Union Speaks Out About Closure

Public Service Alliance Union Of Canada is holding a town hall meeting today to discuss the federal government's decision to close several Veterans Affairs Offices across Canada, including the one in Thunder Bay.

The Union is also staging a rally in Thunder Bay to draw awareness.

Similar even
ts across Canada are being held at the same time.

Woman To Woman Campaign Underway

This is Breast Cancer awareness month.

The Canadian Cancer Society is pushing its Women to Women Campaign which focuses on women talking about the importance of mammograms.

Northwest Spokesperson Maria Cabral says women age 50 to 69 should get one every two-years.

Cabral is inviting women across the region to become "ambassadors" to help raise awareness.

Luncheon Of Hope This Month

A well-known doctor known to many cancer patients in northwestern Ontario makes a visit to Fort Frances later this month.

Chair of the Rainy River District Breast Health Network Teresa Hazel says Dr. Dimitrios Vergidis will be their guest speaker at the upcoming Luncheon of Hope.

He's the Chief of Oncology at the Regional Cancer Centre in Thunder Bay.

Tickets for the October 19 event are now on sale at all Riverside Health Care hospitals, Pharmasave, Shoppers Drug Mart or by calling 274-4817.

Gun Amnesty Next Month

Treaty Three Police will collected old, unlicensed firearms next month.

It's part of a firearms amnesty program.

The aboriginal police service says the program allows community members to surrender any unwanted, damaged, or illegally possessed firearms without being charged.

Anyone who turns in a gun or rifle will receive a gift card from a local business.

Water Warning

A warning has been issued about bottled water coming from a southern Ontario company.

Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health is advising people not to consume or serve bottled water manufactured by Blue Glass Water, also known as Caledon Clear Water.

Officials says recent tests found the water to be heavily contaminated with bacteria.

So far, there are no reported illnesses as a result.

Chili Cook-Up Coming up

It's time to get those chili recipes ready.

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce's annual Chili Cook-Off takes place October 24.

Spokesperson Samantha Manty says they're going with a magical theme this year.

Call the Chamber to register.

Front Doors At Schools Now Locked

Doors at all public elementary schools in the Rainy River District will now be locked during the school day.

It's part of a new Safe Welcome Program being put in place by the Rainy River District School Board.

Manager of Plant Operations Travis Enge says visitors to the school will be required to press a buzzer at the front door to request access.

Enge says the measure is in place to better the safety of students and staff inside and is not not intended to discourage the public from visiting.

The measures, effective at the end of this week, do not impact area high schools and were paid for by funding from the province.

Northwestern Ontario MP's Expenses Revealed

Northwestern Ontario Members of Parliament are not the most frugal in the country.

The area's MP's are well above the average when it came to paying to run their constituency offices and to travel back and forth to Ottawa last year.

Kenora M.P. Greg Rickford spent the most at $480-thousand.

Thunder Bay-Rainy River's John Rafferty's expenses came in at $459-thousand.

The average spent by MP's was about $399-thousand.

Hefty Price To Meet State Rules

Koochiching County is balking at hiring two corrections officers to meet State regulations for its jail.

The need for round the clock coverage may not come into effect until sometime next year, but County Commissioner Wade Pavleck says a $200-thousand dollar price tag for the officers is difficult to swallow.

Sheriff Brian Jesperson has been asked to see how the rule can be met by hiring one new officer.

Voyageurs Closed

Voyageurs National Park is among agencies being impacted by the U.S. federal government shutdown.

All trails, backcountry campsites, and visitor facilities have been closed.

About 35 of the park's employees are impacted.

New Officers With Rainy River Resources

There's been a turnover of the top management team at Rainy River Resources.

Six new officers have been appointed as part of New Gold's planned takeover of the mining company.

Robert Gallagher become the new president and chief Executive officer.



He holds the same positions with New Gold.

New Gold's acquisition of Rainy River is expected to be complete by the middle of the this month.