Rooming House Owner Gets Fines

A Thunder Bay rooming house owner is paying 8-thousand dollars in fines after pleading guilty recently to fire code charges.  Fire Prevention Captain Eric Nordlund says the charges involve failing to keep records of tests, inspections and maintenance of fire extinguishers and other equipment.  Nordlund says this isn't the first time the rooming house owner has been charged under the fire code.

Port Authority Sees Strong Finish To Shipping Season

It appears the end of the Wheat Board is not having any negative effect on the Port of Thunder Bay.  CEO Tim Heney says while November wasn't the best month this season, the strong start of this month is proving anything can happen now that the marketing monopoly is no more.

City Looking For New Designs

The City is looking for a new design for their pin.  On top of that they would also like to have a promotional graphic they can put on a variety of items.  Spokesperson Reana Mussato says they are looking for someone from Northwestern Ontario to design the two items.  The new designs will not replace the City's official logo.  The deadline to submit your design ideas is in January.

DSSAB Budget Up For Vote Thursday

Thunder Bay's District Social Services Board will table it's 78 million dollar budget Thursday.   CAO Bill Bradica says it's a 2.7 percent decrease over last year's fiscal document and hopes the budget passes.  Thunder Bay's share of the DSSAB budget is seventy four percent or just over 17.9 million dollars.

Murder Rate Drops

Thunder Bay's murder rate has gone down. According to Statistics Canada data, the City saw just over 3 murders per 100-thousand people last year. We are fourth in the Country for highest amount of murders per capita.

Lawyer Blasts Consultants Reports

A Thunder Bay lawyer who is heading up a class action suit against the city over the May 28th flooding, is disputing the findings of the consultants report on the disaster. Sandy Zaitzeff believes that contrary to what the consultant says, the flooded Atlantic Avenue treatment plant's screening process should have been able to handle the overwhelming amount of rainwater that came through that morning. Zaitzeff says it certainly looks like an attempt at a white-wash. The accusations have not been proven in court.

More Cancer Care For Aboriginals

Aboriginals who are getting care through the regional cancer centre are going to get some added help. Cancer Care Northwest Vice President Dr. Mark Henderson says it will come in the form of two new positions at the facility. He says the process will involve prevention and guiding those with cancer through the system.

Truth & Reconciliation Hearing

Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission is meeting face to face with Thunder Bay residents over the next two days.  Survivors and First Nation community members are sharing their stories and experiences with the residential school system. Commissioner Murray Sinclair says residential schools have created problems for both the First Nation and non aboriginal communities.  The hearing will wrap up tomorrow at 5 at the DaVinci Centre.

Giving Back

Thunder Bay Transit, the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 966 and the Thunder Bay Food Bank are teaming up for the 18th annual Santa Bus food drive. Starting today and until December 14th, you are invited to drop off dry goods for the food bank on any city bus at any time. The Santa Bus will also be available for donations at the Fort William Road Walmart on Saturday from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. and again on Friday December 14th from 5 in the afternoon until 10 at night. Still on the charity beat the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Foundation has its Grand Christmas Tree up in the lobby of the Health Sciences Centre. Donations are being accepted to benefit the hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Lakehead University To Host Ontario Liberal Leadership Debate

Candidates vying for the Leadership role for Ontario's Liberals will be in Thunder Bay this weekend. A time and place has now been set for the Ontario Liberal Leadership Debate. Lakehead University will be the host venue for the debate on Sunday, December 9th starting at 1:00 o'clock.

Highway 17 Re-opened This Morning

A large section of the Trans-Canada Highway is back open this morning after O.P.P. were forced to close it overnight due to poor weather and icy road conditions. Provincial Police say Highway 17 from the Manitoba Border to Vermillion Bay was shut down overnight because of dangerous driving conditions thanks to a weather system that is making its way across the region.

