It's graduation day for students at Confederation College's Fort Frances campus.
About 50 students will receive diplomas, including the very first group of graduates who will receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Convocation ceremonies take place at the Townsend Theatre beginning at 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Aboriginal Mining Programs Expanded
Confederation College is receiving funding to help Aboriginal students in northern Ontario benefit from mineral exploration training programs.
Confederation College will get $250 thousand dollars to deliver additional training courses.
The funding will make possible courses in prospecting and staking, geophysical operations and diamond drilling.
Since 2006, Confederation College's basic line cutting course has produced 104 graduates from 12 First Nations in northwestern Ontario.
Confederation College will get $250 thousand dollars to deliver additional training courses.
The funding will make possible courses in prospecting and staking, geophysical operations and diamond drilling.
Since 2006, Confederation College's basic line cutting course has produced 104 graduates from 12 First Nations in northwestern Ontario.
DayCare Changes Likely Delayed
Premier Dalton McGuinty admits it will take longer than planned to implement so-called full-day learning for four-andfive-year-olds in Ontario.
McGuinty says the government has allocated $500 million over two years to start phasing in optional all-day junior kindergarten in2010.
The premier admits the plan likely won't be fully implemented in three years as recommended because of the faltering economy, and says he doesn't know how much it will cost.
When pressed, McGuinty said he didn't know the total cost, but admitted it would be `a lot of money.'
McGuinty also says teachers will have to work alongside early childhood education specialists, an idea teachers' unions have balked at in the past.
Charles Pascal, the government's early learning advisor,recommends that full-day learning programs for pre-schoolers start in lower-income neighbourhoods.
McGuinty says the government has allocated $500 million over two years to start phasing in optional all-day junior kindergarten in2010.
The premier admits the plan likely won't be fully implemented in three years as recommended because of the faltering economy, and says he doesn't know how much it will cost.
When pressed, McGuinty said he didn't know the total cost, but admitted it would be `a lot of money.'
McGuinty also says teachers will have to work alongside early childhood education specialists, an idea teachers' unions have balked at in the past.
Charles Pascal, the government's early learning advisor,recommends that full-day learning programs for pre-schoolers start in lower-income neighbourhoods.
More Help Sent to BC
The Ministry of Natural Resources is getting ready to ship out even more fire fighters out to battle wild fires in British Columbia.
A total of 114 fire rangers are scheduled to leave from Dryden and Sudbury today to join 64 fire fighters who left last week.
Fire ranger crews will be heading to Prince George for a two week stint.
A total of 114 fire rangers are scheduled to leave from Dryden and Sudbury today to join 64 fire fighters who left last week.
Fire ranger crews will be heading to Prince George for a two week stint.
Dryden Mill Shutdown Extended
Workers at Domtar's mill in Dryden are getting more unpaid time off than they first expected.
The company has pushed back the re-opening of the mill.
The facility was shut down because of declining customer demand.
The closure has been extended another three weeks, meaning the mill will open around July 24.
The company has pushed back the re-opening of the mill.
The facility was shut down because of declining customer demand.
The closure has been extended another three weeks, meaning the mill will open around July 24.
Federal Forestry Strategy in the Works
The Conservative Government appears to be working on a billion dollar strategy aimed at helping the forest industry.
The strategy is to offset the $6 billion dollar subsidy given to U.S. pulp and paper mills for burning black liquor.
Kenora MP Greg Rickford says his Government is looking at a similar plan.
"Our government's challenge moving forward is to reward companies for using renewable resources," says Rickford.
Rickford says the American plan to burn black liquor is flawed because it rewards companies that burn fossil fuels.
But the N-D-P's forestry critic doesn't believe the government's proposal will go far enough.
In the house of commons Monday, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty said the proposed billion dollar plan won't allow Canadian mills to compete against the stronger initiatives offered in the U.S.
"Half measures by the government will not save the forestry industry," said Rafferty. "Last week's billion dollar black liquor aid package is a start, but it will not level the playing field against U.S. competitors. The American subsidy is much larger, and it will still provide an unfair advantage to American mills."
