Xeneca Power Corporation is hoping to move ahead with eleven hydro projects in northwestern Ontario over the next couple of year.
The company was given approval for 19 projects earlier this month, but spokesperson Mark Holmes says they still have a few hurdles to cross others can proceed.
"It appears to have paid off quite well," says Holmes, "in terms of the number of projects we have going forward. As we go through these economic connection tests and the revamp of the Ontario power grid occurs over the next few years, I'm sure several more of those projects will come on stream."
The company is planning two projects in the Rainy River district.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Belluz Files Papers
A long-time public school board trustee has filed his nomination papers for re-election this fall.
Current Board Chair and Fort Frances trustee Dan Belluz has been with the board for the past twenty-five years and says its where he wants to be again.
"I just have a genuine interest in the success of our students in our district," says Belluz, "and I want to be a part of trying to provide them with the best education we can so they can be successful where ever they go."
Belluz says he hopes to be a part of a number of initiatives the board now has on the go, including the opening of the new Robert Moore School.
Current Board Chair and Fort Frances trustee Dan Belluz has been with the board for the past twenty-five years and says its where he wants to be again.
"I just have a genuine interest in the success of our students in our district," says Belluz, "and I want to be a part of trying to provide them with the best education we can so they can be successful where ever they go."
Belluz says he hopes to be a part of a number of initiatives the board now has on the go, including the opening of the new Robert Moore School.
AbitibiBowater Plan
AbitibiBowater is seeking a three-month extension to file a reorganization plan to exist bankruptcy protection.
In court documents filed in the United States last week, the company says its operational restructuring is "substantially complete," but needs a little more time to develop a plan that has the backing of creditors both in the U-S and Canada.
A hearing is scheduled for May 26 in Delaware.
Hospital Services to be Discussed
Members of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions are meeting in Thunder Bay this week to discuss the impact of the Liberal government's plans to privatize hospital clinical services.
The move was first announced in last month's Throne speech.
President Michael Hurley says northern, rural and small community hospitals will be seriously threatened by the proposal.
About 200 representatives from 65 hospitals are expected to attend the meeting.
Victims of Crime Awareness Week
It is national victims of crime awareness week.
Peggy Loyie of the Rainy River District Victim Services Program says they'll be promoting the week by making people more aware of it and other services available to local residents.
"Like the Northwest Community Legal Clinic," says Loyie, "the Victim Witness Assistance Program. We have Community Policing in our area both within OPP and Treaty 3. We trying to promote and raise some awareness of other programs as well,"
An open house of its Scott Street office and a volunteer appreciation dinner will also be held.
Peggy Loyie of the Rainy River District Victim Services Program says they'll be promoting the week by making people more aware of it and other services available to local residents.
"Like the Northwest Community Legal Clinic," says Loyie, "the Victim Witness Assistance Program. We have Community Policing in our area both within OPP and Treaty 3. We trying to promote and raise some awareness of other programs as well,"
An open house of its Scott Street office and a volunteer appreciation dinner will also be held.
J.W. Walker Prepares for Film Festival
J.W. Walker School in Fort Frances is preparing to host another environmental film festival.
Kassidy LeDrew, a grade 6 student, says there will be four films shown next week.
"The Primary one is called 'Varmits'," says LeDrew, "which is an animated video for young children. The junior one is 'Waste Equals Food' which is all about creating products that will eventually become food for the earth. The immediate students will be watching a film called 'Flow' which is about teh fight for fresh water all over the world."
Students will also be showing some of their own produced films, but unlike last year's festival there will be no public showings.
Festival Continues
The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts continues today - this time with vocal performances.
They take place at Knox United Church with Sheila Ardies of Winnipeg adjudicating.
Friday, piano competitions wrapped up with Krista Emond, Lucas Koomans, Jared Bethune and Jilayne Derksen picking up separate wins.
They take place at Knox United Church with Sheila Ardies of Winnipeg adjudicating.
