Holiday Train Here Dec. 1st

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train will be stopping in Thunder Bay once again.   The food bank fundraiser will stop in the city Sunday December the first at 8:45 in the evening at the Syndicate Avenue train station.  This years entertainment includes  Melanie Doane and Crystal Shawanda

Go Purple Day Wednesday

Expect to see a lot of purple Wednesday for the first "Go Purple for Prevention Day".  The Thunder Bay Childrens Aid Society is using the day to raise awareness surrounding child abuse.  People are encouraged to take photos of themselves dressed in purple and post it to the Step Up Campaign's Facebook page.

Police Board Interested In Changing Beat Program

Some members of the Police Services Board would like to see the beat officers walking area neighbourhoods patrol later into the evenings. Board Chair Joe Virdiramo says the program has been successful from 9 to 5 but they would like to see if the hours of the shifts could be altered.  Virdiramo says they'll continue to look for efficiencies that will allow them to offer the program later into the evening.  The cost to expand the program to another six officers would cost around a million dollars something Virdiramo says they can't afford at the moment.

12 Hour Shifts Start In January

Some members of the City Police Service are going to a 12 hour shift schedule starting in January.  Chief JP Levesque says uniform, communications and records employees will be adding an extra two hours to their work day.  Levesque says the move should save them some money through fewer overtime shifts.  Two staff sergeants and four sergeants will be moved into a variety of positions including the gang unit, criminal investigations branch and the school resource section.  The new twelve hour shift will be tried out for a year.

Hyer Pondering Pipeline Support

Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer says he may be changing his support for the proposed East-West pipeline.   The independent member says it's because he thinks the project may be drifting away what he believed was the intended purpose of the pipeline. He was hoping the pipeline would mean we would use more Canadian oil in our homes and gas tanks, but says it looks like the majority of the oil may be shipped offshore. Hyer says he will only support the pipeline if it helps the country toward energy self sufficiency.

Trail Permits For Sale

A sign winter is just around the corner.  Ontario snowmobilers can get a huge break if they purchase a trail permit now.  The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club is offering permits at 180-dollars if purchased before November 1st and on-line through the Federation's website.  The regular price is 260-dollars.

MP's Hope For NWO Help In Throne Speech

The Harper government unveils its parliamentary agenda on Wednesday with the Speech From the Throne.  Thunder Bay MP Bruce Hyer  is hoping that the special needs of northwestern Ontario are addressed like   job creation,  the economy and providing stimulus for our major industries.  However Hyer says he doesn't expect to be impressed by the speech.   Meantime, MP John Rafferty hopes the speech will include a promise to restore the 23 million dollars taken from FedNor so more industry can be developed here.

Officer Singlehandedly Nabs Reckless Driver

A Thunder Bay Police officer attempted to stop a vehicle in the 300 block of Hartvicksen Street early this morning. The vehicle drove away before it crashed onto a lawn where it became stuck, and the lone officer was able to arrest the driver who was attempting to drive away. The officer suffered injuries to his arm and was taken to hospital where he was treated and released.

Robbery Suspect In Custody

A 20 year old man is in custody after a robbery at the  North Cumberland Street Shell gas bar.   Police say that a man walked into the station at around 5 o'clock on Sunday afternoon armed with a knife and got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. They say that a suspect was arrested a short time later.  No one was injured.

Bus Talks Still In Limbo

No new talks are planned to try to end the labour dispute between bus drivers and Thunder Bay Transit.   Transit union spokesperson Sheila Kivisto says neither side is making the first move by calling up the conciliator and requesting a meeting.  Conciliated talks broke off October 2nd.   The bus drivers haven't had a new contract for 15 months.

Ear Falls Sawmill Re-Opening

Senior VP of Forestry for EACOM Timber says it's the right time to reopen the Ear Falls Sawmill. Brian Nicks says the U.S housing recovery and positive financial forecasts make the decision a little easier. The opening is expected to come next spring.

Rock Climbing in Thunder Bay

The Thunder Bay region will be featured in an upcoming edition of Gripped, a rock climbing magazine. Editor Brandon Pullan is the editor and says the region is great for climbers because of uncommon rock types, ease of access and low risk winter climbing. The feature will focus on locations around the region including some spots right here in the city. It will run in February and April.

No Say in First Nations Education Act

A Northern Ontario Chief says the Federal Government is using first nations as lab rats. Anishinabek Nation Grand Chief Patrick Madahbee says they have played no role in the First Nations Education Act, which is expected to be presented in the new fall session. Madahbee is asking for the government's patience as they develop their own strategy which will include more parental guidance.

Funding for Attawapiskat

The Attawapiskat community is the major beneficiary of federal funding. Forty-five thousand dollars will go to the community for participating in the environmental assessment of the proposed Victor Diamond Mine extension project. A total nearing ninety-thousand dollars is being distributed amongst four northern First Nations including MiningWatch Canada and the Wildlands League.

Borg Sets Goals For New Post

Dilico Anishinabek Family Care Executive Director Darcia Borg is now head of the agency. Borg plans on setting new goals for the organization while helping families and communities. She brings with her over twenty years of experience.

Thanksgiving For The Needy

There will be a free Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow afternoon at 545 Cumberland street, courtesy of the Salvation Army and Thunder Bay firefighters. Rob Kerr is the event spokesperson and says he is impressed with how tightly knit the community is. Over three-hundred people are expected to show up tomorrow. Dinner will be served between noon and three.

Conservatory Closed Again

The embattled  Thunder Bay Botanical Conservatory is shut down once again because of falling glass.  The city says that late Friday  they discovered that a malfunction of a roof vent resulted in several glass panels to break. They say that caused shards of glass to fall into the safety netting inside the Tropical House viewing area.  The cause of the problem isn't known and no one is hurt.   The city expects the conservatory to open again next week.

Injured Bear Reported To MNR

The Ministry of Natural Resources appears to be confirming a report from a listener that there may be an injured bear in the John Street Road area.  Spokesperson  Michelle Nowak says the report came earlier in the week but their officials didn't respond because no request came from the police.   The listener claimed it was an aggressive bear and that it had only three legs, but Nowak couldn't confirm that. No injuries have been reported.

OPP Say Little About Kenora Incident

Police are saying very little about an incident in Kenora that resulted in a man being taken to The Lake Of The Woods Hospital  in critical condition.  They say the incident occurred in the area of Villeneuve Road in the City of Kenora on Thursday.

NWO Author To Visit Hometown

It will be a special homecoming for Vanessa Ricci-Thode. The young writer returns to Ignace Saturday to unveil her first published book. She says the response to 'Dragon Whisperer' has been positive. She says the book is getting good reviews from those who normally don't read fantasy. Ricci-Thode was at Chapters book store this afternoon for a book signing