Busing Concerns

A group of parents whose children ride the bus to school are calling for changes to the Rainy River District School Board's transportation policies.

Jackie McCormick, who was denied permission for her son to be dropped off a different location while their sitter was away, says the current policy doesn't meet the needs of students or parents.

"Parents are picking kids up at school because they have no choice but to do that because they can't get off at a different location," says McCormick. "We have people who have to pull their kids out of school for a week at a time because the kids are staying at grammas or aunties and they can't get picked up by the bus there."

McCormick says the parents want the ability to make alternative transportation requests based on child care or work-related needs.

New Chair for District School Board

(Newly elected trustees with the Rainy River District School Board were officially sworn into office at their first meeting Tuesday night)


The newly elected trustee from Atikokan is now the chair of the Rainy River District School Board.


Mike Lewis was appointed to the position at last night's inaugural meeting.


Rainy River area trustee Dianne McCormack was selected the vice-chair.

Rainy River Council Take Office

Economic development will be a key priority for Rainy River's new town council over the next four years.

The new council was sworn-in Monday night and Mayor Deb Ewald attracting new business has to be number one.

"We need to get an industry or something going here," says Ewald. "It's pretty bleak right now, but we've got everything in place. It's just to find the right business or right thing to move here."

Ewald says ongoing sewer and water improvements and resolving a housing issue for locums working at the Rainy River Health Centre also face the new council.

Population Decline Hurts Health Unit

A decline in the population in the Kenora and Rainy River districts is going to hurt the Northwestern Health Unit in the pocket book.

The Health Unit says a decline of almost 3,800 people over the past past five years will result in the loss of $204-thousand from the amount paid by area municipalities in 2011.

The Health Unit hopes to address the shortfall in its budget which will come to the board in February.

Adopt an Angel Program

There's been a huge response to Family and Children's Services Rainy River District's Adopt an Angel program.

Residents are asked to take an Angel from trees placed at selected businesses and purchase a gift for the name on that angel, representing children involved with the agency.

Community Integration Worker Debra Bruyere says they've already exceeded last year's response.

"we would just like to thank the public for such a great response this year," says Bruyere. "We've been very happy with the stores that have come on board to help us. It's been wonderful this year."

Angels can still be found on trees at The Bargain Store and Wal-Mart in Fort Frances and Tompkin's Hardware in Emo.