Monday, April 20, 2009

Tourism Regions Discussed

2009-04-17

13:12:54

A request to maintain Ontario's Sunset Country Travel Association is getting a cool reception from the province's tourism minister.

The province is looking at merging Sunset Country into a much larger tourism marketing organization for the entire northwest. Monique Smith says new body will be effective.

"The larger regions allow for better marketing for better products to be developed," says Smith, "and for a broader, more bank for your buck. So we want to work with our existing destination marketing organizations and with the regions that don't have anyone representing them to make sure we can marketing every part of region effectively."

Smith says the ministry will be discussing its proposal with industry officials later this month in Kenora and Thunder Bay.

Province Helping Forest Industry: Cansfield

2009-04-17

13:09:47

Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield says Ontario's not ignoring the province's forest industry.

Critics have argued the province isn't doing en ought to help the industry financially.

Speaking to area mayors and reeves in Fort Frances, Cansfield said her Ministry provided AbitibiBowater, in particular, with more than $150 million, including $20 million for its new biomass boiler in Fort Frances.

"We have been with them as they started to make their transition," says Cansfield. "The challenge they've got, in Abitibi's case, is that their entire global market has collapsed."

Cansfield expects the forest sector to survive, but will have a different look.

Crimestoppers Clearing the Air

2009-04-17

13:06:32

Northwestern Ontario-Northern Minnesota Crimestoppers is "clearing the air".

Coordinator Gary Potter is touring the region speaking to High School students about the program.

Potter says its vitally important to reach out to our youth.

"I believe historically we haven't spent enough time passing on this information in depth enough," says Potter, "so that people can really understand it. As these high school students mature and get older, hopefully they're going to have a better understanding of Crimestoppers than you and I did."

Potter says he also wants to ensure High School students feel comfortable about calling the anonymous hotline.

 

Hunting Fine

2009-04-17

13:05:36

A Sioux Narrows man has learned the hard way to clean up his mess.

A court fined 27-year-old Jess Swenson 600-dollars for failing to restore a conservation reserve site to its original condition. Swenson was ordered to remove the material he left behind at his deer hunt camp at Calendar Island in the Lake of the Woods Conservation Reserve.

The man was warned by the Ministry of Natural Resources before he was slapped with the fine.

 

Call for Federal Attention to Forestry

2009-04-17

12:51:13

Start paying attention to the Forest industry!

That was the direct comment made by Liberal Natural Natural Resources Critic Geoff Regan who met with some of the area forestry officials in Dryden yesterday. Regan says the Conservatives are virtually ignoring the struggling sector.

"We learned this week that there was a meeting the government held last month in Thunder Bay with four stakeholders," says Regan, "Now we had a meeting this morning with about twenty. It's not hard to get them to come to a meeting if you ask them. So I can't understand why the government would hold a meeting with only four stakeholders if their really want to hear from people and get a range of views.

Regan says the Grits are developing their platform for the next election by listening to people involved in the industry.

Longer Trucks Proposed

2009-04-17

12:50:24

A pilot project will see as many as 100 double tractor-trailers on some Ontario roads starting this summer.

The aim is to see how well they fare on the province's highways, as the government says the longer vehicles are more efficient.

The program will include restrictions on where and when the vehicles can travel and what they can carry.

Pit Bull Ban Challenged

2009-04-17

12:49:34

Civil rights lawyer Clayton Ruby is taking his fight to overturn Ontario's pit-bull ban to the highest court in Canada.
 
Ruby says the legislation which assumes that it's the nature of the breed that creates danger is wrong.

He's asking the Supreme Court to review of an Appeal Court decision last October that upholds the province's ban.

Falls High School Boys win track meet

2009-04-17

12:34:45

It was a great day on the track yesterday for Falls High School.

The boys track and field team finished first overall at a meet in Deer River. The Broncos earned gold medals in several events.

Jake Jensen won two golds with a 12-foot leap in the pole vault and as part of the 4-by-400 relay team.  Here is a list of all medal winners for the Broncos

4X800  Meter Relay team - 1st - 9:15.0

110 Meter Hurdles - Aaron Skoglund - 2nd - 17.5 seconds

110 Meter Hurdles - Ryan Tomevi - 3rd - 19.0 seconds

100 Meter Dash - Jake Jensen - 2nd - 11.7 seconds

4X200 Meter Relay Team - 2nd - 1:41.0

1600 Meter Run - John Sobczynski - 1st - 5:20.0

4 X 100 Meter Relay team - 3rd - 52.6 seconds

400 Meter Dash - Aaron Marx - 2nd - 58.6 seconds

300 Meter Hurdles - John Sobczynski - 3rd - 50.1 seconds

800 Meter Run - Thomas Briggs - 2nd - 2:18.0

800 Meter Run - Alex Marx - 3rd - 2:23.0

200 Meter Dash - Brandon Richards - 2nd - 24.7 seconds

3200 Meter Run - Zach Severson - 1st - 11:32.5

3200 Meter Run - Myles Walden - 3rd - 12:07.2

4 X 400 Meter Relay Team - 1st - 3:52.9

Shot Put - Brandon Richards - 2nd - 40'10"

Discuss - Ryan Tomevi - 2nd - 109'9"

Triple Jump - Ryan Tomevi - 2nd - 35'4"

Triple Jump - Aaron Skoglund - 3rd - 34'1"

Long Lump - Ryan Tomevi - 1st - 17'8"

Long Jump - Thomas Brigs - 3rd - 17'5"

High Jump - Shawn Filipiak - 1st - 5'8"

High Jump - Aaron Skoglund - 3rd - 5'4"

Pole Vault - Jake Jensen - 1st - 12'3"

Pole Vault - Kyle Askey - 2nd - 7'6"

Festival Results - Thursday

2009-04-17

12:32:21

There were several multiple winners during yesterday's competitions in the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.

Ryan Shouldice captured four first-place finishes in the instrumental category. Taylor Shouldice and Sarah Bagacki each earned three honours.

On the Drama side, Robert Moore School's drama clubs captured four separate honours with Kasemer Hawrylak earned three honours in solo readings.

The drama competitions continue today at the Townsend Theatre. Here are the complete results from Thursday's competitions.

FESTIVAL RESULTS, INSTRUMENTAL DIVISION, Thursday, April 16, 2009

 

CLASS B401

                First – Sarah Bagacki

CLASS B405        

                First – Taylor Shouldice and Carrie Shouldice

CLASS S705

                First – Ryan Shouldice

CLASS S2402

                First – Ryan Shouldice

CLASS S1250

                First – Taylor Shouldice

CLASS S1400

                First – Taylor Shouldice

CLASS S1201

                First – Sarah Bagacki

CLASS S1401

                First – Sarah Bagacki

CLASS S1302

                First – Ryan Shouldice

CLASS S2502A

                First – Ryan Shouldice

CLASS S2502B

                First – John Jankiewicz

CLASS B107

                First – Jade Green

CLASS S1100

                First – Lemuel Carradice

CLASS S1101

                First – Hunter Neilson

CLASS B400

                First – Moriah Carradice and Lemuel Carradice

                Second – Brendan Morand and Brady VanUden

CLASS B700

                First – Kelly Dyke

CLASS B401

                First – Cynthia Hudson and Meghan Metke

CLASS B703

                First – Jahn Jankiewicz

FESTIVAL RESULTS, DRAMA DIVISION, Thursday, April 16, 2009

 

