations Friday night. Shelter House Executive Director Cal Rankin says the public donated over a tonne and a half of food and over a thousand dollars in cash and gift cards. Rankin says this should get them through the next month or two.

Purse snatcher caught by police

A purse snatcher was arrest by Thunder Bay police over the weekend. The 18 year boy old nabbed the purse from an elderly woman Saturday Evening, and will appear in court today. Police are still looking for a second man involved in the robbery.

Fire Department deals with shed fire

A house on McPherson Street saw their shed get torched yesterday. Just before 6:30 crews responded to the call and when they arrived they found the shed completely engulfed in flames. Officials are calling the fire susupicious.

Time saving measures coming to Council.

The move is on to shorten long winded city council meetings. Councillors will be considering two possible solutions at tonight's meeting. One is a proposal to have all Monday night council meetings end at 11:30 pm. Any further business would be settled the next evening. The other proposal would be to restrict councillors questions during presentations by the public and to administraiton.  Also at council several major contracts are being considered by city councillors tonight. One is for the new Mary J. L. Black Library, another is for the re-roofing of the Canada Games Complex. There is no cost associated with those two projects in the council agenda. Meantime councillors will also vote on the purchase of 6 new transit buses at a cost of 1.2 million dollars.

Drug bust in Conmee

Two men are charged after a drug bust in Conmee Township on Thursday. After a raid on Enders Road, police say they found marijuana plants, seven pounds of dried marijuana, magic mushrooms, and cannabis resin totalling over 100-thousand dollars. Police say the men will appear in court in August.

G20 causes chaos in Toronto

The opening of the G20 summit caused chaos in Toronto throughout the day yesterday, as protestors set police cars on fire and broke into several businesses. The main group remained on the destructive streak more than four hours after their violence began. Police say the violent group were dressed in black balaclavas, and used a Black Bloc tactic to evade arrest. Police were dressed in riot gear as they tried to keep the protestors under control. The summit continues today.

Walleye coming to Thunder Bay

Next week, a new monthly magazine will be available in Thunder Bay. The goal of the Walleye is to promote arts, culture, and entertainment within the city, by offering local coverage and a comprehensive events listing. Editor Tiffany Jarva says the magazine will spotlight people, events, and ideas that help shape and define Thunder Bay as a community. Sections will include The Top Five, Music, Film, Food, Getaway, and more. The free magazine will be available July 1.

Come on feel the noise

The city is experimenting with noise around the City Hall Transit Terminal. Transit Manager Brand Loroff says it's part of a study for a possible future terminal location. He says it's being done to gather data on what the noise and air quality would be at any given location in the city. The current site at City Hall is only temporary until a new temporary location on Violet Street is ready. The study will be taking place all this week.

New occupational health clinic open

Workers in Thunder Bay will have a new resourse to utilize. An occupational health clinic opened yesterday on Barton Street. It is a pilot project designed to assist clients who would normally directed to the Sudbury office of the Occupatyioanl Health Clinics for Ontario Workers. It's an offshoot of the Workplace Safety Insurance Board. Steve Mantis of the local Injured Workers Support Group says the pilot project is long overdo. Mantis says having these services is great for workers across the district.

Paramedics get latest lifesaving device

There's new equipment on board city ambulances. Superior North EMS has purchased new devices that will help paramedics open air passages of heart patients. Deputy Chief Wayne Gates says its another useful lifesaving tool called call Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Devices.   All 35 ambulances have been equiped with the devices at a cost of 42 thousand dollars.

Cats make roster moves

Injuries and such are keeping the Thunder Bay Border Cats on their toes. The club announcing that pitcher Nathan Kennedy is out for rest of season with a right elbow injury. Released were two players, catcher Brooklyn Foster and infielder Joel Stubbs. Added to the roster are three players: pitchers Alex Murrieta and Connor Little along with infielder Sean Miller-Jones

Local mother faces charges in child's injuries

A 38 year old Oliver Paipoonge woman is facing charges in connection with the hospitalization of her 3 year old daughter over the winter. Police say the woman is charged with Criminal Negligence and Failing to Provide the Necessities of Life. The toddler was transported by air ambulance from her family's home on Candy Mountain Road in the early morning hours of February 16th. Police were called after hospital staff felt the child's injuries were suspicious. The little girl is still recovering in hospital. The woman has been released from custody and will be back in court August 9th

Clelia II back for the season

The Cruise Ship Clelia II is back in the city for another season . It arrived in port after 6 Friday morning. The ship will only remain here for half a day or so on each visit. Time enough for the 100 or so tourists to roam the city. It's the first of 10 trips to the city this season.

Local film industry gets a shot of adrenaline

There's a new website up and running designed to help the local film community grow. It got off the ground with the help of the city's Economic Development Commission. CEO Steve Demmings says they're reaching for a global audience.   Among other things, the website is collecting a data base of possible filming locations in the city. Local filmaker Dave Clement says it's just what is needed to help make film production easy in Thunder Bay, by giving us a better shot at the potential 30 million industry dollars that could be up for grabs.  Clement says it's possible to get 10 to 15 million of that  here