Give Back During Your Commute

Throughout the week passengers on Thunder Bay Transit will be encouraged to donate canned goods and non-perishables during their commute. Also, beginning on Thursday there will be a food drive at the Fort William Road Wal-Mart. The drive will last until Sunday December 15th.

Win A Harley Davidson

Tickets are being sold for the Motors and Muscles Raffle supporting the Our Kids Count community kitchen program. Gladys Berringer is Executive Director with the program and says this years goal of raising fifty-thousand dollars is based off of previous years success. This years grand prize is a 2014 Harley-Davidson Motorcycle the draw is being made during this summer's Rib Fest.

Christmas Cheer Stuff-A-Bus A Success

The Christmas Cheer Fund continues to provide for families in need during the holidays and yesterdays contributions promise to go a long way. The day long Stuff-A-Bus drive at the Real Canadian Superstore raised thirteen-thousand dollars and forty-thousand dollars worth of food. It took volunteers an hour and a half to unload the food.

Youth Services Plan Development

The City is moving forward on its Youth Service Plan that includes an increase in the amount of money provided to the Thunder Bay Boys and Girls Club. A final vote on the plan will be held in January. Councillor Joe Vidiramo says that he is excited to see how similar satellite programs have fared and what kind of impact they will have on the proposed youth centre on High Street. The plan also calls for extra funding for other city operated youth programs.

Renew Your Outdoors Card

Be sure to double check your Ontario Outdoors Card if you plan on doing any hunting or fishing soon. Renewals are being done across the region at Service Ontario Centres. It costs ten-dollars to renew your license, qualifying it for another three years. The Ministry of Natural Resources is reminding people that all profits are put towards wildlife and fisheries management.

Union Gas Contribution

Union Gas is providing the Fort William First Nation with three-thousand dollars to repair and upgrade their pow-wow grounds. The grounds were struck by vandals this past summer. The money was presented at a recent First Nations band meeting.

Food Recall

A food recall on Edelweiss Brand Fine Dark Chocolate is being issued by Health Canada. The chocolates are sold in Ontario and include unlisted milk ingredients. No illnesses have been reported.

Dryden Mayor Wants T.Bay Decision Reversed

The Mayor of Dryden is urging Canada Post to reverse a decision to move mail sorting services to Thunder Bay. Craig Nuttall has delivered a letter to Canada Post stating the area has seen a decline of service since the October move. Nuttall says they rely on the Dryden sorting service. Nuttall says he received a letter from in-town and it arrived three days after it was mailed.

NOMA Leader At Northern Conference

Provincial cabinet ministers, municipal, business and aboriginal leaders are heading to Timmins to share some ideas on the Northern Growth Plan.  Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association President Dave Canfield admits they are a little disappointed at how long its been taking to get the Growth Plan off the ground. The Northern Leader's Forum will be a day long brain-storming session.

Montreal Massacre Service Today

The 14 women killed in the Montreal Massacre are being remembered today at Lakehead University. The day will be marked with speakers, poetry, a candlelight vigil and moment of silence. The ceremony gets underway at noon.

Pedestrians Get The Ok From CN

You can now walk on the James Street swing bridge.  CN Rail Spokesperson James Feeney says they've cleared the structure for rail and pedestrian traffic.  It could be three more months before vehicles are allowed back on the bridge.

Two Co-Chairs Of New Justice Group

The Provincial Government is appointing two people as Co-chairs of the new Aboriginal Justice Advisory Group. The group will examine issues affecting first nation residents in the justice system. Co-Chair Warren White is the Grand Chief of Grand Council Treaty #3, he's joined by Murray Segal the former deputy attorney general of Ontario and former deputy minister responsible for aboriginal affairs.

Hyer Going Green?

Independent MP Bruce Hyer could be getting chummy with his seatmate in the House of Commons. Hyer sits beside Green Party Leader Elizabeth May. The Thunder Bay MP's staff are not confirming a report this morning that he is considering joining the environmental party. Hyer is not available for comment today but staff say he will speak at a news conference on Friday, December 13th at 11 at the Finlandia Club.

Bridge To Remain Closed Indefinitely

CN Rail officials
wait for meeting at FWFN

The James Street bridge is not opening anytime soon.   Following a meeting with CN Rail officials,  Fort William First Nations Chief Georjann Morriseau was told that it will take at least three months to get a detailed consultants report on the safety of the fire damaged bridge for vehicle traffic and when it will open after that is anyone's guess.    Morriseau says she will now have to make arrangements for increased transit and emergency services to the community

LU Signs Deal With Alberta University

Lakehead University, the University of Alberta and the Italian Studies Institute are banding together to make it easier to study in Italy. A campus in Cortona is allowing students and alumni from both schools to study there. LU President Brian Stevenson says its about getting in touch with the city's Italian Heritage. The Institute is offering scholarships to interested students.

CCAC Launches Telehomecare

People living with chronic heart disease and other health related conditions can now get health care services from their home.  It's part of the Northwest Community Care Access Centre's Telehomecare program.  Spokesperson Marg Milani says they're looking for interested patients. Milani says patient information is logged every day on a tablet like device and a nurse monitors to see that everything is going well

Children's Aid Needs Help

A late start to fundraising is putting the Children Aid Society's Christmas Wishes Gift Tree campaign behind.  They've so far only raised 60 gifts, with 250 being this year's goal.  Executive Director Rob Richardson says they have gift trees at all three Walmart locations in the City.  Richardson says they'll be collecting gifts right up until Christmas Eve.

Rae Talks Positive About ROF

According to the First Nations negotiator for the Ring of Fire, the giant mining development will live on.   Speaking in Thunder Bay this morning Bob Rae said despite the decision by Cliffs Natural Resources to halt all work on the project, the valuable minerals aren't going away. Meantime,  Rae says negotiations are continuing on getting the best deal possible for First Nations from the development.   He says the mistakes of past mining deals cannot be repeated.

Highway 11 Open

OPP are opening several highways around the region.  Hwy 11 from Hearst to Longlac is now open. They've also re-opened a stretch of Highway 11 between Kapuskasing and Hearst.  There are no road closures west of Thunder Bay.

No School Buses Today

The overnight snow has forced the cancellation of all city and rural school buses this morning and this afternoon.  All school buses will not run today.  All city schools are open today, however all rural schools are closed.  So it is a snow day for all students who attend rural schools.