NOSM staff on strike

Administration staff at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are on strike.  Pickets are set up at all entrances at Lakehead University.  Dean Dr. Roger Strasser says they want to reach a solution with the OPSEU union.  Meanwhile, Union Chair Tyler England says they just couldn't reach an agreement after 90 hours of bargaining.  Outstanding issues include workloads, benefits and sick leaves.

Students works of art on display

The old CIBC building on Victoria Avenue is home to some student artwork. Summer students from Lakehead University are displaying their work. Assistant professor Kristy Holmes says it's different and unique. The display runs until September 18th

Metis Flag raised at City Hall

It's the year of the Metis. Thunder Bay is going to play host to the Annual General Assembly for the Metis Nation of Ontario this weekend. Thunder Bay Metis Council President Wendy Landry says they're honored to be holding the event. Northwestern Ontario is home to 2 thousand 843 metis residents. The Metis Nation of Ontario flag was raised at City Hall Monday.

CLE a hit again

Organizers of the Canadian Lakehead Exhibition are pleased today. They say this years fair was another success. They estimate that 60 thousand people came through the turnstiles, about the same as last year.

Rough season for Border Cats

The Thunder Bay Border Cats close out the baseball season at Port Arthur Stadium tonight. For owner Brad Jorgenson, 2010 could have been better, on the field and at the box office.  He says while the weather was much better this season that last year, it didn't reflect in the attendance.   He also says the World Junior Baseball Championship had a negative effect on attendance saying it went down after the games concluded.  He says it also proved hard on the team's schedule.  Jorgenson says the team will access how things went this year and make some decisions from there, but he is not ruling out the team returning next year.

Motorcycle collides with bear

A Thunder Bay man is not hurt badly after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a bear on the weekend. OPP say it happened on Saturday on Highway 11/17 in Conmee Township. Police say the driver was taken to the hospital, treated and released. As for the bear, it ran off into the bush.

American man victim of fatal accident

A 70 year old Indiana man is dead following a weekend traffic accident. OPP say that it was a single vehicle mishap that took place on the Trans Canada Highway near Nipigon. They say the pick-up truck the man was a passenger in, drove off the highway and struck a rock cut.

Memorial sinkhole fixed

A water main break and subsequent sinkhole closed off a section of Memorial avenue yesterday. The break happened in the morning at Memorial and First causing a several meter wide hole in the street.
A crew began repairs after the water main break was brought under control.

MMA Comming to Ontario

Ontario will be allowing Mixed Martial Arts to take place for the first time. The province could be hosting the popular sporting events as soon as next year.

Premier Dalton McGuinty previously declined the idea of allowing mixed martial arts inside the province, saying it wasn't a priority for Ontario families.

It seems the money was the motivation in the debate. It's estimated M.M.A events could generate nearly six million dollars a year into Ontario's economy.

CLE drawing crowd

The Canadian Lakehead Exhibition continues today at the fairgrounds by Silver City.

CLE president Lawrence Timko says attendence is looking good so far and the couple cloudy days didn't seem to hurt much, although exact numbers won't be known until the close of the fair.

The CLE will be happening until midnight, tomorrow is the last day for the exhibition.

Comuzzi-Stehmann nominated

It's now official, Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann is the Conservative candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River.
The announcement was made yesterday by Patrick Doherty, president of the Thunder Bay-Rainy River Conservative Electoral District Association.Comuzzi-Stehmann will most likely face Ken Boshcoff for the Liberals as well as sitting NDP MP John Rafferty in the next election.

Police release more info on robbery suspect

Thunder Bay Police are still trying to find the person responsible for a Mac's store robbery from August the 8th.   That's when the Simpson Street store was robbed by a man wearing a disguise.  Police say he confronted the clerks and demanded money.  They say the man had a weapon but no one was hurt. Police describe the suspect as Native Canadian, 17-22 years old,  just over 200 pounds and over 6 feet tall with an open scab below his left eye. A surveillance picutre of the incident has also been released.

Social Services Board CAO retires

Thunder Bay's Social Services Board's CAO has announced her retirement. Mary Lucas spent 35 years working in Thunder Bay, and joined the DSSAB in April of 1999. An executive search firm has been hired to look for Lucas' replacement.

Mayor set for AMO conference

The City of Thunder Bay has a number of meetings set up with ministers at the coming Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference. Mayor Lynn Peterson says they're asking the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs to set up a regional office in Thunder Bay. Other sit down meetings with ministers include: Energy and Infrastructure, Northern Development and Mines, Natural Resources, and Transportation. Peterson is joined by councillor Joe Virdiramo and City Manager Tim Commisso.

Four new officers join city force

There's a new breed of constable that is working with the Thunder Bay Police Service. The four newest constables are a little older than what the service used to hire even 10 years ago according to Deputy Chief J-P Levesque, having what he calls "life experience". He says they are seeing more and more of this as people are choosing second careers. The newest officers were sworn in at the Ontario Court of Justice. Pictured: Andrea Megan MacInnis is one of four new city constables.

Ignatieff NWO tour a no go

Tragedy in the Liberal family has resulted in the cancellation of a scheduled trip of Michael Ignatieff to Dryden and Kenora. Mario Lague, Ignatieff's top aid, died Thursday when his motorcycle struck an SUV. Kenora Liberal Candidate Roger Valley says despite the cancelled trip, Ignatieff remains committed to this area. The Grit leader was scheduled to arrive in Dryden Saturday night.

Terrace Bay Pulp slight delay

Terrace Bay Pulp is going to start up before the end of the month.  It's a slight delay since 400 employees were expected to start back on the job on Monday.  United Steelworkers Union Spokesperson Herb Daniher says their plan is not off track.  Equipment needed for the start up is arriving at the mill this week.

NAPS graduates cops

The Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service is welcoming 6-new Graduates. The constables were sworn in at a ceremony in Thunder Bay Friday. The new recruits will be stationed in Moose Cree First Nation, Fort Severn, Sachigo Lake First Nation, Attawapiskat and Fort Albany.

Hudak wants to get rid of LHINS

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak is making a number of election style promises.  Hudak says if elected premier he will scrap the local health integration networks.  The Ontario PC Leader was in Thunder Bay on Thursday.  Hudak says the decision making progress is taking place at Queen's Park and McGuinty is using the LHINS as a shield.

NAN wants far north act scrapped

Nishnawbe Aski Nation communities could put up blockades and protest in the far north. Grand Chief Stan Beardy says that's what will happen if the McGuinty Government pushes the Far North Act through. Beardy says they do not like the proposed legislation and want the Liberal government to scrap it altogether. NAN communities are concerned about how the act lays out jurisdiction of land.