Monday, March 1, 2010

New Security Guard Rules Welcomed

The operator of a Fort Frances firm that provides security services throughout the district is supporting a provincial move to have security personnel properly trained and licensed.

Todd Hamilton of Lakeland Personnel says feels the changes will help be good for the industry in the long-term.

"I think it's a good thing," says Hamilton. "I think what you end up with is some very, very qualified personnel for security applicants and it's a very, very professional approach to a very, very important position."

Hamilton's company now pays for the cost of licensing and training its employees and expects it to be a little hirer as at it covers the costs of the additional requirements.

School Name Put Forward

A committee tasked with finding a name for the new elementary school in Fort Frances has put forward its recommendations to the Rainy River District School Board.

It recommending that new school be called either Robert Moore School - a name that attracted 21 submissions from the public - or the East End Waabanong Elementary School - a name the committee says represents the entire school population.

The committee also recommends naming parts of the school in honour of F.H. Huffman and Robert Moore schools which will be closed in the fall.

Trustees are to discuss the issue at their meeting tomorrow night.

Local Hockey Product at Olympics

The Olympic hockey competition was watched with great interest by one Fort Frances man.

Some of the players were wearing a cut-resistant skate sock made of kevlar developed by Randy Hogan.

Hogan says its helping to boast interest in the product.

"With all of the skate blade injuries in the NHL the last couple of years people are quickly learning there is protection out there," says Hogan, " so people are getting interested in the product more and more."

Hogan came up with the idea after a NHL player had his neck slashed by a skate a few years ago.

He says what started out as a small web-based business is beginning to take off through the increased usage of the product by the professionals.

USA Hockey Olympians Gather

While the men's hockey gold medal game was being played out in Vancouver, a number of former U.S. Olympic hockey players were at the Thunderbird Lodge in International Falls to meet fans and help cheer on Team USA.

Among those in attendance were Keith Christianson, Henry Boucha and Mike Curran from the 1972 silver medal winning team; Jack McCarten, who backstopped the 1960 team to a gold medal; Buzz Schneider, a member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice; and Dick Dougherty, a member of 1956 team that earned silver in Italy.

Several residents from both sides of the border attended to meet former Olympians, get autographs and view memorabilia and medals from past Olympic competitions.

Christianson, who is originally from Fort Frances, says he was torn watching this year's gold medal game, but admitted he was pulling for the Americans.

Ainsworth Financial Earnings

Ainsworth Lumber is reporting financial losses for 2009, but not as significant as the year before.

The Vancouver-based company that operates the mill in Barwick, says it lost $21.6 million last year.

It's losses in 2008 were almost $322-million.

In a statement, Ainsworth says it completed a full strategic review, divested its portfolio of non-core assets, strengthened the management team and continued to find ways to cut costs and improve operational efficiency.

Illegal Smokes Seized

Police in northwestern Ontario are calling it one of the biggest illegal cigarette busts they can remember.

O-P-P found nearly 700-thousand illegal smokes after stopping a pickup pulling a trailer on Highway 11 near Longlac.

A 47-year-old Alberta man was to appear in a Thunder Bay court room Friday.

Illegal Camp

Eight men have been fined for setting up an illegal camp north of Kenora.

The men were charged last September after M-N-R conservation officers were tipped off about the camp just off the Werner Lake Road.

Officers discovered a large metal structure and a shed that had been set up for at least 10 years.

Along with the fines, the seven men from Winnipeg and one from Calgary have been ordered to remove the campsite before June.

New Security Guard Rules

New rules are on the way for training and testing security guards and private investigators.

Starting April 15, applicants must pass a test and take a training program before they get a licence.

Starting July 16, those who already have a licence will have to pass a mandatory test to renew it.

The government says the new rules will ensure everyone working in the private security industry has the proper training and skills.

Board Given Another Trustee

There'll be one additional trustee with the Northwest Catholic District School Board this fall.

The Ministry of Education has given approval to the election of the additional seat - bringing the number of trustees to eight.

The board requested the additional seat following an amalgamation with the Atikokan Roman Catholic Separate School Board last fall.

Throne Speech Highlights

Ontario's Liberal government will announce plans to cash in on the growing global market for clean water technology in the March 8 throne speech.

Premier Dalton McGuinty says grabbing a piece of the $450-billion dollar-and-growing market for clean water technologies will be part of a five-year plan called Open Ontario.

McGuinty told a Liberal fundraising dinner that Open Ontario will also emphasize post-secondary education and the need to attract more foreign students.

It will also promise to develop a huge chromite deposit in northwestern Ontario, and call on industry and government to make Toronto one of the world's elite financial centres.

The premier calls Open Ontario an ambitious plan to build a new foundation for economic growth and jobs

Not surprisingly, McGuinty didn't mention the record $24.7 billion dollar deficit during the speech.

Native Diabetes Program Funding Up in Air

An Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative that helps over 600 communities across Canada could run out of funding by the end of next month.

Dina Bruyere, executive director of the National Aboriginal Diabetes Association, says they've been trying to find out if the federal government is going to continue to provide funding for the program.

"It's pretty quiet," says Bruyere. "Considering how big of an issue this is in our communities, it's pretty quiet."

Bruyere says they;re hoping the federal government will include money in this week's budget so they can continue the Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative.