2009-05-08
13:42:35
It's graduation day for students at Rainy River Community College.
Degrees or certificates will be awarded to 133 graduates. Nine students are graduating from both their respective high schools and the college through the Post-Secondary Enrolment's Options Program.
The commencement ceremonies will take place at 2:00 p.m. in the college gymnasium.
The public is welcome to attend the ceremony and a reception to follow.
2009-05-08
13:41:23
There will be more police constables working in First Nations communities in Ontario.
The province is receiving more than $150 million over five years as its share of the federal Police Officers Recruitment Fund for the hirings.
Eleven new officers will be hired by Nishnawbe-Aski First Nation Police Service. Eight will work Anishinabek Police Service and seven with Treaty Three Police. Lac Seul Police Service will see one additional officer.
A third of all new hires will work for the Ontario Provincial Police.
2009-05-08
13:37:29
There's a war brewing over bottled water and municipal tap water.
The Council of Canadians and Canadian Union of Public Employees are heralding the positives of drinking tap water and talking about the pitfalls of bottled water. Nestle Waters Canada spokesperson John Challinor says the bottled water industry should be supported.
"It's a responsible industry because we are dealing with the bottle," says Challinor. "We are funding the recycling of the bottle across Canada through various forms whether it be depots, deposits or curb-side recycling. So its important that the industry be supported for the right reasons."
Challinor adds the campaign to ban bottled water is based on misinformation. He says there are 11,000 jobs related to the bottle-water industry and are provided a healthy product to Canadians.
CUPE and the Council are concerned about the testing regulations for bottled water and the amount of recycling done in the province.
2009-05-08
13:36:37
Ontario is confirming seven new cases of the swine flu, bringing the total number of cases in the province to 56.
A three-year-old child is among the people who have contracted the disease, but all of the cases are said to be mild. The new incidents of the virus were in communities that had previously reported cases, including Toronto and Sudbury.
So far, still no cases in northwestern Ontario.
2009-05-08
13:33:57
A monthly food box program established by the Clover Valley Farmer's Market is getting some strong interest in the region.
The program which started in the Rainy River district about a year ago, expanded to Kenora in December. Director Kim Cornell says they've also been asked to introduce the program elsewhere.
"We've actually had interest from other communities already," says Cornell. "We just got to make sure we got Kenora up and running and we have some sustainable numbers there before we start another community. I would suspect later this year we'll be in another community in the northwest."
Cornell says the program also has increased interest from local growers who help ensure local products in the healthy food boxes.
2009-05-08
13:31:19
The spring run-off is starting to affect a number of forest access roads in the Atikokan area.
Twila Smitsnuk of the Ministry of Natural Resources says the East Pinecone Road, Crooked Pine Road and Stanton Bay Road have been closed to traffic.
"The roads that we're dealing with currently are located to the east of Atikokan," says Smitsnuk. "We've had high water levels in the river systems from rain and heavier snow and ice storm that went through in April that left us with a little bit more precipitation than other areas."
The M-N-R says several other area roads have also been washed out, and may also have to be shutdown.
Randy Thoms – News & Sports Director
