A group of students at Fort Frances High School are helping their peers deal with such issues as stress, relationships and even suicide.
It's part of a Natural Helpers program introduced in September.
Teacher advisor Shane Beckett emphasises says the students are not professionally trained counsellors, but have been given the resources to assist.
"Before these kids were helping their friends already," says Beckett. "They just didn't necessarily have training to identify the big red flags. They didn't know how to access local resources or how to refer them to those resources or other caring adults in the building. Now they have a little more confidence because they have some of that training."
Beckett says through the students help, the school has been able to better help those in need.
A total of 21 students are involved.
Friday, January 15, 2010
More Fundraising For Haiti
There are more local efforts to raise money for earthquake stricken Haiti.
McDonald's Restaurants on both sides of the border are getting involved by donating the proceeds of all Hotcake sales sold during the next two Sundays and all coffee sales from today.
The Salvation Army will have kettles on site as well for restaurant patrons wishing to make additional donations.
Donation boxes for the Red Cross have also been set up at area LCBO outlets.
McDonald's Restaurants on both sides of the border are getting involved by donating the proceeds of all Hotcake sales sold during the next two Sundays and all coffee sales from today.
The Salvation Army will have kettles on site as well for restaurant patrons wishing to make additional donations.
Donation boxes for the Red Cross have also been set up at area LCBO outlets.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Local Sports for Thursday January 14
Fort Frances Lakers will host the K & A Wolverines at the Ice for Kids Arena tonight with a revamped line up.
Matthew Caulfield and Brett Williams are expected in the line-up following a recent trade that saw Conner Foster head to Dryden.
The Lakers also gave up their leading scorer Colton Kennedy to the Melville of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Game time tonight its 7:30 p.m.
Fort Frances Muskies boys' basketball and girls' volleyball teams host their Dryden counterparts at the High School this afternoon.
Matthew Caulfield and Brett Williams are expected in the line-up following a recent trade that saw Conner Foster head to Dryden.
The Lakers also gave up their leading scorer Colton Kennedy to the Melville of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.
Game time tonight its 7:30 p.m.
Fort Frances Muskies boys' basketball and girls' volleyball teams host their Dryden counterparts at the High School this afternoon.
Ice Box Days Underway
International Falls celebration of winter is underway.
The annual Ice Box Days kicked off yesterday with the creation of a snowman family by local youngsters at Smoky Bear Park and will culminate with the annual Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard run Saturday morning.
Betsy Jensen of the Falls Chamber of Commerce says this year's event will get some national attention.
"We actually have CBS Sunday morning show coming here this year," says Jenson. "They've flying in Friday night and following us around all day and taking footage of all the events. Then they'll be live from here Sunday morning for the CBS Sunday Morning Show."
This year marks the event's 30-year.
The annual Ice Box Days kicked off yesterday with the creation of a snowman family by local youngsters at Smoky Bear Park and will culminate with the annual Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard run Saturday morning.
Betsy Jensen of the Falls Chamber of Commerce says this year's event will get some national attention.
"We actually have CBS Sunday morning show coming here this year," says Jenson. "They've flying in Friday night and following us around all day and taking footage of all the events. Then they'll be live from here Sunday morning for the CBS Sunday Morning Show."
This year marks the event's 30-year.
Driven to Quit
The annual Driven to Quit challenge is once again being rolled out across northwestern Ontario.
The Canadian Cancer Society's health promotion campaign entices smokers to quit with a chance to win a new vehicle.
Becky Holden of the Northwestern Health Unit says the campaign is effective.
"It's just a great opportunity for people who are thinking about smoking to kind of have some extra motivation to get them going on their quit attempt," says Holden.
Smokers can register on line at www.driventoquit.ca or through area Health Unit offices before the end of February to be eligible.
The Canadian Cancer Society's health promotion campaign entices smokers to quit with a chance to win a new vehicle.
Becky Holden of the Northwestern Health Unit says the campaign is effective.
"It's just a great opportunity for people who are thinking about smoking to kind of have some extra motivation to get them going on their quit attempt," says Holden.
Smokers can register on line at www.driventoquit.ca or through area Health Unit offices before the end of February to be eligible.
Airline Cuts
Thunder Bay-based Wasaya Airways is temporarily laying off up to two dozen employees.
The layoff affects a cross-section of employees at bases in Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Timmins.
