New Fundraiser For St. Joe's

A new fundraiser hopes to raise enough money to create a healing gardens at St. Joseph's Care Group's new Senior Centre of Excellence.  St. Joe's Foundation Spokesperson Katrina O'Neill says the "Dinner At The Opera" fundraiser is being put on by Memory Lane Gardens, a local charitable foundation.  The event on Sunday at the DaVinci Centre is expected to raise up to 10-thousand dollars.

Cliffs Poised For Pullout

A top executive at Cliffs Natural Resources says there is a real danger of the company getting out of the Ring of Fire mining development.   Bill Boor says there's concern over a recent ruling by a government commission against its road proposal for the area. Boor says the company has not set a deadline for a possible pullout, hoping instead there can be a solution worked out.

OHRC & City Talk Human Rights

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is wrapping up a two day training session Tuesday.  During their time in the City the organization tackled current human rights themes including Aboriginal issues, housing, disability and accommodation and gender identity.

Fire Destroys South Side Shed

There is no cause to report from a fire that destroyed a shed  on the city's south side.   A fire official says the blaze took place around 6 o'clock this morning behind a home on Fairview Avenue.  No one was hurt in the incident.  

OPP Busy On The Weekend

Thunder Bay OPP are taking a breather after a busy weekend.  On Friday night, police responded to a vehicle hitting a moose on Highway 61 just north of the Pigeon River border.  The truck killed the moose but shortly after an 89 year old man driving a car also hit the corpse of the moose sending the elderly man to the hospital. On Saturday, police responded to a two vehicle collision on Highway 61 near Chippewa Road. The driver of a Ford truck fled the scene while the driver of a jeep was sent to the hospital for treatment of their injuries.  Meanwhile, OPP are looking for some items that were stolen from a truck in Shuniah.  The truck was stolen from a home on Saturday, police found it in the Silver Harbour Conservation area with several items missing out of it.  A cellphone, camera and wallet were stolen.  Police are also reporting several cottages in the Shuniah area being broken into several TVs and electronic devices were stolen.

Hit And Run Probed

Police are investigating a hit and run accident which took place on Crescent Avenue near the old Sir John A. MacDonald school.   They say that on Saturday night around 11:30 a vehicle slammed into a tree and the driver ran away.   Police could not confirm an eye witness report of a woman wandering at the scene and while they've been in contact with the registered owner of the vehicle there is no further information available.

Fatal Motorcycle Accident

OPP continue to investigate an accident over the weekend that killed a 50-year old Thunder Bay man.  Police were called to Highway 593 in Devon Township south of the city on Saturday night around 10:30 after a passing motorist discovered a male lying in a ditch beside a motorcycle.  It appears the man lost control of his 2002 Kawasaki bike and skidded into the ditch while out for a ride during the afternoon.  He was pronounced dead at the scene.  The victim's name has not been released.  

Food Strategy Update Tonight

The Food Strategy Committee is going to update City Council tonight about what they've been doing since they formed.  Councilor Rebecca Johnson says the committee is in its early stages.  The Food Strategy Committee will look at ensuring local food is served in public institutions such as City Hall, the hospital, and at local schools.

Garbage Meeting On Tuesday

The City is holding another public information session on the future of garbage and recycling in our community.  Spokesperson Jason Scherband says they've narrowed down feedback from previous sessions and will now bring their findings back to the public.  Scherband says key findings include a strong desire to recycle more plastic materials and a curbside composting program.  After Tuesday's public meeting staff will start to prepare a report for City Council in November.

City Council Round Up

City Council is going to review several proposed Tbaytel cell phone towers.  One is in the Limbrick area where residents were concerned about kids playing around the tower.  TBaytel has decided to put a fence around the proposed structure and are now asking the City to send a letter to the Federal Government saying they properly consulted the neighbourhood.  Meanwhile, City Council is going to tackle a number property and planning issues at it's meeting tonight.  The owners of the Thunder Bay Inn wants the City to allow them to divide a piece of their property so they can build a house on it.  The operator of the Thunder Bay Inn would live in the proposed home.

Miles With the Giant Runs Smoothly

Thunder Bay held its fourth annual Miles with the Giant Marathon Sunday. President Barry Streib,  says the day went smoothly. Streib says there were also no noteworthy "glitches" through the day. Evans Maiko Mumanyi  placed first in the full length marathon.

Jury Review Comittee Formed

The Province has named its 11 person first nation juries review committee. Deputy Grand Chief of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Alvin Fiddler is a co-chair of the committee says they are focusing on key recommendations from Justice Frank Iacobucci's report on Ontario Juries. Fiddler says it took time to create the committee as they made sure they covered the concerns of First Nations and Metis people.

College Looking For New Plane Training Lake

Confederation College is hoping to decide where to locate its float plane training classes in the next couple of months. The college agreed to move the course from its current location on Eva Lake near Atikokan after receiving numerous complaints from cottagers. College president, Jim Madder says they've received a lot of interest from communities interested in hosting the school from Kenora all the way to Manitouadge. September 5th was the deadline to submit proposals for the flight school.

Thunder Bay Gets Age Friendly

Age Friendly Thunder Bay now has it's own website. City Councillor Rebecca Johnson sits on the committee and says they want to reach out to seniors. Johnson says the site also offers local businesses a check list to see if they are considered senior friendly.

Dryden Makes ATVs Street Legal

The City of Dryden is allowing the use of All-Terrain vehicles on certain streets and roads. Council made changes to a 15-year-old by-law last week. Mayor Craig Nuttall says he finds no problem with it. One restriction in the bylaw is that ATV's can't be used after 11 o'clock at night.

International Peace Day

Today is the first ever International Peace Day in the City. Thunder Bay Rotary is behind the initiative and will be recognizing the efforts of those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. The event is today at noon at the new peace pole that was installed this summer at Prince Arthur's Landing.

Break & Enter Video Released

Thunder Bay Police are releasing some video to the public of a September 18th break and enter on Red River Road.   They say a man smashed the glass door of a business and proceeded to take the cash register. Police are also investigating eight other similar break and enters to commercial locations in the past 48 hours in the city.  It's not known at this time if these incidents are linked.

Bombardier Fined After Workers Injured

Bombardier is being fined 280-thousand dollars after being convicted in two separate cases involving injuries to workers that took place at its Thunder Bay production facility.  In one situation a worker had to have a part of his finger amputated.  In another situation, a worker was injured after touching a live electrical conductor.

Chiarelli's Comments Cleared Up

The Energy Minister's office is clearing up comments made by Bob Chiarelli about the future of the Thunder Bay Generating Station.  On Thursday he said the plant would  run six hours a year, however what he meant to say was the estimate for the plant running this year was six times.  Thunder Bay MPP Michael Gravelle says the Province hasn't decided the fate of the plant yet.  Gravelle says he's going to keep working to ensure the local plant stays open.

DSSAB Beefing Up Security

The organization responsible for social housing in  the area is beefing up security on its properties. Bill Bradica, the acting C-A-O of the Social Services Administration Board, says the upgrades are being done to help tenants feel safer.  The board has approved 335 thousand dollars for security improvements that included increased patrols and lighting.