"The Conservative plan will do little to help the million people who rely on the forestry sector for work. When will the government start seeing the forest for the trees and help the forestry industry emerge from this downturn more profitable and stronger than ever?"
Rafferty says at the very least, the Federal Government should match the American subsidy and make it retroactive from 2008.
The strategy is to offset the $6 billion dollar subsidy given to U.S. pulp and paper mills for burning black liquor.
Kenora MP Greg Rickford says his Government is looking at a similar plan.
"Our government's challenge moving forward is to reward companies for using renewable resources," says Rickford.
Rickford says the American plan to burn black liquor is flawed because it rewards companies that burn fossil fuels.
But the N-D-P's forestry critic doesn't believe the government's proposal will go far enough.
In the house of commons Monday, Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty said the proposed billion dollar plan won't allow Canadian mills to compete against the stronger initiatives offered in the U.S.
"Half measures by the government will not save the forestry industry," said Rafferty. "Last week's billion dollar black liquor aid package is a start, but it will not level the playing field against U.S. competitors. The American subsidy is much larger, and it will still provide an unfair advantage to American mills."
"The Conservative plan will do little to help the million people who rely on the forestry sector for work. When will the government start seeing the forest for the trees and help the forestry industry emerge from this downturn more profitable and stronger than ever?"
Rafferty says at the very least, the Federal Government should match the American subsidy and make it retroactive from 2008.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Music Teacher Recognized
Fort Frances High School Music teacher John Dutton directed the school band at the Townsend Theatre for his last time last week.
With it came the news that the school's Arts Wing would be renamed in his honour. The Rainy River District School Board agreed to the renaming by acting on a request from several members of the school band.
Dutton who retires at the end of this month was overwhelmed.
"I didn't think you got an honour like that if you were still among of the living," says Dutton. "I told people at the concert I was happy for the honour and happy to be alive to receive it. But I was a little overwhelmed by it because it's an amazing thing. I'm just here doing my job."
Dutton will do his job one last time when he directs the band a final time at the school's graduation ceremonies.
With it came the news that the school's Arts Wing would be renamed in his honour. The Rainy River District School Board agreed to the renaming by acting on a request from several members of the school band.
Dutton who retires at the end of this month was overwhelmed.
"I didn't think you got an honour like that if you were still among of the living," says Dutton. "I told people at the concert I was happy for the honour and happy to be alive to receive it. But I was a little overwhelmed by it because it's an amazing thing. I'm just here doing my job."
Dutton will do his job one last time when he directs the band a final time at the school's graduation ceremonies.
Lowey's Produce Honoured
An area greenhouse has been honoured by the province.
Lowey's Produce was one of five regional winners of the Premier's Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Awards.
Owner Blair Lowey says they were recognized for their efforts to become more energy efficient which included the installation of a biomass boiler.
"Putting in a biomass boiler helps because we don't use natural gas," says Lowey. "Our electrical energy consumption has been substantially reduced so in both of those we're being recognized for that."
The measures have helped Lowey's reduce its energy costs by almost 40 per cent.
Lowey's Produce was one of five regional winners of the Premier's Agri-Food Innovation Excellence Awards.
Owner Blair Lowey says they were recognized for their efforts to become more energy efficient which included the installation of a biomass boiler.
"Putting in a biomass boiler helps because we don't use natural gas," says Lowey. "Our electrical energy consumption has been substantially reduced so in both of those we're being recognized for that."
The measures have helped Lowey's reduce its energy costs by almost 40 per cent.
DayCare Changes Proposed
The author of a long-anticipated report into education in Ontario says sweeping changes that would combine daycare and kindergarten into a single full-day program will mean greater success for children.
Charles Pascal says these changes will also provide a boost to the well-being of student's families.
Premier Dalton McGuinty gave Pascal, a former deputy minister of education, a two-year appointment to advise the province on how to implement full-day kindergarten.
The report recommends that parents be able to leave children aged four and five at school from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Parents, however, would still have a choice about whether their kids would be enrolled for a full or half-day of kindergarten.
The report says children who attend full-day programs before Grade 1 fare better academically and have better social skills.
Charles Pascal says these changes will also provide a boost to the well-being of student's families.