Wasaya president Tom Morris says the company is taking measures to ensure its future.
He says the winter road system cut into airline's freight business to remote aboriginal communities.
Over the next three months, the company plans to move from a five-day work week to four days, and reduce hours for some employees.
Wasaya Airways employs 340 people.
The layoff affects a cross-section of employees at bases in Thunder Bay, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Timmins.
Wasaya president Tom Morris says the company is taking measures to ensure its future.
He says the winter road system cut into airline's freight business to remote aboriginal communities.
Over the next three months, the company plans to move from a five-day work week to four days, and reduce hours for some employees.
Wasaya Airways employs 340 people.
Gravelle Staying Put
Ontario's Northern Development Minister is setting the record straight regarding his political future.
Some publish report suggest Michael Gravelle may not be seeking re-election in 2011, something he says is not true.
"I don't quite understand quite frankly the rumour was out there," says Gravelle. "when anybody I've spoken to at any point I've always made it clear that I'm passionately engaged in the work of being an MPP, and I'm looking forward to seeking another term. My constituents will decide whether I'm successful of course"
However Gravelle would not speculate on whether his post remains safe with the Premier poised to shuffle the cabinet next week.
Local Haiti Support
Area residents can help with relief efforts in Haiti.
The Northwestern Ontario Branch of the Canadian Red Cross is now accepting donations in response to the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti two days ago.
Its Dryden office coordinating the effort, or you can go online to http://www.redcross.ca/.
Walmart Canada has also announced a nationwide campaign to generate urgently needed funds for the massive relief.
The Northwestern Ontario Branch of the Canadian Red Cross is now accepting donations in response to the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti two days ago.
Its Dryden office coordinating the effort, or you can go online to http://www.redcross.ca/.
Walmart Canada has also announced a nationwide campaign to generate urgently needed funds for the massive relief.
OPSEU Given Strike Mandate
Ontario's roughly 9,000 college instructors have given their union the green light to strike.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union said Wednesday night that about 57 per cent of members who voted supported strike action.
A total of 154 full-time instructors with Confederation College, including two at its Fort Frances campus, participated in the vote.
The vote on whether to give their union a strike mandate came after five months of talks with the colleges broke down December 15.
Ted Montgomery of the OPSEU bargaining team, which represents faculty members, has said a walkout wouldn't happen for at least a month.
For the union, key issues are workload, academic freedom and management's decision in November to impose its offer on the teachers without a vote.
The colleges said in a release that their offer increases salaries by eight per cent over four years and raises the maximum salary to $103,975.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union said Wednesday night that about 57 per cent of members who voted supported strike action.
A total of 154 full-time instructors with Confederation College, including two at its Fort Frances campus, participated in the vote.
The vote on whether to give their union a strike mandate came after five months of talks with the colleges broke down December 15.
Ted Montgomery of the OPSEU bargaining team, which represents faculty members, has said a walkout wouldn't happen for at least a month.
For the union, key issues are workload, academic freedom and management's decision in November to impose its offer on the teachers without a vote.
The colleges said in a release that their offer increases salaries by eight per cent over four years and raises the maximum salary to $103,975.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Local Sports for Wednesday January 13
Fort Frances Muskies girls hockey team blanked Babbit-Embarrass 4-0 at the 52 Canadians Rink last night.
Jillian Langtry, Jessie Baker, Nicole Beadle and Taylor Dixon did the scoring for the Muskies.
Dana Cridland had the shut out in net.
The boys team was also victorious, defeated Lake of the Woods Bears from Baudette 3-1.
Donovan Cousineau, Devan Ball and Davis Smith scored for the Fort.
In the Falls, Broncos boys basketball team won it's second in a row with a 69-41 decision over Greenway.
Jillian Langtry, Jessie Baker, Nicole Beadle and Taylor Dixon did the scoring for the Muskies.
Dana Cridland had the shut out in net.
The boys team was also victorious, defeated Lake of the Woods Bears from Baudette 3-1.
Donovan Cousineau, Devan Ball and Davis Smith scored for the Fort.
In the Falls, Broncos boys basketball team won it's second in a row with a 69-41 decision over Greenway.
Rainycrest Visits Restricted
Visitor restrictions have been imposed at Rainycrest Long Term Care Facility in Fort Frances.
Officials say the measures are necessary because of an increase in the number of confirmed cases of gastroenteritis.
