Bankruptcy Impact to Northwestern Ontario

2009-04-17

07:58:45

Fort Frances and Thunder Bay face an uncertain future following Thursday's announced plans by AbitibiBowater e company to file court protection against its creditors.

Vice-President Seth Kursman says it's unclear what the outcome will be for any of the company's northern Ontario plants.

"Let's not speculate in the future about what actions will be taken at any given facility or across the company," says Kursman.

Kursman says it will likely be several months before a restructuring process unfolds, and the full impact of yesterday's announcement seen.

But he says it will be business as usual as the mills and payroll obligations will be met.

 

Greenhouse Proposed

2009-04-17

07:55:53

Fresh veggies are on the menu for residents living in Big Trout Lake.

The remote community, north of Pickle Lake, has received $34,000 to launch a greenhouse research project. The project included the building of a small-scale commercial greenhouse that would distribute its produce across the north.

Bass Funding Welcomed

2009-04-17

07:54:15

More news how the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship will use a 40-thousand dollar provincial grant.

The Tourism Ministry announced the grant Wednesday as part of an 11-million dollar cash infusion to events and festivals around Ontario. Championship Committee President Tom Fry says the money will be used to enhance both the nightly entertainment and daytime activities.

Call to Support NOMA

2009-04-17

07:49:18

The president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association says the municipal lobby group is more important than ever.

This year, some municipalities have sent only one or two delegates with some not represented at the annual conference in Fort Frances. Anne Krassilowsky says because of the important role NOMA plays, it's incumbents upon all municipalities to keep the organization active.

"I think the connectivity that the NOMA conference brings for communities," says Krassilowsky, "that are right now challenged by how many councillors or representatives they can send, I think the solution is made up of all of the communities. It's absolutely essential that we find as much money as we can for councillors to attend."

Wednesday's sessions were kicked off by a motivational speech from CFL Hall-of-Famer Terry Evanshen.

Union Reaction to Bankruptcy Decision

2009-04-17

07:46:04

The union representing workers at AbitibiBowater says the impact of the company's decision to bankruptcy protection won't be immediately felt. But Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union vice-president Kim Ginter says it shouldn't be seen as a total shock.

"The last couple of weeks the company's been getting extensions," says Ginter. "What people are most nervous about is that we don't know what the outcome will be after the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act  protection."

Ginter says the union intends to hold a national conference in the middle of the May to access the impact further.

AbitibiBowater Files for Bankruptcy Protection

2009-04-17

07:41:56

Debt-strapped newsprint giant AbitibiBowater has filed for bankruptcy protection from creditors in Canada and the United States.

The company says it had no other options after failing to refinance debts at its Bowater and Abitibi-Consolidated subsidiaries. It will restructure under court supervision under Chapter 11
laws in the United States and the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act in Canada.

AbitibiBowater says it plans to use the restructuring process to deal decisively with its debt burden. Normal day-to-day operations will continue during the restructuring process.

In a related matter, the company says it has struck a deal with Fairfax Financial Holdings, a major shareholder, and other investors for about $200 million in emergency financing.

Assisted Suicide Accused Free on Bail

2009-04-17

07:40:17

A Waterloo man accused of helping his wife commit suicide is free on bail in Thunder Bay.

Peter Fonteece is due back in court on May 7. He is charged with criminal negligence causing death and assisted suicide in the death of 38-year-old Yanisa Fonteece in a Thunder Bay motel.

Badminton Champions

2009-04-17

07:29:15

Three Fort Frances High School Badminton teams are heading to the northwestern Ontario high school championship.

The junior girls doubles team of Jillian Berry and Hannah Taylor - Senior girls doubles Kimika Alexander and Chelsea Carlson and the senior boys doubles team of Tim Desjardins and Rory Bagacki will play for NWOSSAA titles in Thunder Bay next week.

The three teams went undefeated in the NORWOSSA championship held Wednesday in Dryden.

Festival - Wednesday Results

2009-04-17

07:26:19

Fort Frances High School bands captured honours in five separate divisions as the instrumental portion of the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts opened Wednesday.

It was also the final day for vocal competitions with Lauren Gurski and Kaitlyn Shortreed each earning top marks in three categories.

The instrumental competitions continue Thursday at Knox United Church with the drama division beginning in the morning at the Townsend Theatre. Here as the results from Wednesday's competition.

