The Rainy River Future Development Corporation is proposing an enhancement of economic development services for the town of Fort Frances.
Client Services Manager Geoff Gillon says it includes provisions for more involvement by the town's economic development advisory committee.
"They are an advisory committee to council, so they respond when (council) asks," says Gillon. "What we would like to have council do is have the advisory council review the current terms of reference and come back to council with recommendations on how they'd like to change that."
Gillon says because the current contract is partly funded in part by FEDNOR, the changes would need the agency's approval.
He doesn't expect the changes to cost more money, but is asking the town to set aside $20-thousand to offset costs FEDNOR may not cover.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Union Gas Upgrades to Continue
Union Gas will resume work to replace aging pipe and gas meters in Fort Frances next month.
Director of Engineering Doug Alexander says much of the work this year will be in the town's east end.
"We will work on roughly 1,500 service connections," says Alexander. "Of that we will simply reconnect 995 services, but will also put in 524 new services of the old steel pipe that was put in back in 1971."
The gas company is into the second year of a $10-million project.
Director of Engineering Doug Alexander says much of the work this year will be in the town's east end.
"We will work on roughly 1,500 service connections," says Alexander. "Of that we will simply reconnect 995 services, but will also put in 524 new services of the old steel pipe that was put in back in 1971."
The gas company is into the second year of a $10-million project.
DSSAB Vote On Hold
Municipalities in the Rainy River district continue to wait the outcome of a vote on a proposed change to how they fund the Rainy River District Social Services Administration Board.
The vote, which needs both a majority of municipalities and electoral votes to pass, was conducted earlier this month.
Municipal officials say they now trying to determine the number of voters in the unorganized areas which could impact the final tally.
The Municipal Provincial Assessment Corporation is helping to determine the numbers, but there is no word when they will be made known to the DSSAB board.
The vote, which needs both a majority of municipalities and electoral votes to pass, was conducted earlier this month.
Municipal officials say they now trying to determine the number of voters in the unorganized areas which could impact the final tally.
The Municipal Provincial Assessment Corporation is helping to determine the numbers, but there is no word when they will be made known to the DSSAB board.
Pension Bill Gets Support
A private members' bill that aims to protect workers' pensions when a company restructures or enters into bankruptcy proceedings got its first debate in the House of Commons' yesterday.
Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP John Rafferty says he was pleased with how the other parties responded to his bill.
"All of the parties indicated a desire to get it into committee so they can call some witnesses and bring the bill back to the house," says Rafferty. "There certainly seems to be a will among all of us to work cooperatively on this."
A final vote is expected sometime in the fall.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Festival Ends
Robert Moore School students were at the top of the list of winners on the final day of the Rainy River Festival of the Performing Arts on Friday.
The school earned first place marked in four separate English Drama classes.
J.W. Walker and St. Francis Schools were winners in two categories.
Callahan Wiedenhoeft was the top individual winner with two first place honours.
The annual highlights concert will be held this Sunday at Townshend Theatre.
Here is a list of all winners from Friday
FESTIVAL RESULTS, ENGLISH DRAMA DIVISION, Friday, April 23, 2010
CLASS A900
First – St. Francis NSL, Grade 6 – Corine Bannon
CLASS A1200-A
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 4 – Mrs. Donald
CLASS A1200-B
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 5 – Mrs. Donald
CLASS A700-C
Huffman School, Kindergarten/Grade 1 – Karen Peltomaki (Non-Competitive)
CLASS A703-A
First – J. W. Walker School, Grades 2 and 3 – J. Johanson
CLASS A703-B
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 3 – Mrs. Norris
CLASS A704-B
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 4 – Mrs. Beckett
CLASS A704-C
First – J. W. Walker School, Grade 4 – J. Johanson
CLASS A705-B
First – St. Francis School, Grades 4 and 5 – Solange Busch
CLASS A101-D
Jenaya DeBenetti (Non-Competitive)
CLASS A103-B
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
CLASS A103-F
First – Mira Donaldson
CLASS A103-D
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
CLASS A104-D
First – Siobhan Mackintosh
Second – Olivia DeBenedet
CLASS A105-A
First – Jade Green
CLASS A105-D
First – Mackenzie Wright
Second – Joleigh Hayes
CLASS A107-A
First – Andrew Eldridge
CLASS A107-E
First – Shawn Brady
CLASS A201
First – Jade Green
CLASS A202
First – Danté Tookenay
The school earned first place marked in four separate English Drama classes.
