Physicians' Appreciation Week - Part 4

It's expected to be a sell out at tonight's community dinner as part of Physicians' Appreciation Week in Fort Frances.

Councillor Andrew Hallikas, who chairs the local Physician Recruitment and Retention Committee, says only a few tickets remains for the event aimed at showing appreciation for local doctors.

"These folks have been doing such a good job for us and been working so hard under difficult conditions," says Hallikas, "it's nice for them to have the community with this show of support to come out and say 'Thanks you a lot. We appreciate what you've done for us.'"

Physicians' Appreciation Week is something new to Fort Frances and Dr. Robert Algie says the recognition is somewhat humbling.

"We know that we're appreciated,"says Algie. "We get individual feedback. Not always on a daily basis but certainly we get enough feedback through what we do at work to know that we're appreciated and are making a difference. I suppose being recognized in a more public way is also appreciated. We're a bit of a humble group and this public show is a bit uncomfortable for some of us, but we appreciate the efforts being made."

Algie also applauds the help of the area's nurse practitioners for easing the burden on local doctors.

"Their availability, plus some other chronic disease programs, has given people the opportunity to have access care they wouldn't otherwise have previously. Without that, people of Fort Frances would be really seeing a major difference in their ability to get into medical care. I think nurse practitioners have made a big difference for us."

Tonight's event at the Memorial Sports Centre begins at 6 p.m.

Heritage Party Awaiting Approval

The Northern Ontario Heritage Party is a step closer to gaining official party status.

Spokesperson Ed Deibel says they're waiting for a letter from the Ontario Elections Commission.

"If they're satisfied with the signatures on the petition are real people they should certify us," says Deibel. "If they don't, they have to tell us why. I don't know what that decision will be, but I assume we will get approval.

More than one thousand signatures in favour of the party were sent to the commission.

Quetico Fires Still Burn

The Ministry of Natural Resources continues to monitor three forest fires burning in Quetico Provincial Park.

Spokesperson Heather Pridham says its follows a fire management plan they've had in place for the park for many years.

"Quetico Provincial Park, in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources, have a fire management plan," says Pridham, "which allows fire on the landscape to rejuvenates the area and brings back more of a fire regime to the park"

Pridham says the three lightning caused fires are burning in remote areas, and pose no threat to park users.

Slack Appointed

The Rainy River District School Board has a new Superintendent of Education.

Casey Slack takes over the position held by Heather Campbell who became Education Director in April.

Slack had been the board's Student Success Leader and Assistant to the Director since 2007.

HST Toll Booths Planned

Several first nations in Ontario are threatening to set up toll booths on the Trans-Canada highway this summer to protest the HST.

Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee says they have to "crank up'' the protests to show Ottawa they are serious.

Finance Ministry staff meet with Chiefs in Ontario officials in Ottawa Monday.

Project Pentunia Kick-off

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, and B93, are kicking off the Chamber's annual Project Petunia this morning.

Participants can purchase planters to be hung around the community this summer.

Chamber Manager Anthony Mason will be outside B-93's studios beginning at 9 a.m. to promote the program.

"We will be sitting outside of B-93 and asking people to come down and make a donation of fifty dollars," says Mason. "Your name will be displayed as part of the Petunia Project."

There are various options of sponsorship from one year to five.

Anyone who makes a contribution will also be eligible for prizes, including four tickets to see the Eagles in Winnipeg.

School Budget Approved

Trustees with the Rainy River District School Board have approved a new budget.

Superintendent of Business Laura Mills says the balanced budget of almost $47-million focuses on student learning.

"In this budget, even though we've had some funding increases and funding constraints, we've managed to provide a balanced budget that has many programs in it that supports student success."

The board will also draw $1.1. million from reserves to help support a variety of programs.

F.H. Huffman Remembered

The Rainy River District School Board is renamed the primary wing at the new Robert Moore School in Fort Frances in honour of F-H Huffman School.

Huffman will close for good at the end of the month, and principal Donna Kowalchuk says it will be a new beginning for the students who will transfer to the new school in the fall.

"Staff, the students, parents community and school council have provided wonderful support over the years," says Kowalchuk, "and they'll all looking to the future.

The board also officially declared Huffman school surplus and will be offered up for sale.

Future Relations Discussed

Couchiching First Nations toll booth may be down, but its effect in the Rainy River district may be a bit lasting.

The issue generated much debate, and band councillor Sarah Mainville says it was a real eye opener for Couchiching.

"It was a bit of a wake-up call for our community," says Mainville, "about our relationship with our neighbours. We did talk to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs about that and our concerns, particularly about our relationship with the town of Fort Frances."

Mainville says the band would be open to a meeting with town officials as a means of improving relations between the two communities.

Physicians Appreciation Week - Part 3

We continue with our series as part of Physician Appreciation week.

Speaking on recruitment, Doctor Robert Algie says the area's lifestyle is a strength that can be used to attract new physicians.

"We need to look at selling the community," says Algie. "I think this community as a lot more to offer, both medically, but also most importantly as a community, than most of the other communities we're competing with. We need to sell the facilities we have and the access we have to transportation. We also need to sell the recreational facilities that we have, both man-made and natural."

Algie feels the local recruitment and retention committee is taking the right approach in its search for more doctors.

Library Opens

The new Fort Frances Public Library is now open.

Chief Librarian Margaret Sedgewick says her staff are happy with their new surroundings.