Premier Dalton McGuinty gave Pascal, a former deputy minister of education, a two-year appointment to advise the province on how to implement full-day kindergarten.
The report recommends that parents be able to leave children aged four and five at school from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Parents, however, would still have a choice about whether their kids would be enrolled for a full or half-day of kindergarten.
The report says children who attend full-day programs before Grade 1 fare better academically and have better social skills.
First Nations hit by N1H1
The H-1-N-1 flu has hit First Nations communities in northwestern Ontario, with more than 100 sick on the Sandy Lake reserve.
Nurses and a doctor are distributing the antiviral drug Tamiflu to the sick.
Authorities have asked people from Sandy Lake to not travel to other First Nations communities in the region to keep the virus from spreading.
Nurses and a doctor are distributing the antiviral drug Tamiflu to the sick.
Authorities have asked people from Sandy Lake to not travel to other First Nations communities in the region to keep the virus from spreading.
No Changes to Hospitals' H1N1 Measures
Despite a rise in the pandemic alert over the H-1-N-1 Flu virus, Riverside Health Care Facilities says it has no plans to increase its precautionary measures.
Riverside is still recommending people experiencing any flu-like symptoms not to visit the hospitals or Rainycrest.
Self-screening and hand washing procedures also remain in effect.
Riverside is still recommending people experiencing any flu-like symptoms not to visit the hospitals or Rainycrest.
Self-screening and hand washing procedures also remain in effect.
Emergency Ramp Entrance Changed
Road construction around LaVerendrye Hospital will impact access to the emergency department ramp from Victoria Avenue this week.
Effective tomorrow, the emergency ramp at La Verendrye will only be accessible from Sinclair Street off of Armit Avenue.
Effective tomorrow, the emergency ramp at La Verendrye will only be accessible from Sinclair Street off of Armit Avenue.
Infrastructure Funding for Area Communities
The townships of Dawson and LaVallee each benefited from three infrastructure announcements Friday.
Dawson township will use more than $95 thousand dollars on an addition to its fire hall in Pinewood, $66 thousand to upgrade River Road and about $58 thousand to improve Atwood Road 2.
LaVallee received $64 thousand dollars to rehabilitate Cain Road, $28 thousand for work on Pyne Road and $24 thousand for a retrofit of the Emo-LaVallee Community Centre.
Rainy River received $280 thousand to refurbish its municipal garage and fire hall and another $30 thousand for upgrades to its municipal office.
$83 thousand will go to Emo to rebuild Fisher Road.
The township of Alberton will get $125 thousand for its fire hall while the township of Morley received $54 thousand for improvement to its Community Centre complex.
Dawson township will use more than $95 thousand dollars on an addition to its fire hall in Pinewood, $66 thousand to upgrade River Road and about $58 thousand to improve Atwood Road 2.
LaVallee received $64 thousand dollars to rehabilitate Cain Road, $28 thousand for work on Pyne Road and $24 thousand for a retrofit of the Emo-LaVallee Community Centre.
Rainy River received $280 thousand to refurbish its municipal garage and fire hall and another $30 thousand for upgrades to its municipal office.
$83 thousand will go to Emo to rebuild Fisher Road.
The township of Alberton will get $125 thousand for its fire hall while the township of Morley received $54 thousand for improvement to its Community Centre complex.
More Library Funding Approved
Another one-point-nine million dollars in government funding is heading toward the new library and technology centre in Fort Frances.
The joint federal-provincial money was part of infrastructure funding announced to a host of Rainy River district communities late Friday.
Library Board Chair Joyce Cunningham says it should help solidify the project's construction this year.
"I'm very much appreciative of all of these levels of government," says Cunningham. "I'm very much appreciative of all that has been done in order to get us this far. I'm very confident that we will be moving ahead very, very quickly."
Town councillors must still approve a construction contract. They had rejected a contract in April over concerns with the amount of money the town would have to provide. With the new money, the town's contribution is believed to be significantly reduced.
The joint federal-provincial money was part of infrastructure funding announced to a host of Rainy River district communities late Friday.
Library Board Chair Joyce Cunningham says it should help solidify the project's construction this year.