J.W. Walker and St. Francis Schools were winners in two categories.
Callahan Wiedenhoeft was the top individual winner with two first place honours.
The annual highlights concert will be held this Sunday at Townshend Theatre.
Here is a list of all winners from Friday
FESTIVAL RESULTS, ENGLISH DRAMA DIVISION, Friday, April 23, 2010
CLASS A900
First – St. Francis NSL, Grade 6 – Corine Bannon
CLASS A1200-A
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 4 – Mrs. Donald
CLASS A1200-B
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 5 – Mrs. Donald
CLASS A700-C
Huffman School, Kindergarten/Grade 1 – Karen Peltomaki (Non-Competitive)
CLASS A703-A
First – J. W. Walker School, Grades 2 and 3 – J. Johanson
CLASS A703-B
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 3 – Mrs. Norris
CLASS A704-B
First – Robert Moore School, Grade 4 – Mrs. Beckett
CLASS A704-C
First – J. W. Walker School, Grade 4 – J. Johanson
CLASS A705-B
First – St. Francis School, Grades 4 and 5 – Solange Busch
CLASS A101-D
Jenaya DeBenetti (Non-Competitive)
CLASS A103-B
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
CLASS A103-F
First – Mira Donaldson
CLASS A103-D
First – Callahan Wiedenhoeft
CLASS A104-D
First – Siobhan Mackintosh
Second – Olivia DeBenedet
CLASS A105-A
First – Jade Green
CLASS A105-D
First – Mackenzie Wright
Second – Joleigh Hayes
CLASS A107-A
First – Andrew Eldridge
CLASS A107-E
First – Shawn Brady
CLASS A201
First – Jade Green
CLASS A202
First – Danté Tookenay
Fort Frances Council Tonight
Fort Frances councillors will get an update today on Union Gas' plans to upgrade its infrastructure in the town.
The gas company is spending $10-million to replace old lines and meters and began its two-year project in the west end last year.
Also at tonight's regular meeting of council, a decision on whether to proceed with a planned increase in councillors salaries.
Mayor Roy Avis had asked that the increase, approved earlier this year, get a re-think in light of Premier Dalton McGuinty's comments that municipalities consider holding the line on employee wages.
The public portion of tonight's meeting gets underway at about 6:20 p.m.
The gas company is spending $10-million to replace old lines and meters and began its two-year project in the west end last year.
Also at tonight's regular meeting of council, a decision on whether to proceed with a planned increase in councillors salaries.
Mayor Roy Avis had asked that the increase, approved earlier this year, get a re-think in light of Premier Dalton McGuinty's comments that municipalities consider holding the line on employee wages.
The public portion of tonight's meeting gets underway at about 6:20 p.m.
More Human-Caused Fires Reported
A ban on burning in northwestern Ontario did little to prevent the outbreak of more human caused fires over the weekend.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reports 21 new fires in the west fire region, including three in the Rainy River District.
Two of those fires in this region were identified as being human-caused.
The MNR says dry conditions and high to extreme fire hazards with minimal rain in the forecast will keep a restricted fire zone in place for a while.
The Ministry of Natural Resources reports 21 new fires in the west fire region, including three in the Rainy River District.
Two of those fires in this region were identified as being human-caused.
The MNR says dry conditions and high to extreme fire hazards with minimal rain in the forecast will keep a restricted fire zone in place for a while.