"We worked very hard for this day," says Sedgewick. "We're not completely up and running in all areas, but enough for anyone who wants to take out a book or a movie or use our computers, that's ready for them."

Sedgewick says there's still some staff training to do, but expects all services to be available to patrons by their grand opening on June 21st.

Patrons who visited the Library on Tuesday were impressed with the new building.

Board Hands Out Awards

A former Toronto educator has been named the Rainy River District School Board's bus driver of the year.

Herman Rodriquez accepted the award last night on behalf of all the area's drivers.

"The parents can be feel quite assured that the safety of their children and well-being is being taken care of," says Rodriquez. "The people of the Rainy River district are well served by people who are very professional who take in account the safety of their students."

Rodriquez began driving bus after retiring from the classroom about five years.

A number of volunteers involved in F-H Huffman School's "Read to You - Read to Me program" were also honoured.

Human Resources Manager Diane Ross says the twelve individuals have been a big part of the students lives.

"The Readers, as they are referred to by the children, come every Wednesday morning throughout the school year for sixty minutes of reading and oral language with individual students in the junior and senior kindergarten program," says Ross.

Angel Lowe, who volunteers at Sturgeon Creek School, was also recognized.

Staff who reached 25-years of service with the board were also honoured.

Toll Booth Removed

Members of the Couchiching First Nations have brought down a toll booth on Highway 11.

Band members removed the booth last night at about 9 o'clock.

They opened it May 21st, charging one-dollar per vehicle to raise awareness about a highway land claim.

The band also called for funds to relocate six families living on what the band claims is contaminated soil from a former sawmill.

A band spokesperson says the reason for the removal of the toll booth will be explained in a statement later today.

Cancer Care Ontario Report Released

Cancer Care Ontario says residents in northwestern Ontario are living a lifestyle that poses a cancer risk.

The number of smokers and persons overweight are higher than the provincial average.

Michael Power of the Regional Cancer Centre says just cutting down on smoking would help reduce those rates.

"If we we're just simply to pull back to the provincial average of about 18 per cent of residents in the region smoking as opposed to 23 per cent, that five per cent gain would cut our lung cancer numbers in half," says Power.

The report card also shows the Regional Centre in Thunder Bay doing a good job in cancer radiation treatment.

Cancer Survivor Promotes Relay for Life

A young cancer survivor is encouraging people to support Relay for Life.

Madisyn Degagne is heading up a team for the Fort Frances event.

She says it's important for her give back to the Canadian Cancer Society.

"Experiencing cancer first hand and the overwhelming support of the community here in Fort Frances, I just really wanted to make an effort to give back," says Degagne, "because so many people have been affected by cancer."

Degagne's team includes several of her friends that make the team Pink Attitoode - Second Generation for the June 25 event.

Local Physicians Week - Part 2

We continue our series on the doctor situation in Fort Frances.

Local officials say another four physicians are needed.

Doctor Robert Algie says a provincial moratorium on new doctors twenty years ago is partially to blame.

"With the growth of population, the loss of those 10 per cent of physicians over the years on a yearly basis," says Dr. Algie, "and the increased complexity of providing primary care. We're dealing with sicker people in our offices. People who used to die of heart disease are now living and living with cognitive heart failure. Diabetes is also increasing. There's a large increase load and the number of family physicians they used to feel is appropriate is just not adequate."

Algie says the shortage is being felt the greatest at Riverside Health Care Facilities who are forced to bring in locums to staff the emergency room.

"The emergency department is struggling to stay open on a week-by-week basis. Local family physicians who are still involving, which is only five of us, are doing their best to provide time to the emergency department, but to take care of sick patients in hospital and try to be available to their patients in the community at the clinic. About one-third of all emergency medicine shifts are being provided by physicians who travel from outside the community to provide care."

Tomorrow, Dr. Algie looks at local efforts to attract new physicians.

Library to Open Today

(Fort Frances Public Library Photo)

The new Fort Frances Public Library will open its doors to the public for the first time today.

The technology Centre will also open, but staff say there will be limited services available.

A more official opening will be held June 21.

Detour Announced

There will be a traffic detour in Fort Frances' north end today.

A section of Fifth Street, east of Portage Avenue, will be shutdown beginning at 7 a.m.

The closure is to allow crews to work on a newly installed water main.

When complete, crews will then close a section on the east side of Fifth for similar work.

The Portage Avenue underpass will remain open to traffic during the work.

Young Men's Conference a Success

The first ever young men's conference is being hailed a success by organizers.

Nineteen students, most in grade 8, gathered at Quetico Provincial Park for three days last week.

Crossroad's School principal Gord McCabe says the focus differed from a conference held annual for girls of similar age.

"The young women's conference is geared towards a leadership theme," says McCabe. "With this program, what we wanted to do is to gear towards students who wouldn't normally get this type of opportunity."

Participants were involved in several outdoor adventures, along with planning and goal setting.

Spring Bear Hunt

There are renewed calls to bring back the spring bear hunt in Ontario.

Terry Quinney of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters says the demise of the hunt ten years ago has resulted in big increases in the number of bears.

"To minimize the risk to people and maximize the benefits of this wildlife resource for Ontario society, the Ontario government needs to reinstate the spring bear hunt," says Quinney

Quinney says the province's so-called BearWise program has done little to control an expanding black bear population.