"I'm very much appreciative of all of these levels of government," says Cunningham. "I'm very much appreciative of all that has been done in order to get us this far. I'm very confident that we will be moving ahead very, very quickly."
Town councillors must still approve a construction contract. They had rejected a contract in April over concerns with the amount of money the town would have to provide. With the new money, the town's contribution is believed to be significantly reduced.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Grade 10 Literacy Test Results
2009-06-12
12:27:59
Grade 10 students with the Rainy River District School Board have scored high in recent provincial testing for literacy.
84 per cent of students who wrote the reading and writing tests in April met the provincial standards.
The board's student success leader Casey Slack says the board is pleased with the results.
"We're comparing quite favourably with the surrounding boards," says Slack, "but at the provincial level we're matching those who were successful, particularity the first time eligible."
"We do have a comprehensive board literacy plan. Teachers have a direct role in creating that plan, and the board continues to support that in a variety of ways through resources or professional development."
The board's score was just a percentage off the provincial average, but hirer than most other boards in northwestern Ontario
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Fort High Students Honoured
2009-06-10
11:30:23
Sixty students who reached the honour roll at least seven times where among those receiving awards at Fort Frances High School's recognition ceremony Tuesday
Fort Frances high school students who excelled in the areas of music, athletics and academia were recognized yesterday.
More than two hundred students received awards for reach the honour roll multiple times.
Principal Gord McCabe says it's a reflection of the students' commitment to education.
"You always want to see students doing even better," says McCabe, "but when I watched those numbers of students walk across the stage, because its not just being on the honour roll one time, its having been on the honour roll multiple times, it tells me they are really working hard because they're acheiving in a variety of different disciplines to do that."
Co-presidents of the school's student council Dianelle Gustafson and Alex Crichton were this year's recipients of the principal's award for student leadership.
Most Valuable Certificates were award to the following students
Athletic Association - Adam Esselink
Newspaper - Sarah Kellar
Yearbook - Sarah Pryce
First Responders - Micha Gerber
O.S.A.I.D - Dawn Derendorf
Chem-Free Grad - Eric Gustafson
Drama - Cody Caul
Musical - Sam Mueller
Musical Revue - Micha Gerber and Owen Harrison
Music - Christina Empy
Cyclist Travels Throught Rainy River District
2009-06-10
11:19:31
A close friend diagnosed with Cancer has let an Ontario man on a coast-to-coast cycle ride to raise money for Cancer research.
Glen Baxby cycled through the Fort Frances area yesterday.
"We started off at the Pacific Ocean, Victoria, British Columbia, on May 15," says Baxby. "and we're going to dip the bike in the Atlantic on the 14th of July."
"This started at the end of November when I heard of a friend who had been recently diagnosis with cancer. It was a matter of coming to a decision (to do the ride) and getting the proper training and guidance in terms of fitness and nutrition, and putting a committee together to get the logistics of the ride put together."
So far, Baxby has raised just over $25,000. Those wanting to make a donation can go the his Coast to Coast to Cure website.
New Provincial Chief Selected
2009-06-10
11:16:24
Chiefs and representatives from 42 First Nations across Ontario have selected a new chief for the Union of Ontario Indians.
Patrick Madahbee from the Sudbury area is the new provincial chief.
He replaces John Beaucage, who is running for national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, the largest aboriginal group in Canada.
Fantino Appointment Extended
2009-06-10
11:15:00
OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino
Julian Fantino has been re-appointed as Ontario's top cop for one more year.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says Fantino will remain the head of the Ontario Provincial Police until the end of July 2010.
Fantino, whose tenure at the OPP has at times been marred by controversy, has been at the helm of the unit since 2006.
Visitor Restrictions Imposed at Kenora Hospital
2009-06-10
11:04:37
Lake of the Woods Hospital in Kenora has restricted visits to the facility due to an respiratory illness spreading through the northwestern Ontario city
Lake of the Woods District Hospital in Kenora is prohibiting visitors following an outbreak of a
respiratory illness in the community.
The hospital's head of patient care Leslie Brown says the hospital felt it necessary to impose the restrictions to limit reduce the risk of patients coming down with the illness.
Birchwood Terrace Nursing Home, also in Kenora, also closed its doors to visitors for similar reasons.
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