Busy Weekend for Local Firefighters
Members of the Fort Frances Fire and Rescue were busy dealing with a number of grass fires of their own.
Among them, a fire that broke out just around midnight last night near the Fort Frances Curling Club and took fire fighters nearly two hours to battle.
Saturday afternoon, fire fighters were called to AbitibiBowater to deal with a fire on a locomotive.
The fire was contained to the engine compartment and no other rail cars were damaged.
The extent of damage to the locomotive was not immediately known.
Among them, a fire that broke out just around midnight last night near the Fort Frances Curling Club and took fire fighters nearly two hours to battle.
Saturday afternoon, fire fighters were called to AbitibiBowater to deal with a fire on a locomotive.
The fire was contained to the engine compartment and no other rail cars were damaged.
The extent of damage to the locomotive was not immediately known.
Organ Donations
There's a strong willingness by northerners to sign organ-donor registrations.
An analysis by the Toronto Star says about 30 per cent of Fort Frances residents registered consent for organ and tissue donation.
In communities west of the town, 17 per cent of residents have signed the donor registry, while it's 37 per cent in Kenora and 29 per cent in Dryden.
The Trillium Gift of Life Network says 90 per cent of Ontarians say they support organ donation -- yet only 17 per cent have registered their intent to donate.
An analysis by the Toronto Star says about 30 per cent of Fort Frances residents registered consent for organ and tissue donation.
In communities west of the town, 17 per cent of residents have signed the donor registry, while it's 37 per cent in Kenora and 29 per cent in Dryden.
The Trillium Gift of Life Network says 90 per cent of Ontarians say they support organ donation -- yet only 17 per cent have registered their intent to donate.
Literacy Coach Time Expanded
The Northwest Catholic District School Board is using several thousands of dollars from its reserve fund to support the increase of literacy-coach time at its area schools.
Board chair Anne-Marie Fitzgerald says increasing the times of its literacy coaches can only lead to improvements in the classroom.
"There goal is to promote student learning and raise achievement in the area of literacy," says Fitzgerald. "We have found the role of the literacy coaches in our schools to have a profoundly positive effective on improving literacy targets board wide."
The $170-thousand will be help cover salary and benefits needed to increase the hours of the literacy coaches.
E-Learning Helping Northern Ontario
The creation of a distance education program for residents in southern Ontario is expanding learning opportunities for northern Ontario citizens.
Raeann Watson, coordinator for Contact North's site in Fort Frances, says they're working with E-learning to bring access to post-secondary institutions and programs never available in the past.
"The best example is Lambton College, working with Sheridan College, working with Confederation College, is putting on the pharmacy tech training right now," says Watson. "Up until Confederation agreed to work with Lambton and Sheridan to put it on, the techs that needed to get that upgrading were scheduled to go to southern Ontario."
Watson says with E-Learning, students can take programs that fit their own schedule.
Raeann Watson, coordinator for Contact North's site in Fort Frances, says they're working with E-learning to bring access to post-secondary institutions and programs never available in the past.
"The best example is Lambton College, working with Sheridan College, working with Confederation College, is putting on the pharmacy tech training right now," says Watson. "Up until Confederation agreed to work with Lambton and Sheridan to put it on, the techs that needed to get that upgrading were scheduled to go to southern Ontario."
Watson says with E-Learning, students can take programs that fit their own schedule.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Fire Ban in Place
The Ministry of Natural Resources is placing a ban on open fires.
Much of northwestern Ontario is now under a Restricted Fire Zone.
The MNR says fire hazard has reached extreme levels due to the unusually dry spring conditions which have resulted in increasing forest fire activity.
The long-term weather forecast offers no relief in the form of significant precipitation.
The ban covers an area between Red Lake and Pickle Lake in the north to the U.S. Border, but excludes Quetico Provincial Park.
Burn restrictions also went into place in Koochiching County and 37 other Minnesota counties today.
Much of the state is also experiencing dry weather conditions.
