Bernier Passes

One of the most influential politicians northern Ontario has ever seen has passed away.

Former Kenora MPP Leo Bernier died over the weekend at the age of 81.

Bernier was a Cabinet minister in the Conservative government's of Bill Davis and Frank Miller, first elected to the Ontario Legislature in 1966.

He held the Northern Affairs portfolio from 1971 until 1985, retiring from politics in 1987.

Break-in Charges Laid

An area man faces charges in connection with a break-in and theft at a First Street home in Fort Frances over the weekend.

Provincial police says the owner left her home for only a few minutes only to return to find some prescription medication was taken.

Shortly after responding to that call, police stopped a vehicle for an unrelated matter, finding the missing medication in the driver's possession.

The 28-year-old man from Watten Township will now appear in court on charges of break and enter, possession of stolen property and failing to appear.

Search for Missing Man

Provincial police are searching for a man who is feared to have drowned in Rainy Lake last night.

Police say the man was diving with friends from a bridge on Highway 11 near the area of Bear's Pass, about 20 kilometres east of Fort Frances, when he entered the water and failed to re-surface.

Marine units and other officers have been on site since, but have been unable to locate the missing man.

His identify is known, but police are not released his name at this time.

Relays for Life Set Fundraising Record

(Eighty-five cancer survivors kicked off the Fort Frances Relay for Life with the traditional first lap)


A record-setting year for the Canadian Cancer Society with its Relay for Life fundraisers across northwestern Ontario.

The 440-thousand dollar mark was surpassed Friday with 21 teams participating in the Fort Frances event raising more than 54-thousand.

The Society's Fundraising Coordinator Margaret Saville says it was most ever raised through the 12-hour walks.

"That is truly an inspiration to all and I'm so grateful for all of the communities to come together to pull this off because it is amazing," says Saville.

Four teams at the Fort Frances event were near or above the $4,000 mark with Madison Degagne the top fundraiser collecting over $2,400.

I. Falls Celebrates Mill's 100th

(Boise's International Falls Mill Manager Bert Brown (left) joins with company president Alexander Toeldte to mark the mill's 100th year in operation)


One hundred years of paper making in International Falls was celebrated Friday.

Employees and their families and area residents gathered at Smoky Bear Park for festivities.

Mill Manager Bert Brown says it's the people that have helped keep the mill going for the past century.

"Really the cornerstone of the mill is the people," says Brown. "It's people inside the mill. It's relations they've built both inside and outside the mill and it's the community."

The mill opened in June 1910 under the guise of Minnesota and Ontario Paper Company, four years before the Fort Frances operation.

Water Restrictions In Effect Today

Water restrictions for Fort Frances and Couchiching First Nations go into effect today.

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the measures are necessary because of a inspection of the water tower.

Brown says they'll be look at a paint-job done inside the tank two years is holding up.

The restrictions will last for three weeks with non-essential water use limited to homes on an odd-even day basis.

New Plan for Medical School

The Northern Ontario Medical School has unveiled a new strategic plan for the next five years.

Dean Dr. Roger Strasser says it focuses on five key areas including improving education, research and the learning environment along with keeping faculty happy.

"I've think we've set ourselves ambitious, but realistic and achievable goals over the next five years," says Strasser.

Strasser says the ultimate goal is to have the school recognized internationally.