We Day In Rainy River And Baudette

A message of inspiration for students today in the Rainy River and Baudette areas.

Rainy River High School is holding its annual mini WE Day at Baudette's Lake of the Woods School.

Student Jeffrey Marchuk say the theme is "Follow Your Dream."

Among those to speak to students include Canadian R and B singer Flo, and Rainy River High School alumnus Phil McGreevy who now works in the Winnipeg Jets front office.

Road Maintenance Review Sought

Supplied photo

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell wants a legislative committee review winter road maintenance in Ontario.  

 

Campbell says highways in the region were unsafe almost the entire winter and feels Transportation Minister Glen Murray took very little action to respond.

 

Campbell's motion will be voted on next week at Queen's Park.

Flaherty Remembered

Shock across the country at the death of longtime federal finance minister Jim Flaherty.

 

Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says the news came as a complete surprise.

 

Flaherty had just retired from politics a month ago.

 

Federal Natural Resources Minister and Kenora MP Greg Rickford says he'll remember his former colleague fondly.

 

Flaherty was 64.

More ORNGE Concerns From Pilots

Pilots with Ontario's air ambulance service are sounding the alarm bells again about the helicopters they must fly.

Conservative MPP Frank Klees says they're worried about a helicopter that's been deployed to Moosennee, he says is one of the oldest in ORNGE's fleet.

The helicopter is the same model that crashed almost a year ago near Moosenee, killing all four on board.

Area Business Leaders Meet

The Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce are holding their annual general meeting in Geraldton this weekend.

Chamber representatives from across the region are discussing a number of topics from mining, hydro and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund.

Clean Water Act Changes Concerning

U.S. Fish & Wildlife photo

A proposal to clarify which types of water bodies in the United States fall under the Clean Water Act is drawing concern from Koochiching County.

 

Commissioner Wade Pavleck says any progress made over wetlands could be reversed if the act goes ahead.

 

The changes to the act were the result of two federal court rulings that brought into question where the Act applies.

 

A 90-day comment period is currently underway which Koochiching County intends to respond.

Science Fair Winners

Three intermediate students in the Rainy River district have earns berths to a Canada-wide science fair.

Hanna LeDrew's project Catch of the Day was named Best in Fair at a regional event in Fort Frances last weekend.

Byron Stewart and Graham Anderson's project "A Smart Case" was second.

Hayden Geary's look at Solar Heaters was best in Best in Fair in the junior division.

Here is a list of all winners

Junior Division
Experiment/Study Category

1st Kathryn Fischer and Zakary Kellar – Handwashing 101   
2nd Corbin Riches—Investigating Influenza   
3rd Hallee Nugent—To Burn or Not to Burn 

Honourable Mention:
Madison Rheault—Does Temperature Effect Magnetism

Innovation Category

1st Hayden Geary—Solar Heaters   
2nd Simone Payne and Cassidy Roach—Halt! No More Salt!   
3rd Kolten Gagne—Energizing Wind 

Best In Fair

1st  GOLD Hayden Geary   
2nd SILVER Kathryn Fischer and Zakary Kellar   
3rd BRONZE Corbin Riches 

Intermediate Division
Experiment/Study Category

1st Erin Green—Tupperware Test   
2nd Maria Gilbert—Getting a ‘Grater’ Clean   
3rd Seanna Geary—Seeing in Believing 

Honourable Mention:
Jasper  Crow—Electrical Current Flow

Innovation Category

1st Hanna LeDrew—Catch of the Day   
2nd Byron Stewart and Graham Anderson—A Smarter Case   
3rd Alexander Laevens—Uncanny Convection 

Best In Fair

1st  GOLD Hanna LeDrew—Catch of the Day   
2nd SILVER Byron Stewart and Graham Anderson—A Smart Case   
3rd BRONZE Erin Green—Uncanny Convection 

Heritage Money Being Announced Today

There are announcements coming down today from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle will make announcements in Thunder Bay for four projects.

It's not clear if any of that money will be for projects in our region.

An application for funding for the $1.2 million development of a market square in downtown Fort Frances was sent to the Corporation just last month.

Another $2-million dollar request for a tile drainage project in the west end of the Rainy River district is also before the Corporation.

Goldcorp Offers New Bid

Goldcorp has upped the ante for Osisko Mining.

It's put forward a proposal valued at $3.6 billion.

Osisko has been trying to stave off Goldcorp's advances with a deal with Yamana Gold that would see it earn a 50-50 stake in Osisko's mining and exploration projects.

Premier Defend Chief of Staff

Premier Kathleen Wynne is fighting back against opposition accusations that her chief of staff is getting paid too much.

 

The Conservative says Tim Teahen earned $344-thousand last year, but wasn't disclosed in the public salaries list.

 

Wynne says that's not true and accuses the Tories of gutter politics.

 

Wynne says Teahen's salary is in line with other that of past chiefs of staff.

Support For In Vitro Fertilization Funding

A coalition of people struggling with infertility is welcoming news there will soon be provincial funding for in Vitro Fertilization in Ontario.

 

Health Minister Deb Matthews says the province will cover an initial round of treatments beginning next year.

 

Conceivable Dreams co-founder Joanne Horibe says it makes treatments more accessible to infertile couples, given costs now range as much as $0-thousand for a single cycle.

Dryden Senior Becomes A Millionaire

A Dryden senior is northwestern Ontario's new millionaire.

71-year-old Mary Martin was the ticket holder of a Lotto 649 draw that went unclaimed for some time.

She only learned she won when she checked her ticket this week.

Martin says she plans to bank her winnings.

Festival Results Day 8

Joyce Wu, the only performer to capture more than one first-place finish at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts yesterday in the piano competitions.

She won twice.

The piano competitions conclude today at the Townshend Theatre.

Here is a list of all winners from Thursday.

Piano Ensemble, One Piano, Two Performers, Intermediate
FIRST:  Katelyn Bruyere and Judy Wu
SECOND:  Alexa Veldhuisen and Mika Kooistra

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Own Choice, Grade 6
FIRST:  Mika Kooistra
SECOND:  Judy Wu

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Own Choice, Grade 7
FIRST: (Tie) Jordan Bruyere, Gareth Dunn

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Own Choice, Grade 8
FIRST:  Anna Schwartz

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Romantic or 20th or 21st Century, Grade 1
FIRST:  Lauryn Jean Marchant
SECOND: Kylie Stafford

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Inventions, Grade 1
FIRST:  Angie Redford
SECOND: Lauryn Jean Marchant

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Inventions, Grade 2
FIRST:  Cassidy Martin

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Popular Selection, Grade 4
FIRST:  Jacob Gustafson

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Popular Selection, Grade 3
FIRST:  Joyce Wu
SECOND:  Jaylen Cunningham

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Baroque, Grade 3
FIRST:  Joyce Wu
SECOND:  Shakira Wapoose

Piano Ensemble, One Piano, Two Performers, Intermediate
FIRST:  Lauryn Jean Marchant and Mia Hamilton


Late Piano Results from Wednesday, April 9

Piano Solo, Examination Courses, Romantic or 20th or 21st Century, Grade 2
FIRST:  Paige Eldridge
SECOND  Max VanDrunen

Rainy River District Shows Its Support For Day of Pink

A strong stand against bullying in the Rainy River district.

Many wore pink yesterday as part of International Day of Pink.

Celebrating Diversity's Trudy McCormick says its purpose is something we should think about year round.

Canadian Mental Health Association's Nancy Daley-Fulton says she was pleased with the support the Day is receiving in the district..

Schools, organizations and businesses among those who took up the cause.

OPP encourage people to step forward if they're aware of incidents in the school or even in the workplace.