Shrine Circus A Success

2009-05-14

14:46:25

High-flying aerialists, jugglers and fire jumping dobermans were among several acts at this year's Shrine Circus held at the Memorial Sports Centre.

For the second year in a row, performers with the Cindy Mingly Circus from Sarasota Florida were on hand to thrill the hundreds who attended.

Ringermaster Timothy Tegge says they happy to help the Shriners raise money.

"The Shriner's use the circus as one of the major fundraising events out of the year," says Tegge. "They use the circus to raise funds to keep their operations going, and their operations are what feeds the money into the children's hospitals and burns centres around the country. Around the world, they do an outstanding job."

The Shrine Circus began its tour of northwestern Ontario in Thunder Bay last week with shows in Dryden Tuesday and Kenora today.

Forestry Protests Continue

2009-05-14

14:22:35

A group of forestry workers in northern Ontario say the only way they will stop protesting at a Thunder Bay provincial politician's office is when they get to work again.

Dozens of workers were back in front of the office of local M-P-P Michael Gravelle yesterday.

Protesters say many contractors haven't been paid for deliveries made to mills across the region because of the economic downturn, and they want the province to provide short-term funding.

A similar demonstration was held two weeks ago.

Rainy River Maintain EDO

2009-05-14

14:18:41

The Mayor of Rainy River says her town is seeing the benefits of having its own economic development officer.

Earlier this week, town councillors agreed to extend the contract of Community Coordinator and Economic Development Officer Anthony Mason until the end of the year.

Mayor Debbie Ewald says Mason has been a valuable asset since hired last year.

"With the economic development committee, any idea's that come up from that group, he does the research and the leg work and brings reports back to the group on what the viability of what we're working on is," says Ewald, "so it's been working good, I think." 

Ewald says the town's also seen vast improvements to its Railway Daze festival and the home show because of Mason's work.

More Youth Involvement Planned

2009-05-14

14:14:49

A northwestern Ontario lobby group is looking to include a youth voice to its organization.

The so-called Common Voice Northwest Initiative currently has municipal and First Nations representatives who help examine several key areas impacting northern Ontario. Chair and Thunder Bay Councillor Iain Angus says including a youth component is something other groups now do.

"Certainly we're seeing a lot of first nation's activity around consulting from youth and getting direction from them," says Angus, "so we can learn from their experience. We also want to learn from all young people in the region, not just those who call their municipalities home."

Angus says they're hoping to hold a series of youth forums across the region sometime in the fall.

Local Student Appointed to Provincial Body

2009-05-14

14:11:41

A Fort Frances student has been selected to sit on a provincial advisory committee that will provide advice into Ontario's education system.

Sydnee McLeod is one of sixty students across the province selected to the new Minister's Student Advisory Council. The grade 7 student at St. Francis School is excited being able to speak for students at her school.

"I wanted to make a difference because not every one gets to heard in the school," says McLeod. "Not every voice and I wanted to speak for my school about what they wanted different."

Sydnee and the other students held their first meeting in Toronto this week with Education Minister Kathleen Wynne. She is confident the Minister will listen to what the students have to say.

Phone Service Disrupted

2009-05-14

14:09:00

A severed line caused by road crews working in Fort Frances was to blame for yesterday's loss of telephone services at Riverside Health Care Facilities across the district

The incident happened yesterday afternoon to a line located near LaVerendrye hospital. But officials says because of recent changes to Riverside's phone system, the incident also impacted phone services at hospitals in Emo, Rainy River and Rainycrest, as well as LaVerendrye.

Phone services to all facilities were fully restored late last night.