Visitations are being limited to only family members and restricted to the resident's room.
Officials say the measures are necessary because of an increase in the number of confirmed cases of gastroenteritis.
Visitations are being limited to only family members and restricted to the resident's room.
Garbage Complaints
The town of Fort Frances says some residents aren't following rules regarding the disposal of their household waste.
Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says they're getting complaints of some not putting their garbage out by 8 a.m.
"Our contractor is continuously getting phone calls from people who say they've had it out," says Brown. "The contractor is now doing a survey to record if there have been any missed bags."
Brown says some residents are also placing extra bags to the curb without attaching bag tags.
He says bags without tags just won't be picked up.
The town is also issuing notices to residents who are not in compliance of the current by-law, and suggests charges may be pursued against repeat offenders.
Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says they're getting complaints of some not putting their garbage out by 8 a.m.
"Our contractor is continuously getting phone calls from people who say they've had it out," says Brown. "The contractor is now doing a survey to record if there have been any missed bags."
Brown says some residents are also placing extra bags to the curb without attaching bag tags.
He says bags without tags just won't be picked up.
The town is also issuing notices to residents who are not in compliance of the current by-law, and suggests charges may be pursued against repeat offenders.
Child Care Review
The move towards full-time kindergarten in the province has the town of Fort Frances looking at the future of child care services in the community.The town is hoping to secure funding to conduct a feasibility study involving the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.
A committee that recently examined programs and services offered at the Fort Frances Children's Complex suggests a more comprehensive study would help determine program options as well as reviewing the current Best Star Hub and Outreach programs.
Boards Plan for All-Day Learning
The planning is now underway to implement a full-day kindergarten program at two schools in Atikokan.
The Rainy River District School Board will offer the program in the fall at North Star Community School.
Education Director Jack McMaster says it expands on the current half-day program.
"We know there's room in the facility," says McMaster, "and we'll work with the early learning programs in the community. We'll have to notify the parents that we're going from half-day instruction to full-day because North Star has traditionally been half-day instruction rather than alternative days like we run in Fort Frances. So it's a much easier transition for us."
McMaster says they're also looking to expand the program to the new unnamed elementary school in Fort Frances in 2011.
The Northwest Catholic District School Board was given approval to offer the full-day kindergarten at St. Patrick's school in Atikokan.
Education Director Mary Catherine Kelly says the transition there should also be smooth.
"We plan to have the E.CE. teacher working side by side with our kindergarten teacher," says Kelly. "The daycare portion of the project will take place at the local daycare provider. In the first year, we'll be working with the daycare provider to make sure there's a smooth transition between the daycare and the school program."
Kelly says they've also been approved for funding for the program to be offered at St. Francis School in Fort Frances in 2012.
Strike Vote Today
Instructors at two dozen community colleges across Ontario, including those at Confederation College's campus in Fort Frances, will vote today on whether to give their union a strike mandate.
Ted Montgomery, chair of the union bargaining team for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, says a strike wouldn't happen for at least a month.
He says talks with the colleges broke down December 15 and the key issues are workload, academic freedom and management's decision in November to impose its offer on the teachers without letting them vote on it.
The union is seeking a 2.5 per cent pay increase in each year of a three-year contract while the colleges are offering 1.75 per cent in each of the first two years and two per cent in the last two years of a four-year deal.
Montgomery says a walkout would affect 200,000 full-time day students but not so much the 300,000 night-time students because most of their teachers work part time and aren't part of the union.
About 4,100 of the 22,530 members of a Facebook group called Ontario College Students Against a Strike have signed an online petition calling on the colleges and the union to come to terms without a strike that students fear could cost them their semester.
Ted Montgomery, chair of the union bargaining team for the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, says a strike wouldn't happen for at least a month.
He says talks with the colleges broke down December 15 and the key issues are workload, academic freedom and management's decision in November to impose its offer on the teachers without letting them vote on it.
The union is seeking a 2.5 per cent pay increase in each year of a three-year contract while the colleges are offering 1.75 per cent in each of the first two years and two per cent in the last two years of a four-year deal.
Montgomery says a walkout would affect 200,000 full-time day students but not so much the 300,000 night-time students because most of their teachers work part time and aren't part of the union.
About 4,100 of the 22,530 members of a Facebook group called Ontario College Students Against a Strike have signed an online petition calling on the colleges and the union to come to terms without a strike that students fear could cost them their semester.
