New Medical Officer Of Health

The Northwestern Health Unit will have a new Medical Officer of Health as of March 3rd. Dr. Kit Ngan Young Hoon will be taking over the position from Dr. Jim Arthurs. Arthurs is leaving at the end of March after having held the position for the past five-years. Young Hoon comes from Hamilton where she currently serves with Toronto Public Health.

Winter Fun Days Cancelled Today

Today's scheduled Winter Fun Days activities at Prince Arthur's Landing have been cancelled because of the cold weather. The Sugar Shack, Club Canadien de Thunder Bay and skating with the Thunderwolves will be pushed back until next weekend weather permitting.

Human Library

The third annual Human Library is being held at the Brodie Resource Library today until 3. Visitors will have a chance to speak with a paralympic cyclist, a radio personality, a strongman competitor, a veteran of the Afghan war, an immigrant from Sierra Leone, an ex-offender, an Aboriginal from Dennis Franklin Cromarty School and a Muslim man.

Battle For Cash

Three Lakehead University students are competing in the annual Battle for Cash being held by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario today in Toronto. Alyssa Westerback, Holden Mascarin and Jason Flint will represent Lakehead against 36 other teams of three from universities across the province. First prize wins $3000 including an additional $1500 to go towards the schools business society.

Early Morning Fire On Jean Street

There are no injuries following an early morning fire that began around 2:30 am at 74 Jean Street. The home is vacant but sustained significant damage as the fire spread to the buildings walls and eventually through the roof. Firefighters had to take a conservative approach and brought in an aerial ladder.

Open House

The Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame is holding an open house today from 1-3. There will be new exhibits on display for 2013 inductees including: Brian McLean, Tony Hrkac, Brian Mallon, Katie Weatherston, Andrea Cole, the members of the Cameron Lightning Sailing Crew and the 1991 Canadian Open Champions.

OPP Search

OPP are asking for the public's assistance in finding a 44-year old Greenstone man. Ronald Albert of Towegishig has several outstanding warrants for his arrest and is known to spend time in Greenstone areas as well as Thunder Bay. OPP are asking the public not to approach the man due to his history. He is described as a 5'9, 190 pound first nations man with some missing teeth, short black hair and brown eyes.

Sim Lab Launched

Confederation College is opening up its simulation lab for a variety of medical students.  It's part of an agreement that sees the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Lakehead University, EMS, and St. Joseph's Care Group work together.  St. Joe's Care Group CEO Tracy Buckler says they'll be using the college's lab to help their employees. The training initiative was unveiled at a news conference on Friday.

Break In Video Released

City Police are releasing a video of a break and enter that took place last weekend at Westfort Foods. On January 18th at 4 am the store was entered by a man and cash was stolen from the Frederica Street business. Police believe the break in may be connected to two other commercial break and enters on the City's south side and a similar break and enter to a home on South Franklin.

Tax Appeal Hearings Postponed

The Resolute Forest Products tax appeal hearings that were scheduled to take place in Thunder Bay starting Monday have been postponed.   The city was preparing to fight the provinces reduced tax assessment for the company.  However Mayor Keith Hobbs says the company asked for a postponement in order to wait for the results of a similar appeal in another community.   Hobbs says the postponement could be as long as four months and doesn't believe the delay will hurt the city's position.

Head On Collision

City Police, emergency officials and Fire are on the scene of a two vehicle head on collision in the area of Balmoral Street and Harold Crescent. Police say one person was trapped inside their vehicle. A woman has been taken to hospital with injuries not considered serious.

New Contract For Bombardier

The Provincial Government is putting in a 481 million dollar work order at the local Bombardier plant. The cash is going towards building 65 new bi-level GO Train cars and will support 250 jobs at the facility.  The order will increase GO Transit's fleet of train cars to 743. The cars will be delivered between June 2016 and July 2017.

Soldiers Monument Proposed

A Military Tribute Committee wants the City to support their plan to erect a permanent monument for those Thunder Bay soldiers who died in military conflicts around the world. They're looking for a location for the monument. The group also has a variety of legion and military officials on board with creating the monument.

FWFN To Reveal "The Mission"

The Fort William First Nation is going to City Council Monday night to ask for some funding for a historical development project.  It's called "The Mission" and organizers believe it's of interest to the City because it will expand business activity, tourism, cultural heritage and historical awareness about the First Nation.

Pedestrian Market Vision For South Core

A Thunder Bay architect has a vision for the city's south  downtown area that he will be sharing with city councillors on Monday.  Ahsanul Habib says he wants to close off a portion of Victoria Avenue and turn it into a pedestrian market. Habib is looking to get city support for his proposal which he hopes will revitalize the area.

Conference Focuses On Culinary Tourism

Thunder Bay Tourism, Confederation College and a variety of other organizations are working together to improve the region's culinary tourism.  A tourism training session is being held all day today at the College. Tourism Manager Paul Pepe says it's going to help improve what Thunder Bay has to offer.  In 2011, visitors to the Northwest spent over 83 million dollars in local restaurants.

OPP Busy With Collisions

OPP are being kept busy today with several collisions being reported. On Highway 61 this morning a vehicle lost its wheel while driving. The accident happened just before Chippewa Road.  Meanwhile, Hwy 17 from Wawa to Batchawana is closed due to White out conditions.  Note to travellers heading west.  Traffic is moving again, albeit slowly, in the Dryden area this morning. The Trans-Canada was shut down in the Twin Towers area for over six hours last night due to what the OPP are calling a serious motor vehicle accident. The road was finally re-opened to one lane around 2:30 this morning, but police says only passenger vehicles are being allowed through at this time.

DSSAB Money Going To Two Projects

No change to the Chair of the Social Services Board. Bob Katajamaki was acclaimed as Chair and Aldo Roberto was acclaimed as Vice-Chair. Joe Virdiramo will act as the Secretary Treasurer.  Meanwhile, The Social Services Board is giving some money to two local homeless project. 35-thousand dollars will go towards the Shelter House's cold weather pilot program. CAO Bill Bradica says the money is coming from their provincial homelessness funding allocations. 105-thousand dollars will go towards the Lakehead Social Planning Council's Poverty Reduction Strategy.

To Borrow More Or To Borrow Less

City Council is going to decide whether they want to borrow 8.2 million dollars to pay for the next phase of the four-laning of the Golf Links-Junot Avenue corridor.  Staff are recommending the City pay for Phase 2 by borrowing just over 8 million dollars. Another option is to borrow 5.2 million dollars and use 3 million dollars from the Renew Thunder Bay reserve fund.  Whatever method councillors decide on Monday, the spending will be up for final approval during the budget process.

McLeod Honoured

A former city politician is now a member of an elite club.  One time Thunder Bay MPP and former Ontario Liberal Leader Lyn McLeod was one of 25 people given the Order of Ontario, the province's highest civilian honour.  The 71 year old McLeod was presented with the award by  Lt.-Gov. David Onley at Queens Park this afternoon.