Friday, piano competitions wrapped up with Krista Emond, Lucas Koomans, Jared Bethune and Jilayne Derksen picking up separate wins.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Meteor Viewed in Fort Frances area
A rare meteor shower that streaked across the skies of central United States Wednesday night may have also witnessed by some residents in the Fort Frances area.
Brett Briere tells B-93 what he saw that night appeared to be very close to home.
"It looked like only a couple of feet in the area cause it was so far away at first," says Briere, "A green light, light a burning green fire. Then it started flying down and I started running up to my house because it looking like it was coming straight at me."
Briere says it appeared something had landed in the Ranier area, but authorities with the Koochiching County Sheriff's Office say they had no reports of anything unusual in the area.
The National Weather Service reports a meteor disintegrated as it reached the southwest area of Wisconsin, but caused no damage.
A video taken by a police officer in Iowa can be viewed through this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1vaRHF30xQ
Brett Briere tells B-93 what he saw that night appeared to be very close to home.
"It looked like only a couple of feet in the area cause it was so far away at first," says Briere, "A green light, light a burning green fire. Then it started flying down and I started running up to my house because it looking like it was coming straight at me."
Briere says it appeared something had landed in the Ranier area, but authorities with the Koochiching County Sheriff's Office say they had no reports of anything unusual in the area.
The National Weather Service reports a meteor disintegrated as it reached the southwest area of Wisconsin, but caused no damage.
A video taken by a police officer in Iowa can be viewed through this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1vaRHF30xQ
New Mill Manager Named
AbitibiBowater has named a new manager for its Fort Frances mill.
Derrick Lindgren moves from the same position at AbitibiBowater's Iroquois Falls mill to assume the duties next week in Fort Frances.
He replaces John Harrison who joins the company's Operational Excellence Group, overseeing the its kraft operations.
Child Goes for a Stroll
A young toddler is back home safe after being found wandering on a Fort Frances street early yesterday morning.
OPP were called by a resident who awoke at about 4 a.m. and noticed a child, about two-and-a-half years old, standing alone on a road, dressed and wearing shoes.
After a canvass of the neighbourhood, police received a call about a missing child.
It was later determined the child had walked out of the family home while the parents were sleeping.
Play Study
Teachers at three public schools are looking at how play can improve young students ability to learn.
The Rainy River District School Board's Speech Pathologist Ann Anderson says it's a year-long research project involving some junior and senior kindergarten and grade one students, but teachers are already seeing results.
"There's greater opportunities to observe students strengths as independent learners and problem solvers," says Anderson. "They certainly are more engaged in the learning tasks and there's more peer interaction and learning from each other which they found very powerful and they always didn't see before."
Junior kindergarten students at Atikokan's North Star Community School, SK students at J-W Walker and a grade one class at Robert Moore are involved.
Planning is already underway to involve other primary classes next year.
The Rainy River District School Board's Speech Pathologist Ann Anderson says it's a year-long research project involving some junior and senior kindergarten and grade one students, but teachers are already seeing results.
"There's greater opportunities to observe students strengths as independent learners and problem solvers," says Anderson. "They certainly are more engaged in the learning tasks and there's more peer interaction and learning from each other which they found very powerful and they always didn't see before."
Junior kindergarten students at Atikokan's North Star Community School, SK students at J-W Walker and a grade one class at Robert Moore are involved.
Planning is already underway to involve other primary classes next year.
College Deal
No money is exchanging hands in a new agreement between Confederation College and TBay Tel.
The utility is promising consulting services to the College.
College President Pat Lang says in exhange, TBay Tel utilizes tech students from the institution.
"They have a need for a skilled workforce both from a technology perspective and a business perspective," says Lang. "So this enables for us to meet there needs for human resources as they move forward."
TBay Tel CEO Don Campbell says it doesn't give the utility a leg up for any contracts
Reid Appointed
A former MPP for the Rainy River district has been appointed to the board of directors of yet another mining company.