Interim Tax Bills Out
The first tax bills of 2010 for property owners in Fort Frances will come out very shortly.
February's bill will be the first of two interim tax bill to be sent to local homeowners and will be based on last year's property assessment and tax rates.
The other will be due at the end of March.
Council will meet next week to begin working on a budget and this year's tax rate which won't be determined until some time later this spring.
February's bill will be the first of two interim tax bill to be sent to local homeowners and will be based on last year's property assessment and tax rates.
The other will be due at the end of March.
Council will meet next week to begin working on a budget and this year's tax rate which won't be determined until some time later this spring.
New Municipal Affairs Minister
Premier Dalton McGuinty has named Environment Minister John Gerretsen as Ontario's new interim minister of municipal affairs and housing.
This after former minister Jim Watson confirmed he's quitting cabinet and will resign as a member of the Ontario legislature shortly, to run for mayor of Ottawa.
McGuinty is expected to make a more permanent shuffle to his cabinet next week to replace former deputy premier George Smitherman who stepped down last week and Watson on a more permanent basis, but other significant changes are also expected.
This after former minister Jim Watson confirmed he's quitting cabinet and will resign as a member of the Ontario legislature shortly, to run for mayor of Ottawa.
McGuinty is expected to make a more permanent shuffle to his cabinet next week to replace former deputy premier George Smitherman who stepped down last week and Watson on a more permanent basis, but other significant changes are also expected.
Full-Day Kindergarten Announced
Two schools in Atikokan will be among the first in the Rainy River district to offer full-day learning to four and five-year olds.
North Star Community School and St. Patrick's School were among first six hundred in the province to offer the program this fall.
Education Minister Kathleen Wynne says it's critical for children to get a quick start.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says it's his goals to have the programs expanded into every school in the province by 2015.
North Star Community School and St. Patrick's School were among first six hundred in the province to offer the program this fall.
Education Minister Kathleen Wynne says it's critical for children to get a quick start.
Premier Dalton McGuinty says it's his goals to have the programs expanded into every school in the province by 2015.
Local Sports for Tuesday January 12
Former Fort Frances Muskies Joe Basaraba is ranked 39th among North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s Mid-Term Rankings.
That projection would put Basaraba, now skating for Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School, as a likely second or third round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Basaraba has committed to playing for The University of Minnesota-Duluth next season.
Fort Frances Muskies hockey teams hit the ice tonight with games against Minnesota schools.
The boys team faces Lake of the Woods Bears of Baudette at Ice for Kids Arena at 7:30 p.m.
The girls will play Babbitt-Embarrass at the 52 Canadians Rinks at 7 p.m.
Over at Falls High School, the Broncos girls hockey team travels to Eveleth-Gilbert.
The girls basketball team is in Warroad while the boys team hosts Greenway - 7:30 p.m. at the High School.
In local girls hockey action, Kaemingh Esso blanked the Rolling Lake Lightning 2-0.
Scoring for Esso were Sara Jackson and Caitlyn Visser.
That projection would put Basaraba, now skating for Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School, as a likely second or third round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
Basaraba has committed to playing for The University of Minnesota-Duluth next season.
Fort Frances Muskies hockey teams hit the ice tonight with games against Minnesota schools.
The boys team faces Lake of the Woods Bears of Baudette at Ice for Kids Arena at 7:30 p.m.
The girls will play Babbitt-Embarrass at the 52 Canadians Rinks at 7 p.m.
Over at Falls High School, the Broncos girls hockey team travels to Eveleth-Gilbert.
The girls basketball team is in Warroad while the boys team hosts Greenway - 7:30 p.m. at the High School.
In local girls hockey action, Kaemingh Esso blanked the Rolling Lake Lightning 2-0.
Scoring for Esso were Sara Jackson and Caitlyn Visser.
Power Use Drops
The World Wildlife Fund says demand for electricity is dropping in Ontario because people are getting the message that conservation works.
But critics, say that's just wishful thinking and that the real story is economic devastation in power-sucking industries such as pulp and paper and manufacturing and mining.
NDP MPP Howard Hampton says he doesn't know what planet the World Wildlife Fund is on.
But critics, say that's just wishful thinking and that the real story is economic devastation in power-sucking industries such as pulp and paper and manufacturing and mining.
NDP MPP Howard Hampton says he doesn't know what planet the World Wildlife Fund is on.
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