CLASS A705-A

                First – St. Francis School, Grades 4 and 5 – Solange Busch

CLASS A705-C

                First – J. W. Walker School, Grades 4 and 5 – M. Armour and J. Johanson

CLASS A706-C   

                First – J. W. Walker School – E. Cain and J. Johanson

CLASS A805

                First – St. Francis School, Grades 4 to 6, Ojibwe Class – C. Bannon

CLASS A104-A

                First – Emma Dystra

                Second – Wyatt McLeod

CLASS A104-B

                First – Mackenzie Wright

                Second (TIE) – Michael Drouin and Maggie Gurski

CLASS A105-A

                First – Maddie Saunders

                Second – Brielle Byma

CLASS A504-D

                First – Michael Brady

                Second – Jonathan McCoy

CLASS A504-E

                First – Kasemer Hawrylak

CLASS A703-A

                First – Robert Moore School, Grade 3 – Alexis Norris

CLASS A704-C

                First – Robert Moore School, Grade 4 – L. Fryer

CLASS A704-B

                First – Robert Moore School, Grade 4 – L. Fryer

CLASS A1200

                First – Robert Moore School, Grades 3 and 4 – C. Donald and K. Beckett

CLASS A504-A

                First – Kasemer Hawrylak

CLASS A504-B

                First – Justine Christie

CLASS A504-C

                First – Felicia Schmutz

CLASS A402

                First (TIE) – Randi-Rae Lee and Jonathan McCoy

CLASS A103-B

                First (TIE) – Jocelyn George and Olivia DeBenedet

CLASS A104-D

                First – Trustin Bruyere

CLASS A106-D

                First – Andrew Eldridge

                Second – Shanleigh Fryer

CLASS A501-A

                First – Andrew Eldridge

CLASS A1502

                First – Kasemer Hawrylak

                Second (TIE) – Justine Christie and Michael Brady

Boil Water Advisory in Atikokan

2009-04-17

12:30:31

There has been another boil water advisory issued for the town of Atikokan.

The Northwestern Health Unit issued the advisory yesterday afternoon after the town's water plant experienced a mechanical problem.

A power failure that impacted the plant last month forced the need for an advisory that lasted almost two weeks.

Native Housing Money

2009-04-17

12:27:52

The province also committed 80-million dollars to support off-reserve housing.

Housing Minister Jim Watson says in many cases aboriginal housing isn't fit to live in.

"And that's no fault of the aboriginal community," says Watson. "t's the fault of the fact previous governments just never put enough money in native housing. If we can get our act together and allow the aboriginal community, in this case, to control their own destiny, it's a win-win."

The Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, Metis Nation of Ontario, and Ontario Native Women's Association will screen applications and distribute money.

 

Native Relations Renewed

2009-04-17

12:26:38

The provincial government says it will work with Grand Council Treaty 3 to improve economic opportunities for First Nation communities in treaty 3 territory.

Yesterday, Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield and Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle gathered with the area's native leaders in Stanjokoming to sign a letter of intent to improve and enhance their working relationships.

The goal is to help Treaty 3 communities in the area of forestry, mining , fish and wildlife and other business opportunities.

Tourism Minister To View Centre

2009-04-17

12:25:31

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.

NOMA discusses AbitibiBowater

2009-04-17

12:23:09

The AbitibiBowater situation could be front and centre at today's Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association conference in Fort Frances.

Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield will be among four members of the McGuinty cabinet on hand for the annual so-called bear-pit session. NOMA president Anne Krassilowsky says the question and answer period is one of the most important parts of the conference.

"It's a long costly way to Toronto," says Krassilowsky, "and this way our communities and councillors have an opportunity to speak to the minister's almost in their back yard."

Also attending are Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle, Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Watson and Tourism Minister Monique Smith.

AbitibiBowater Workers Reassured

2009-04-17

12:17:52

There was some reassurance for AbitibiBowater employees coming out of yesterday's Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association meeting.

Sue Prodaniuk, a company spokesperson in Thunder Bay, told mayors and reeves gathered in Fort Frances, there will be no immediate changes to the company's workforce.

"This point in time, all of our operations are continuing to operate. All of our employees continue to be employed," said Prodaniuk, "and as we go through this process that will continue."  

Meantime, AbitibiBowater in Fort Frances is in the midst of a partial shutdown with operations at one of its paper machines expected to resume production May 4.