NOMS Students in Fort Frances

(Brienne Lowey-Bodkin (l.) and Jacqueline Edwards)

Two students from the Northern Ontario School of Medicine are in Fort Frances to compete their third year clerkship.

Brienne Lowey-Bodkin and Jacqueline Edwards will be working along side the town's current physicians until next April.

Lowey-Bodkin says a familiarity with the area led her to the Fort.

"My grandparents live in Fort Frances and my dad was born in Fort Frances," says Lowey-Bodkin, "so I always came to Fort Frances as a kid. When I choose where I wanted to go, family is always important to me and I knew that it would make my transition really smooth if I could stay with family members."

Edwards says the ability to learn in wide array of medical areas was something that attracted her.

"Fort Frances has quite of few specialists that come in," says Edwards, "and a lot of the docs do different things themselves. They'll do obstetrics. They'll do general surgery. They'll do anaesthesia. So I'm hoping to get a good picture of all those different areas as well as family medicine."

Both students are from Thunder Bay.

Ryan Files

The last of the incumbents in Fort Frances have filed for re-election.

Paul Ryan filed his nomination papers for this October's election yesterday.

Ryan was first elected to council in 2006.

Expanded Cellphone Services Moving Ahead

(CJUK photo)


TBayTel and Rogers says they're making progress on their joint project that will see a 3G network cover the region.

Rogers customers have started their transition into TBayTel coverage.

TBayTel president Don Campbell says work on turning over the 3G network is on target and should be operational in Thunder Bay and other bigger centres in the region by the end of the year.

Campbell says the partnership will also give customers a greater selection of hand held devices and services.

MNR Crews Returning

(Ministry of Natural Resources photo)

Some of Ontario resources are coming back from British Columbia.

Officials says the fire situation in B-C has eased.

Eighty one Ministry of Natural Resources FireRangers headed back to their hometowns yesterday.

The remaining personnel are scheduled back tomorrow.

Former Marijuana Party Candidate Arrested

A former Marijuana Party candidate is to appear in Thunder Bay court today after police raided a growing operation.

Douglas MacKay is charged with a number of drug counts.

MacKay ran for a federal seat as the Marijuana Party's candidate for Thunder Bay-Rainy River in 2006.

Northern Development Minister End Meetings

(CJUK photo)


Canada's Northern Development Ministers are leaving Thunder Bay with a better sense of how they can help the north.

They wrapped up two days of talks Wednesday.

Ontario's Minister Michael Gravelle says they're going to tackle the north's infrastructure deficit.

Gravelle says many communities have a hard time coming up with their share of funding for infrastructure projects.

Each provincial minister had the opportunity to speak with Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister John Duncan earlier in the day.

Gravelle used his time with the Minister to discuss the Northern Growth Plan.

Roller Derby Game Set

(Borderland Roller Derby League photo)

Members of the new Borderland Roller Derby team are preparing to play their first ever game.

It happens September 11 at the 52 Canadians Arena.

Crystal Caul says the local girls will be ready for their opponents from Winnipeg.

"We've been practicing very hard in the last month," says Caul, "because we wanted to get a game in before the ice goes in the arena. When the ice goes in we're going to be homeless. We don't have a place to play or practice so the girls worked really hard so they would be ready for this game."

Tickets be can obtained at Northwoods or any team members.

Terry Fox Anniversary

September 1 marked the day Terry Fox was forced to put an end to his cross Canada Marathon for Hope.

It was 30 years ago when Fox stopped in Thunder Bay.

His parents say today is bittersweet, and they'll be using the anniversary to pay tribute to him.

No official ceremonies are planned.

The Terry Fox Run will be held September 19.

Bears Prefer Donuts

(CKDR photo)


Chalk it up to some donuts, Jello powder, syrup, dog food and vanilla.

That's what was needed to catch a hungry bear that found a "Welcome to Dryden" sign a good place to campout yesterday.

The bear was there for most of the day and even stole an earlier meal while alluding a Ministry of Natural Resource trap.

The bruin later returned for the more tastier spread long enough for the trap to close.

Clement Campaigns for Local Candidate

Industry Minister Tony Clement was in Fort Frances to help campaign for Maureen Comuzzi-Stehmann.

She's the Conservative hopeful in this riding for the next federal election.

Speaking to area leaders, Clement believes the area would do better with a Tory MP on their side in Ottawa.

"If this riding saw some of the shenanigans in Ottawa that the local MP is involved in in a regular basis," says Clement, "not being consistent with the values and principles of yourselves, or your neighbours or your communities, it would be an easy thing to make a switch."

While acknowledging John Rafferty's support to end the long-gun registry, Clement says the local MP voted against many of the initiatives that have improved local economies.

Clement Makes Funding Announcement

Industry Minister Tony Clement doled out almost a million dollars in FEDNOR dollars to agencies across northwestern Ontario during a visit to Fort Frances Tuesday.

But none of it was for groups in this area.

Clement admits it was important for him to visit the area.

"Usually the suggestion come back, you know visit Thunder Bay, visit Sudbury, visit Sault Ste. Marie, visit North Bay, says Clement. "I said, look, we also need to get to some other communities as well. I want to be in Red Lake. I want to be in Fort Frances. Let's make sure we're giving these communities as well."

Clement did note how FEDNOR money had been used to build the new Fort Frances Library where the announcements were made.