Paterson Park Could be revitalized

A grant could mean some updating in the near future for Paterson Park.  The City has received 30 thousand dollars from the 8-80 Cities program and the Provincial Government and is looking at Paterson Park as a target for revitalization.  Councillor Mark Bentz says Paterson Park is a gateway to the south downtown but is showing its age and needs a face lift.

Manshield Construction will finish off Phase 1 of waterfront

Manshield Construction is getting the call to complete the remainder of work on Phase 1 of the waterfront.  City Council approved a proposal that will hand the company the 3.2 million dollar contract.  City Manager Tim Commisso says the city prefers a tender method to award contracts on a competitive basis but in a case like this it makes sense to award the contract to the company already on scene.  Manshield is also the contractor who will be building the private portion of the project.

Interim Operating Model in place for Waterfront

City Council is happy with the current operating model being used at the waterfront.  Law Makers approved the interim operating plan Monday night and Community and Emergency Services Manager Greg Alexander says it will costs 690 thousand dollars until the private sector completes its side of the project.  He says when the hotel and condos are complete the city should turn a nice profit on the waterfront but there isn't a timeline on when the developer will begin work.

Local company fined by MNR

A Thunder Bay company is paying a hefty fine for building an airstrip on crown land.  Marten Falls Logistics, cut down 5 and a half hectares of forest north of Geraldton without provincial approval.  The company was fined 27 thousand dollars cutting down the trees and leaving them there. 

No injuries in fire

No one is injured following a fire on the two hundred block of Poplar Street Monday afternoon. Fire Platoon Chief Kim Hutch says it happened in the back yard of a two story house when some wood caught fire. Damage is minimal and the cause isn't known.

MP's warn of riding changes

Our local Members of Parliament are trying to start a grassroots awareness campaign about riding re-distribution in Canada. John Rafferty predicts that Northern Ontario may lose a seat before the next election as a result of it. Rafferty says, among other things, larger ridings in the north would make them more difficult for MP's to represent.

Police arrest one in car theft

A 15 year old teen is charged with stealing a car from a North Marks Street home over the weekend.  Constable Julie Tilbury says they chased the vehicle along a section of the Rosslyn Road and later found the vehicle abandoned on Confederation Drive.  The teen is charged with possession of stolen property, dangerous driving, flight from police and breach of probation.

Police targeting underage drinking

City police are cracking down on people buying alcohol for teenagers.  Officers charged 5 people outside the Thunder Centre LCBO for buying liquor for people under 19 years old.  Police say they are trying to cut down the amount of underage drinking in the intercity area. 

Jury sees graphic evidence at murder trial

The Andre Wareham second degree murder trial is into it's second week.  The trial jury looked at autopsy photos of William Atkins on Monday.  They were given detailed explanations by pathologist Dr. Nicholas Escott,  who noted Atkin's body had five stab wounds, three to the abdomen and one each to his arm and leg.  Dr. Escott says the cause of death was all the blood he lost as the result of those stab wounds.  Wareham is charged with second degree murder in Atkin's 2010 death.

Attawapiskat house trailers

Attawapiskat may have to wait a bit longer before it gets two new house trailers it's been promised.  Officials are concerned the sites chosen for the trailers haven't been prepared yet.  They're worried the road to the remote community will close before the trailers and building supplies arrive.  The First Nation is battling a severe housing crisis and declared a state of emergency last fall.

Man Pleads Guilty to Arson

The Ontario Court of Justice has sentenced 45 year-old Daniel Paul Smith with 7 years in custody excluding his time served at the District Jail. The Thunder Bay man plead guilty in connection to a fire on Robertson Street in November of last year.

Hockey Day in Canada hits Thunder Bay

Its Hockey Day in Canada and Thunder Bay is taking part in the festivities.  The National Hockey Leagues Players Association with the support of our local NHL players is donating 120 sets of hockey equipment to 11 minor hockey clubs in the area.  NHLPA Spokespeople say the equipment worth over 60 thousand dollars will allow a number of kids who wouldn't normally get a chance to play hockey, to lace em up.  The festivities kicked off yesterday with a banquet in Murrilo. 

Marriott eyes Thunder Bay

Looks like a  new hotel is coming to Thunder Bay.   City planner Robert Eady says Marriott Hotels wants to buy about 1.6 hectares of land next to the Superstore to build 142 Marriott Town Place suites.   Total project cost is about 18 million dollars.  The land is also expected to include a Harvey's Restaurant along with an Earls or a Milestone Restaurant and a convenience store.

Daredevils ski the city streets

Here's a video of some local skiiers turning Thunder Bay's Streets into a freestyle course.  The video has been making waves on Twitter and could be on the verge of going viral. 

Population drop doesn't faze Brown

Atikokan's Mayor Dennis Brown is putting on his best face in the wake of a census report showing a 15 per cent drop in the towns population. Brown however, sees a positive trend developing as more young people are returning.   Brown adds,  the population can fluctuate with mining activity in the region.

Harvey talks population

No panic from Nipigon's Mayor Richard Harvey over census figures showing the community's  population dropped about 7 per cent.   Harvey says the figures don't take into account some recent factors that indicate more people are moving into the town.

L-U trumpets another research grant

It's research and innovation week at Lakehead University. To kick it off, a Government of Canada science grant of nearly 1 and a half million dollars was given to professor Ellie Prepas for her natural resources study. Prepas says she feels proud working with some of the best young minds in the country on the project which will be funded for five years.

Mauro on ORNGE

Members of Ontario's Opposition Parties continue to dog the Government over it's handling of the Province's air ambulance service. Some members of the Opposition have suggested the Government should allow private companies to operate the service. MPP Bill Mauro disagrees. The Province recently put a not-for-profit air ambulance coordinator in place after firing former CEO Chris Mazza.

OPP survey

How do you feel about the level of policing in your community?  That's the question the OPP is trying to answer.  Sergeant Shelley Garr says they have hired a consultant to conduct a Community Satisfaction Survey.  Garr says the telephone survey is confidential and will be used to help develop OPP business plans for each of the detachments in Northwestern Ontario.

Di Matteo talks population

A Lakehead University professor is not surprised Northwestern Ontario has less people than it did 5-years ago. Livo Di Matteo says its a reflection of the state of the region's forest industry. Di Matteo says while urban communities lost people, several First Nations communities experienced growth.