Patrick Reid will serve as a director to American Lithium Minerals.
He is also sits on the board of three other mining firms.
Reid is a former president of the Ontario Mining Association and was Rainy River MPP between 1967 and 1984.
Festival Results Day 4
The fourth day of piano competitions at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts results in a pair of wins for two area participants.
Alexis Sharpe and Jordan Bruyere were the only multiple winners from yesterday, each recording top marks in two classes.
The final day of piano competitions are today at the Townsend Theatre and Knox United Church.
The festival continues next week with performances in vocal, drama and instrumental.
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Thursday, April 15, 2010
CLASS P050
First – (TIE) Myra Donaldson and Shakira Wapoose
Second – Yvonne McPherson
CLASS P102
First – (TIE) Alyssa Chiasson and Judy Wu
Second – Katelyn Bruyere
CLASS P107
First – Paris Belle-Faith Gauthier
CLASS P202
First – Arthur VanAel
Second – Justis Paul-Emile Gauthier
CLASS P303
First – Jordan Bruyere 1
Second – Kayla Stang
CLASS P306
First – Jordan Bruyere 2
CLASS P406
First – Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier
CLASS P1007
First – Christina Empey
CLASS P907
First – Ursula Chojko-Bolec
Second – Rachel Lipinski
CLASS P807
First – Alexis Sharp
Second – Shane Beck
CLASS P803
First – Alexis Sharp 2
Second – Caitlin Sande
CLASS P804
First – Caitlin Sande
CLASS P1301-A
First – Mika Kooistra
Second – (TIE) Sophie Carpenter and Katelyn Bruyere
CLASS P1301-B
First – Jenna Mack
Second – Katrina Petkau
CLASS P1302
First – James Blattner
Second – Nicholas Veldhuisen
CLASS P1303
First – Maxwell Williams
Second – Tianna Veldhuisen
CLASS P1701
First – MacKenzie Wright and Alyssa Chiasson
Second – Katelyn Bruyere and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P1702
First – Alina Eldridge and Brianna Eldridge
Second – Katelyn Bruyere and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P025
First – Lemuel Carradice
Second – Mika Kooistra
CLASS P021-A
First – Alexa Veldhuisen
Second – Brianna Eldridge
CLASS P021-B
First – (TIE) Lemuel Carradice and Jenna Mack
Second – (TIE) Connor Pocock, Katrina Petkau and Ryan Bodnar
CLASS P050
First – (TIE) Myra Donaldson and Shakira Wapoose
Second – Yvonne McPherson
CLASS P102
First – (TIE) Alyssa Chiasson and Judy Wu
Second – Katelyn Bruyere
CLASS P107
First – Paris Belle-Faith Gauthier
CLASS P202
First – Arthur VanAel
Second – Justis Paul-Emile Gauthier
CLASS P303
First – Jordan Bruyere 1
Second – Kayla Stang
CLASS P306
First – Jordan Bruyere 2
CLASS P406
First – Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier
CLASS P1007
First – Christina Empey
CLASS P907
First – Ursula Chojko-Bolec
Second – Rachel Lipinski
CLASS P807
First – Alexis Sharp
Second – Shane Beck
CLASS P803
First – Alexis Sharp 2
Second – Caitlin Sande
CLASS P804
First – Caitlin Sande
CLASS P1301-A
First – Mika Kooistra
Second – (TIE) Sophie Carpenter and Katelyn Bruyere
CLASS P1301-B
First – Jenna Mack
Second – Katrina Petkau
CLASS P1302
First – James Blattner
Second – Nicholas Veldhuisen
CLASS P1303
First – Maxwell Williams
Second – Tianna Veldhuisen
CLASS P1701
First – MacKenzie Wright and Alyssa Chiasson
Second – Katelyn Bruyere and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P1702
First – Alina Eldridge and Brianna Eldridge
Second – Katelyn Bruyere and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P025
First – Lemuel Carradice
Second – Mika Kooistra
CLASS P021-A
First – Alexa Veldhuisen
Second – Brianna Eldridge
CLASS P021-B
First – (TIE) Lemuel Carradice and Jenna Mack
Second – (TIE) Connor Pocock, Katrina Petkau and Ryan Bodnar
Thursday, April 15, 2010
New Party Proposed
There could be a new political party on the ballot in the next provincial election.
