Hearings On Proposed Federal Riding Changes Announced

The Federal Electoral Boundaries Commission for Ontario will hold public hearings this fall on the proposed new electoral map.

Fifteen new ridings, all in southern Ontario, are proposed.

The commission is recommending northern Ontario's 10 ridings remain.

The commission will start hearings in Kenora October 9 and Thunder Bay October 10  

Town Thanked For Helping Evacuees

The town of Fort Frances has received some recognition for its work in housing evacuees from Sandy Lake First Nation last month.

The community was a temporary home to about 80 residents, flown out of their community because of smoke from forest fires burning nearby.

In a letter to the town, Community Safety Minister Madeleine Meilluer applauds the town and its staff for being consummate professionals, flexible to changing priorities and quick to respond.

It's the first time Fort Frances has had to play a host role in forest fire evacuations.

New Chamber Manager Announced

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce has selected a new manager.

Annely Armstrong of Fort Frances will take on the job September 4.

She replaces Anthony Mason whose resigning to further his education.

MPP's Back To Work

MPP's are back at Queen's Park today with the intend of discussing a bill proposing to impose new contracts on public school teachers.

The Progressive Conservatives have signalled they're willing to ensure the bill passes, but will seek amendments.

New Democrat Gilles Bisson say there's no need for the legislation, and suggests the Liberals continue negotiations with teachers.

Kenora-Rainy River MPP Sarah Campbell has said she will not support the legislation.

Wait Lists For Social Housing Grows

The wait list for social housing in Ontario continues to grow.

The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association says the number seeking housing was up 2.9 per cent in 2011, but was down slightly in the Rainy River district.

Executive Director Shared Karur says the economy is part of the reason in terms of people being able to afford housing.

He says incomes are also failing to keep pace with the rise of inflation and the cost of housing.

The Association says 29 people were on wait lists in the Rainy River district, compared with 37 in 2010.

Three Fires In Rainy River District On Weekend

Ministry of Natural Resources forest firefighters in the Rainy River district found themselves busy with three new fires on the weekend.

Small lightning caused fires near Marmion Lake, north of Atikokan and near Ottertail Lake, north of Devlin are both out.

Another within Quetico Provincial Park near Basswood Lake, close to the Ontario-Minnesota border, is being monitored.

MNR Crews Return From B.C.

MNR file photo

Forest Firefighters who were working in British Columbia are expected back in Ontario today.

They had been in B.C. since August 19 to help with fires in that province.

Fort Frances Takes To Social Media

Social media is now playing a key part in promoting Fort Frances.

Sites on twitter, Pinterest and a photo blog are now showcasing the community.

Economic development consultant Tannis Drysdale says the web is becoming a major source of information for people thinking of moving here.

The twitter site is twitter@ fort_frances.

The town's photo blog can be found at http://fortfrancesontariocanada.blogspot.ca

The town is also on Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/fortfrances/.

Musician Allows Public To Help Finance Album

An Atikokan musician is giving area residents a chance to invest in her music.

Blue artist Sunday Wilde will use Seine River Lodge as a backdrop to record her fourth album in October.

She's set up a website allowing people to contribute financially as little as two dollars.

Contributors of larger donations can receive digital copies of the album to house concerts and even being named executive producer on the album.

Minnesota Author Visits

A Minnesota children's author makes a visit to the Fort Frances Public Library today.

Phyliss Root has authored more than 30 children's books.

Root says it's a passion she'd developed early on in her writing career.

She'll be reading some of her works at the 2 p.m.

Pension Fund Short On Dollars

New information on their pensions isn't sitting well with retired mill workers in Fort Frances.

They've been told by Resolute Forest Products their fund is short by $1.9 billion.

Allan Bedard, who helped formed a local group to get pension protection, says it's only creating more anger amongst the retirees.

Bedard says equally frustrating is the inability of retirees to have a say in those pensions.

Bedard says the loss of money in the fund is further reason behind their fight for government action.

Union Ready For Court Challenge

Unions say they'll go to court if proposed legislation imposing new contracts on teachers becomes law.

The presidents of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation and CUPE Ontario say the bill strips away collective bargaining rights.

The unions are planning a rally at the Ontario legislature Tuesday.

The legislation is expected to come before MPPs at the Queen's Park Monday.

College Strike Possible

OPSEU 2006 strike

School and union officials are warning Ontario's 24 colleges could be closed by labour strife as early as the middle of next month.

The colleges warn the Ontario Public Service Employees Union could trigger a strike by 10 thousand college faculty as early as September 15 if a strike vote goes ahead on September 10.

OPSEU says the colleges will be in a position to lock out faculty on the same date.

A proposed wage freeze and academic freedom among unresolved issues.

Research Funds For Atikokan Renewable Fuels

Atikokan Renewable Fuels and Lakehead University will conduct research together on wood pellets.

The company's getting over $70-thousand dollars through the Thunder Bay-based Centre for Research in the Bio Economy, or CRIBE, for the project.

President Ed Fukushima says research is needed to create a competitive product

CRIBE is also giving half a million dollars to Confederation College to develop a learning and research centre for bio-energy.

More Fires

MNR photo

Two more forest fires in the Rainy River district.

One is near Kishkutena Lake, the other at Harris Lake, both north of Fort Frances.

Both were lightning caused.

Ride For Memories Tomorrow

File photo

This Saturday marks the 10th annual Alzheimer Society Ride for Memories.

As many as 120 bikers from across the region are expected to take part.


Executive Director of the Kenora-Rainy River District Lynn Moffatt says they're hoping to raise $40-thousand for programs and services for people with Alzheimer's and dementia and their families.

Local riders will leave from the Harbourage tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. with the ride ending in Sioux Lookout.

Yoga Festival

A unique festival gets underway today at Crane Lake.

The community south of International Falls is hosting the first ever Common Grounds Yoga and Music Festival.

Co-founder Christine Rosa says there will be a wide array of activities and entertainment over the three days.

There's also events for the kids.

Click the link to see a full schedule of events.

Police Seeking List Of Unsolved Murders

Privacy concerns are preventing the RCMP from gaining full access to a list of murdered and missing women compiled by the Native Women's Association of Canada.

It lists about 600 unsolved cases, some of which include women from northwestern Ontario.

RCMP were given about 100 names, but the Association says confidentiality guarantees given to family members who provided much of the information prevent it from giving up remainder.

Mammography Campaign Launched September 11

File photo

Riverside Foundation for Health Care is officially launching its fundraising campaign for a new digital mammography unit next month.

It will do so with a bicycle ride September 11th from Rainy River to Fort Frances.

Campaign spokesperson Tanya Cumming says they're looking for riders.

Cumming says the ride isn't to collect funds, but they won't turn aside donations if given.

The Foundation is hoping to raise $650,000 for the unit to be located at LaVerendrye Hospital in Fort Frances.

Those interesting in taking part in the ride are asked to contact the Foundation office 274-4803.

Boating Accident

Three women have been injured in a boating accident on Lac La Croix.

OPP says five people were on a jet boat when it struck an island on Lac La Croix near Twin Falls just before midnight Sunday.

The injuries to a 37-year-old from Quebec, a 22-year-old from Dawson, Ontario and a 23-year-old from Kenora were not serious, but two had to be airlifted to hospital.