Campfires are also banned in Voyageurs National Park.
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports almost 900 fires in the state this year.
Cabinet Ministers Attend NOMA
Municipal leaders will sit down with a handful of Provincial Ministers today in Marathon at the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association Conference.
President Anne Krassilowsky says a visit by Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne will be timely.
"We all know we have transportation issues in more way than one," says Krassilowsky, "looking at public transportation across the province and road conditions, to the challenges of obtaining funding."
Other speakers include Northern Development Minister Michael Gravelle and Municipal Affairs Parliamentary Secretary Donna Cansfield.
Meanwhile, delegates are being asked to support a resolution that calls for improvements to FEDNOR.
The resolution suggests the economic development program become a crown agency with a budget of not less than $90 million a year.
It's also calling for grants to be processed within four months.
Sex Ed Proposal On Hold
It's back to the drawing board for the Ontario government on its proposal to update the province's sex education curriculum.
After defending the new sex ed curriculum for two days, Premier Dalton McGuinty suddenly had a change of heart.
McGuinty says it's important to educate elementary kids about sex, but adds the government clearly didn't do a good enough job of consulting parents on the ideas.
He says the Liberal government should have taken time to inform parents about the changes it had in mind.
The opposition parties are accusing McGuinty of making policy on the fly and bowing to pressure from church groups.
Under the changes McGuinty has withdrawn, Grade 1 kids were to be taught to identify genitalia using the correct words, while Grade 3 students would have been taught about same-sex families.
After defending the new sex ed curriculum for two days, Premier Dalton McGuinty suddenly had a change of heart.
McGuinty says it's important to educate elementary kids about sex, but adds the government clearly didn't do a good enough job of consulting parents on the ideas.
He says the Liberal government should have taken time to inform parents about the changes it had in mind.
The opposition parties are accusing McGuinty of making policy on the fly and bowing to pressure from church groups.
Under the changes McGuinty has withdrawn, Grade 1 kids were to be taught to identify genitalia using the correct words, while Grade 3 students would have been taught about same-sex families.
Victims Services Program Holds Open House
An open house yesterday for the Rainy River District Victim Services Program.
The event held to promote it and other services for victims of crimes
Trudy McCormick of the Northwest Community Legal Clinic says her agency is one such group that works hand in hand with the program.
"If they've been a victim of crime there are times when people can be compensated for that," says McCormick. "They can be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses. They can be compensated for pain and suffering. They come to our office and we can help them do the applications, and if it comes to a hearing we can even represent them if they qualify financially."
Dorion Chambers of the Rainy River District Women's Shelter of Hope was among those on hand.
"We have a protocol between Victim services," says Chambers. "It's a transportation protocol. If there's a woman in crisis in the Rainy River district they will assist us in getting that woman to safety to the shelter in Atikokan."
Yesterday's open house was held in conjunction with National Victims of Crime Awareness week.
The event held to promote it and other services for victims of crimes
Trudy McCormick of the Northwest Community Legal Clinic says her agency is one such group that works hand in hand with the program.
"If they've been a victim of crime there are times when people can be compensated for that," says McCormick. "They can be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses. They can be compensated for pain and suffering. They come to our office and we can help them do the applications, and if it comes to a hearing we can even represent them if they qualify financially."
Dorion Chambers of the Rainy River District Women's Shelter of Hope was among those on hand.
"We have a protocol between Victim services," says Chambers. "It's a transportation protocol. If there's a woman in crisis in the Rainy River district they will assist us in getting that woman to safety to the shelter in Atikokan."
Yesterday's open house was held in conjunction with National Victims of Crime Awareness week.
Principal Honoured
Some honours today for a elementary school principal in the Rainy River River District.
Brendan Hyatt is being recognized by the Catholic Principals' Council of Ontario as a regional principal of the year at an event tonight in Windsor.
Hyatt is principal of Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.