A petition is being distributed to help get the Northern Ontario Heritage Party off the ground.
Organizer Edward Deibel says it will lead to better policies reflecting northern needs.
"The main message that we want to send," says Diebel, "is this - a percentage, starting at 10 per cent, of our natural resources should be processed and manufactured to a finished end product in northern Ontario."
Deibel says part of the platform also includes placing levies on natural resources that leave the region to be used to help the regions education and health care programs.
A petition is being distributed to help get the Northern Ontario Heritage Party off the ground.
Organizer Edward Deibel says it will lead to better policies reflecting northern needs.
"The main message that we want to send," says Diebel, "is this - a percentage, starting at 10 per cent, of our natural resources should be processed and manufactured to a finished end product in northern Ontario."
Deibel says part of the platform also includes placing levies on natural resources that leave the region to be used to help the regions education and health care programs.
NOACC Meets Today
The Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce will kick of their annual meeting in Sioux Lookout today.
Chief Operating Officer Harold Wilson says this year the featured speaker is federal Treasury Board President Stockwell Day.
"To be able to talk to him about the issues we have, how the federal government sees northern Ontario, its development, its opportunities, it's a great opportunity for the business community to hear first hand how the federal government can work with us," says Wilson.
The meeting runs until Saturday.
Another Hydro Increase Expected
The regulated price of electricity is expected to rise today in the first instalment of what will be a series of jumps in the price of power.
Homes without a fixed-priced deal now pay 5.8 cents a kilowatt hour for the first 600 hours they use in summer or one-thousand in winter.
Some estimate today's result in an extra five dollars a month on a typical household bill.
Homes without a fixed-priced deal now pay 5.8 cents a kilowatt hour for the first 600 hours they use in summer or one-thousand in winter.
Some estimate today's result in an extra five dollars a month on a typical household bill.
Spring Seatbelt Blitz
Police across Ontario have kicked off a spring seatbelt blitz.
OPP Constable Anne McCoy says in addition to drivers and adults who fail to buckle up, police will be closely watching for children who are not safely secured inside a vehicle.
"That includes infant carriers, front-facing car seats," says McCoy. "and also to make sure that all children under the age of eight who do no fit a seatbelt properly are utilizing a booster seat. That's one of the most important things that we want to make sure that everyone who is wearing their seatbelt is fitted properly."
Child safety seat clinics have shown that 80 per cent of car seats are installed or used incorrectly.
Seatbelt tickets issued by a police officer have a set fine amount of $240, and upon conviction, drivers are assessed two demerit points against their licence.
Canada Day Lottery Back
Riverside Foundation for Health Care is back with its Canada Day Lottery.
Director Teresa Hazel says the prizes being offered remain unchanged.
"we're going with the exactly same as last year," says Hazel. "The grand prize is $10,000. There is a second prize of $2,000, $1,000. There are four $500 cash prizes and of course the early-bird draw is Campbell Cabin again has donated a fly-in fishing for two."
Tickets are available at all Riverside's Health Care Facilities, or by calling the Foundation office at 274-4803.
Director Teresa Hazel says the prizes being offered remain unchanged.
"we're going with the exactly same as last year," says Hazel. "The grand prize is $10,000. There is a second prize of $2,000, $1,000. There are four $500 cash prizes and of course the early-bird draw is Campbell Cabin again has donated a fly-in fishing for two."
Tickets are available at all Riverside's Health Care Facilities, or by calling the Foundation office at 274-4803.
