Former Rainy River Resources CFO Finds New Work

Rainy River Resources' former chief financial officer has found new employment.

Nik Nikolakakis has joined Rubicon Minerals as its vice-president and chief financial officer.

Rubicon is in the advanced stage of a gold project in the Red Lake area.

Warm September In Falls

Above normal temperatures for International Falls last month.

The National Weather Service says the city ended the month 4.2 degrees F warmer than normal.

Cockburn Supporting Environmental Group

Clinton Gray photo

An environmental message from Bruce Cockburn as he travels through northwestern Ontario.

He's helping the group Environmental Defence with its campaign to remove toxic chemicals found in many common household products.

Cockburn says its an issue that impacts everyone.

Cockburn performed at the Townshend Theatre in Fort Frances last night and is at St. Patrick's School in Atikokan tonight.

TimeTable Discussed For School Decision

The fate of three elementary schools in the west end of the Rainy River district could be decided early in the new year.

The Rainy River District School Board is being asked to consider the recommendations of advisory committees calling for a rebuild of Donald Young School in Emo and that Sturgeon Creek in Barwick and that Crossroads in Devlin be left open.

A special board meeting to discuss administration's reviews of the reports is now planned for November with the board expected to make a final decision in January.

Federal Riding Boundary Stays The Same

The federal riding of Thunder Bay-Rainy River will remain virtually the same.

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario has submitted its final report to the Chief Electoral Office

MP John Rafferty is happy the Commission opted against an initial proposal to add the Lake of the Woods area to the Kenora riding.

Sabaskong Bay, which is split by boundaries, will be a part of the Kenora riding.

Local Liberal Likes Common Ground Initiative

A new website set up by Ontario's Liberals to gather input into new policies is being welcomed by the president of the Kenora-Rainy River Liberal Riding Association.

Anthony Leek sees it important for people in our area to have a voice.

Leek says people sharing ideas can go along way in shaping the Ontario's future.

Hudak Offers Plan To Premier

Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak isn't high on the Liberal's Common Ground campaign.

Hudak doesn't see how its going to help get people without a job find one.

Hudak says if Premier Wynne doesn't have a job creation strategy, he welcomes her to steal his and call it her own.

Men Fined For Harassing Moose

Two men have been fined $2,500 after being caught riding a moose.

The Ministry of Natural Resources charged the men in July after receiving complaints and reviewing video footage.

Court was told Andrew Weiers of Dryden and Matthew Weiers of Alberta were witnessed circling a moose in their boat on Eagle Lake with one of the men eventually jumping on the animal's back.

Breastfeeding Week

The Northwestern Health Unit is celebrating World Breastfeeding Week.

Public Health Nurse Donna Mior says not only is breastfeeding good for the baby, but it's good for mom too.

Mior says it's also well documented that breast milk is all that a baby requires for the first 6-months.

We Day Honoured

Students who played a role in organizing a mini-We Day in the spring at Rainy River High School are being recognized tonight by the Rainy River District School Board.

Student council organized last May's event, bringing together motivational speakers and performers, including Jared Funk, a three-time medal para-Olympian, the Winnipeg Blue Bomber Cheerleaders and author Drew Hayden Taylor.

This year's student council is planning to hold another event next April.

School Breakfast Programs Getting Funded

School breakfast programs at Ontario's schools are being expanded.

The provincial government says it will provide an additional $3-million towards the development of 200 new breakfast and morning meal programs, mostly in high-need communities.

Part of the funding will also support the hiring of coordinators to work with schools in developing partnerships with businesses and food distribution networks.

Bayfield Continues Exploration

Exploration around the New Gold's gold project, formerly Rainy River Resources, near Barwick continues.

Bayfield Ventures is out with its latest assay results

The company is drilling in an area it believes to be as significant as New Gold's deposit.

Shooting Incident In Caramat

A search is underway for a man wanted in connection with a shooting incident in the small northwestern Ontario community of Caramat. near Longlac.

OPP says another man is recovering after being shot in the leg during a confrontation last night.

Police says the suspect showed up at the victim's home last night, wearing a ski mask and carrying a long run, firing a single shot before fleeing.

Smoking Off Limits At Thunder Bay Hospital

If you've got a medical appointment at Thunder Bay's Health Science Centre, leave the cigarettes at home.

The city has approved changes to its smoking by-laws allowing the hospital to ban smoking outright on its grounds.

Hospital Spokesperson Tracie Smith says the changes will allow hospital security and Health Unit officers to ticket anyone caught smoking on hospital grounds. 

The exact amount of the fine has not been set.

Premier Stays Away From Personal Attacks

Premier Kathleen Wynne wants to distance her Liberals from the opposition.

With election talk heating up in Ontario, Wynne says she has no interest in a campaign of mudslinging or personal attacks, and doesn't think the public wants it either.

Wynne addressed party faithful in Hamilton on the weekend in an event aimed at developing policies for the next election.

Gravelle Supports Bear Bill

Ontario's Northern Development Michael Gravelle says he'll back a private members bill aimed at reducing incidents of nuisance bears.

It's being introduced by Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro.

Mauro's bill also looks at expanding the Ontario's hunt, even if includes returning the spring hunt.

Accountability Office Gets Approval

The provincial Government is one step closer to having a financial accountability officer.

The bill has passed third reading in the legislature.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell says it will ensure scandals, like that of the gas-plant cancellations, never happen again.

The creation of an accountability office was a key demand from the NDP in supporting the Liberals budget.

Catholic Board Happy With Numbers

The Northwest Catholic District School Board says it's seeing some improvements in the latest provincial test scores.

The board bettered its result in Grade 3 reading by five per cent while 70 per cent of its grade 6's met or better the provincial standard in reading.

Education Director Rick Boisvert says they also see a reduction in the gender gap, especially at grade 6.

In math, 58 per cent of grade 3's and 62 per cent of grade 6's achieved provincial standards.

Environment Fines Going Back To Communities Effected

Fines collected from companies who violated Ontario's environmental laws are being turned back to the communities the infractions occurred.

Over $320-thousand will be doled out to groups and organizations that apply for improvement projects.

None of the money, though, is available to communities in northwestern Ontario.

Steps Against Stigma

Mental Illness Awareness Week goes next week  and the Canadian Mental Health Association in Fort Frances will kick it off with a walk Saturday.

Spokesperson Nancy Daley-Fulton says "Steps Against Stigmac" is in part to draw awareness of the stigma of mental illness.

Registration forms can be obtained at CMHA, its website, Energy Fitness or at the day of the event