New Westfort Fire Station To Be Built On West Frederica

The new Westfort Fire Station will be located on City-owned land on West Frederica Street.  City Council approved the location at it's meeting Monday night.  Fire Chief John Hay says the fire station will cost around a million and a half dollars and construction will start in 2013.  A new Neebing Fire Station will be built in the New Year as well at it's current location.

Hobbs Relieved Plant Didn't Malfunction

Mayor Keith Hobbs is comforted by an independent consultant's report that shows equipment at the Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Plant didn't malfunction during the May 28th flood.  Hobbs says he's always held the opinion that the plant was simply overwhelmed by the huge amount of rainfall that night.  The Mayor says he's relieved to hear the plant didn't malfunction and that they are dedicated to helping those impacted by the flood.  City staff will be back in January with an overall damage assessment of the plant and provide council with its options on how to proceed with the 1.4 million dollars in upgrades that are recommended.

What Went Wrong May 28th

Flooding at the Atlantic Avenue Water Pollution Plant started in the area of the facility that houses screens that catch large debris in waste water before it's treated.  Consultant Troy Briggs told City Council Monday night that the amount of water exceeded the equipment's capability and there wasn't any equipment failure.  Briggs is recommending as a short term emergency measure removing one screen to allow unrestricted flow through the preliminary treatment plant.  Longer term recommendations include increasing the screen cleaning speed and designing an emergency bypass around the preliminary treatment area.  Briggs noted there was no benefit of having someone work at the plant overnight since there was no special machinery that could have prevented what went wrong.  He also mentioned the design of the plant was typical for when it was built and the recommended changes only started to be included in new water pollution plant design plans.

Commission Makes Historic Visit

A historic moment in Thunder Bay this week as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada makes a stop for two days of hearings at the Da Vinci Centre starting tomorrow. Chair Justice Murray Sinclair says it will give First Nation survivors of residential schools a chance to tell their side of the story. The Commission is in the middle of 5 year journey to gather information and then present a report to the government.

Eat Local Pizza Robbed

Thunder Bay Police are looking for a suspect in a weekend robbery of Eat Local Pizza on May Street.  The incident occurred just before 9:30 on December 1st when employees called 911 after a man with a knife demanded money from them.  The suspect wearing a toque with two eye holes made off with the cash register tray and headed westbound on Dease Street.  The police are looking for a fair skinned man with long brown hair wearing a dark blue North Face jacket and pants.

TSB Ready To Begin Death Probe

The Tecumseh is expected to be in Windsor sometime on Tuesday.   The bulk carrier was the scene of an industrial death while it was berthed at the Viterra grain elevator in the Thunder Bay harbour.   John Cottreau of the Transportation Safety Board say they are ready to begin the investigation once they board the ship in Windsor.  The circumstances surrounding the death have not been made public. 

ONA Wants You To Value Nurses

The Ontario Nurses Association is starting an ad campaign in the city to help improve the image of nurses.  Called "Value The Invaluable" asks you to look differently at nurses and value them much like the way we do  our pro athletes.  The ads can be seen on several bus shelters in the city.

Treatment Plant Overwhelmed By Storm: Consultant

 

A consultants report into the May 28th flood concludes that the Atlantic Avenue water treatment facility was overwhelmed with the amount of rainwater that came through the facility. It says the pumping system wasn't designed to deal with the flooding event and resulted in a systematic failure in the plant. The result was the flooding of hundreds of basements in the city most of which were in the East End where the treatment plant is located. The report recommends almost one and a half million dollars in upgrades in order to prevent such an occurrence in the future.

City Has Its 5th Murder

Thunder Bay Police are currently investigating a homicide which occurred at just after 3:00 o'clock yesterday afternoon on the 200 block of McIntyre Street. Police responded to a 911 call about an injured man who had been attacked. The victim , 48 year old  Martin Achneepineskum,  died because of his injuries at the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital a short time later. 32 year old Jeffrey Kakegamic has been arrested and charged with 2nd degree murder.