Festival Day 3 Results
Another successful day for young pianists at the Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts.
Lorianne Dueck, Moriah Carradice, Tianna Veldhuisen and Maxwell Williams each earned top marks in three performances.
Taylor Shouldice and Jared Bethune each earned high marks in two classes.
Piano competitions continue today at the Townsend Theatre and tonight at Knox United Church.
Here is a list of all winners from the third day of piano competitions.
FESTIVAL RESULTS, PIANO DIVISION, Wednesday, April 14, 2010
CLASS P601
First – Lorianne Dueck
Second – Raymond Polz
CLASS P501
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P401
First – Moriah Carradice
Second – (TIE) Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier and Beth Layne Ward
CLASS P602
First – Lorianne Dueck
Second – (TIE) Kacie Veldhuisen and Lucas Koomans
CLASS P502
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P402
First – Moriah Carradice
CLASS P1523
First – Kacia Veldhuisen
Second – Tiana Veldhuisen
CLASS P403
First – (TIE) Jilayne Derksen and Moriah Carradice
Second – Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier
CLASS P603
First – Lorianne Dueck
Second – (TIE) Kaitlyn Chiasson and Lucas Koomans
CLASS P307
First – Tianna Veldhuisen
CLASS P301
First – Tianna Veldhuisen
Second – Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P302
First – Tianna Veldhuisen
Second – (TIE) Kayla Stang and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P1522
First – Emma Dykstra
Second – (TIE) Katelyn Bruyere and Alexa Veldhuisen
CLASS P031
First – Gareth Dunn
Second – (TIE) Taylor Shouldice, Nicholas Veldhuisen and Emma Dykstra
CLASS P041
First – Tessa Payne
Second – Wanetta Petkau
CLASS P034
First – Taylor Shouldice
Second – James Blattner
CLASS P044
First – Wanetta Petkau
CLASS P054
First – Maxwell Williams
CLASS P033
First – Caitlin Rittau
CLASS P035
First – Maxwell Williams
CLASS P042
First – Emma Keeler
CLASS P052
First – Maxwell Williams
CLASS P032
First – Taylor Shouldice
Second – Nicholas Veldhuisen
CLASS P601
First – Lorianne Dueck
Second – Raymond Polz
CLASS P501
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P401
First – Moriah Carradice
Second – (TIE) Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier and Beth Layne Ward
CLASS P602
First – Lorianne Dueck
Second – (TIE) Kacie Veldhuisen and Lucas Koomans
CLASS P502
First – Jared Bethune
CLASS P402
First – Moriah Carradice
CLASS P1523
First – Kacia Veldhuisen
Second – Tiana Veldhuisen
CLASS P403
First – (TIE) Jilayne Derksen and Moriah Carradice
Second – Jazmine Coral-Hope Gauthier
CLASS P603
First – Lorianne Dueck
Second – (TIE) Kaitlyn Chiasson and Lucas Koomans
CLASS P307
First – Tianna Veldhuisen
CLASS P301
First – Tianna Veldhuisen
Second – Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P302
First – Tianna Veldhuisen
Second – (TIE) Kayla Stang and Jordan Bruyere
CLASS P1522
First – Emma Dykstra
Second – (TIE) Katelyn Bruyere and Alexa Veldhuisen
CLASS P031
First – Gareth Dunn
Second – (TIE) Taylor Shouldice, Nicholas Veldhuisen and Emma Dykstra
CLASS P041
First – Tessa Payne
Second – Wanetta Petkau
CLASS P034
First – Taylor Shouldice
Second – James Blattner
CLASS P044
First – Wanetta Petkau
CLASS P054
First – Maxwell Williams
CLASS P033
First – Caitlin Rittau
CLASS P035
First – Maxwell Williams
CLASS P042
First – Emma Keeler
CLASS P052
First – Maxwell Williams
CLASS P032
First – Taylor Shouldice
Second – Nicholas Veldhuisen
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