FESTIVAL RESULTS, VOCAL DIVISION, Wednesday, April 15, 2009

 

CLASS V152

                First – Dylan Ossachuk

CLASS V153        

                First – Isaac Firth

                Second – Chantal Perrault

CLASS V154

                First – Sydney Martel

CLASS V131

                First – Phoebe Firth

CLASS V132

                First – Kailey Curtis

                Second – Jessica Whalen

CLASS V133

                First – Lauren Gurski

CLASS V163

                First – Katelyn Shortreed

CLASS V139

                First – Lauren Gurski

CLASS V207        

                First – Phoebe Firth and Isaac Firth

                Second – Jessica Whalen and Ericka Tymkin

CLASS V195        

                First – Lauren Gurski

CLASS V189

                First – Katelyn Shortreed

                Second – Lauren Gurski

CLASS V176

                First – Anne Jean

                Second – McKenna Begin

CLASS V177

                First – Taylor Shouldice

                Second – Maggie Gauthier

CLASS V178

                First – Ericka Tymkin

                Second – Caitlin Sande

CLASS V179

                First – Katelyn Shortreed

                Second – Jessica Whalen

FESTIVAL RESULTS, INSTRUMENTAL DIVISION, Wednesday, April 15, 2009

 

CLASS B300

                First – Fort Frances High School Beginner Band (Grade 9), Director:  John Dutton

                Second – Robert Moore School Band (Grade 7), Director:  Michelle Cain

CLASS B301

                First – Fort Frances High School Junior Band (Grade 10), Director:  John Dutton

                Second – Robert Moore School Band (Grade 8), Director:  Michelle Cain

CLASS B302

                First – Fort Frances High School Intermediate Band, Director:  John Dutton

CLASS B303

                First – Fort Frances High School Senior Band, Director:  John Dutton        

CLASS B307

                First – Fort High Jazz Band, Director:  Christina Sletmoen

CLASS S1303

                First (Tie) – Michelle Cain and Nicole Murray

CLASS B504

                First – Ensemble - Dan Vos, Mark Loney, John Dutton, Christina Foreman, Alex Marusyk

CLASS B306

                FIRST – Borderland Community Orchestra

Ralph Rowe Back in Court

2009-04-17

07:25:05

A former northwestern Ontario Anglican Church Minister is back in a Kenora court this week.

Ralph Rowe faces eleven sexual assault charges against seven individuals from remote northern first nation communities. The one-time boy scout master has already gone through two trials, most recently two years ago, for sexually abusing young boys in northern Ontario communities during the 1970's and 1980's.

He is currently serving a three year sentence.

Hydro Rates to Increase

2009-04-17

07:20:58

An increase in residential hydro rates is on the way, albeit a small one.

The Ontario Electricity Board has announced new prices that take effect May 1. The point-one per cent increase per kilowatt hour represents about a dollar more each month for the average homeowner.

A change in the threshold for the lowest electricity price from one-thousand to 600 kilowatts will add another $3.60 to monthly bills.

Bass Tournament Funding

2009-04-17

07:18:35

A significant cash infusion for the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship.

The local fishing tournament will receive more than $41,000 from the provincial government. The funding was part of an announcement Wednesday by the province to support community events across Ontario.

New Parking Lot

2009-04-17

06:58:34

There will be a new parking lot behind St. Mary's Church in Fort Frances later this year.

The 70-space lot is being built as part of the $5.4 million dollar road improvement project around the AbitibiBowater biomass boiler. C.A.O. Mark McCaig say it will help make a section of Nelson Street between Victoria and Portage Avenues safer for heavy trucks.

"When there's cars parked on both side of the road it's almost impassable," says McCaig. "What we're look at is having trucks go down that stretch of Nelson and onto Victoria out Front Street with a widen road, minimal and limited parking so that it's safe."

Construction costs of the parking lot will be paid by Abitibi-Bowater as part of an agreement made when it assumed ownership of the portions of Sinclair Street and Portage Avenue by the boiler.

Terry Evanshen Opens Conference

2009-04-17

06:53:56

The man who lost himself will open today's Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association meeting in Fort Frances.

More than 10 years ago, C-F-L Hall-of-famer Terry Evanshen awoke from a coma not knowing who he was, his family or his football past. Evanshen, who has been on a slow recovery since, says its important to be the best one can be.

"We're all going through very difficult time right now," says Evanshen, "but when you look at my life and how I had to rebuild myself again that we try to put things in proper perspective. Try to look within ourselves and realize it's not the highs or low which happen to you in your life, but what you do with it that really counts."

Evanshen's life has been the subject of a made-for TV movie. He now now travels the country as a motivational speaker.
 

NOMA Opens

2009-04-17

06:49:42

'Global Challenges, Regional Strengths, Northwestern Solutions.'

That's the theme for this year's Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference. The conference Thursday today in Fort Frances.

President, and Dryden Mayor, Anne Krassilowsky says there will be several issues discussed.

"For this year, we'll be addressing the forest value-added projects around the community and how to get them started," says Krassilowsky. "We'll work with the minister to find some kind of answer. We'll also be looking at tourism. We've all seen Greg Sorbara's tourism report. One of the biggest concerns is that we don't want to see Ontario Sunset Country Travel Association disappear. It's part of our identity."

Today's sessions include how to build healthy relations with native communities and the emerging bio-economy in northwestern Ontario.

Tourism Minister View Centre

2009-04-17

06:23:34

It appears the town of Fort Frances will get an opportunity to lobby the province's tourism minister directly for changes to the local tourist information centre.

Monique Smith is expected to tour the centre with town officials today. The town has been seeking changes that improves the centre's access.

The number of visitors to the centre has been dropping in recent years.