Brendan Hyatt is being recognized by the Catholic Principals' Council of Ontario as a regional principal of the year at an event tonight in Windsor.
Hyatt is principal of Our Lady of the Way School in Stratton.
Festival Ends Today
The Rainy River District Festival of the Performing Arts will come to end today with the final Drama competitions.
They take place this morning at the Townshend Theatre and this afternoon at Knox United Church
Yesterday, Melissa Fletcher earned five first place certificates in the English Drama division while Shawn Brady led the way in the French drama division with two wins.
They take place this morning at the Townshend Theatre and this afternoon at Knox United Church
Yesterday, Melissa Fletcher earned five first place certificates in the English Drama division while Shawn Brady led the way in the French drama division with two wins.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
First Nations/Hampton Fight HST
Frustrated First Nations groups are planning a protest at the Ontario legislature today in their escalating fight over the H-S-T.
Inside Queen's Park yesterday, Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton called for native people to be exempt from the HST
"When the McGuinty Liberals faced anti-HST backlash from the real estate industry, the Premier very quickly exempted homes that cost up to $400,000 from the HST," said Hampton. "When Tim Hortons protested against the HST on the coffee and muffin lunch, the McGuinty Liberals very quickly exempted restaurant meals up to $4 in value from the HST. If you care about the plight of First Nations, why will you not act just as quickly to exempt First Nations from the HST?"
First nation leaders say the new harmonized tax will rob them of a point-of-sale exemption on the provincial portion of the merged tax.
Inside Queen's Park yesterday, Kenora-Rainy River M-P-P Howard Hampton called for native people to be exempt from the HST
"When the McGuinty Liberals faced anti-HST backlash from the real estate industry, the Premier very quickly exempted homes that cost up to $400,000 from the HST," said Hampton. "When Tim Hortons protested against the HST on the coffee and muffin lunch, the McGuinty Liberals very quickly exempted restaurant meals up to $4 in value from the HST. If you care about the plight of First Nations, why will you not act just as quickly to exempt First Nations from the HST?"
First nation leaders say the new harmonized tax will rob them of a point-of-sale exemption on the provincial portion of the merged tax.
Trustee Redistribution Accepted
There will be different look to the Northwest Catholic District School Board this fall.
Trustees voted Tuesday night in favour of moving one of three seats designated to Fort Frances to Sioux Lookout.
Board Chair, and Fort Frances trustee Anne-Marie Fitzgerald says it reflects changes in population, but won't impact the decision making at the table.
"It really shouldn't have any affect," says Fitzgerald, "because we do try to base our decisions not by area but whats best for the board as a whole."
An extra seat given to reflect the amalgamation of the former Atikokan Roman Catholic District School Board will be designated to Atikokan.
Seats assigned to Stratton and Dryden remain unchanged.
Trustees voted Tuesday night in favour of moving one of three seats designated to Fort Frances to Sioux Lookout.
Board Chair, and Fort Frances trustee Anne-Marie Fitzgerald says it reflects changes in population, but won't impact the decision making at the table.
"It really shouldn't have any affect," says Fitzgerald, "because we do try to base our decisions not by area but whats best for the board as a whole."
An extra seat given to reflect the amalgamation of the former Atikokan Roman Catholic District School Board will be designated to Atikokan.
Seats assigned to Stratton and Dryden remain unchanged.
Fence Fight Over
A fight over a fence to keep deer off their property has a couple in Fort Frances picking up stakes and moving.
Marie and Lynwood Anderson say they are finished with fighting Fort Frances and are going to pack up and sell their home and move to New Brunswick.
After a long fight, the couple pleaded guilty earlier this month to having a fence not in accordance with town's fencing bylaw, and were given 60 days to remove it.
Marie and Lynwood Anderson say they are finished with fighting Fort Frances and are going to pack up and sell their home and move to New Brunswick.
After a long fight, the couple pleaded guilty earlier this month to having a fence not in accordance with town's fencing bylaw, and were given 60 days to remove it.
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