Interested Women and Goliath
THUNDER BAY, ON - July 2, 2009 - When I collected signatures from Interested Women of 
Thunder Bay, a discussion group of 27 years, I had no idea what I was getting into. Superior Aggregates Company, a subsidiary of Michigan’s Carlo Companies Group, had applied to pit and quarry one twelth (38 Canadian football fields) of its 385 hectare property (472 football fields) on the Canadian coast of Lake Superior. A petition to Ministry of the Environment for an Environmental Assessment seemed appropriate.
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Former Cold War Radar Sites Being Cleaned Up
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 22, 2009 - Ontario will create jobs, improve the environment and provide economic opportunities for local First Nations communities in Northern Ontario by cleaning up 16 abandoned radar sites over the next six years.
Most of the sites are located along the coasts of Hudson Bay and James Bay in the Far North boreal region of Ontario. They are part of the Mid-Canada line that dates back to the Cold War. read more...>
Pukaskwa Profiles - Peregrine Falcons
THUNDER BAY, ON - June 22, 2009 - Peregrine falcon numbers declined drastically in the 
1950’s and 1960’s due to pesticide contamination that thinned their eggshells. Since then, DDT has been banned and falcon re-introduction programs have helped speed the recovery of populations in Canada. read more...>
Great Lakes Mayors Meet
Trois-Rivières, Québec ---- June 19, 2009 ---– Mayor Lynn Peterson Thunder Bay, Ontario, 
and mayors from nearly fifty local governments in Canada and the United States joined host Mayor Yves Lévesque for the sixth Annual Member Meeting and Conference of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative. The mayors selected a new Chair of the organization, called for a new Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement with local government involvement in the negotiation and implementation, launched the Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products Framework, and passed a number of important policy resolutions at the meeting.
Mayor George Heartwell of Grand Rapids was elected as the 2009/2010 Chair of the organization. Mayor Denis Lapointe of Salaberry de Valleyfield was elected Vice Chair. read more.....>
Dorion Prepares for Wind Power
DORION, ONTARIO - June 18, 2009 - Stephen Cookson Development Manager for the 
Greenwich Wind Farm in Dorion has left no stones unturned for the public information session held today at the Dorion Community Centre. Renewable Energy Systems Canada has been actively planning this wind farm site beginning with meteorological towers to assess the wind strength in the area six years ago. read more...>
Aerial Photo and Map Mission Marsh
THUNDER BAY, ON, ------ June 16, 2009 ----- Visitors to Mission Island Marsh 
Conservation Area will notice a new site map when they visit the popular Conservation Area beginning today.
The large sign features an aerial photo and trail map. The photo is a bird's eye view of the Conservation Area including key features. It provides a snap shot of what the Conservation Area looked like when the photo was taken last summer and will allow visitors in the future to observe changes such as erosion and tree growth. The trail map will help visitors to determine where they may want to walk among the many trails at Mission Island Marsh. read more.....>
Nipigon Red Rock Receives Waste Water Treatment Funding
Red Rock, Ontario — Nipigon, On, ------ Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay-Superior North and Greg Rickford, MP for Kenora announced today that the governments of Canada and Ontario have set aside a total of $9 million in funding to help improve Red Rock’s wastewater treatment and have set aside up to $6.9 million in funding to help improve Nipigon’s wastewater treatment read more.....>
2009 Canadian Environment Week Launch Event
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 28, 2009 - Zero Waste Action Team members and advisors will launch Thunder Bay’s 2009 Canadian Environment Week celebrations with an Eco Fair. There will be displays, handouts and draws for a $50.00 Intercity Shopping Centre and Graham Saunder’s new book “Gardening with Short Growing Seasons.” read more...>
Arbor Day Tree Planting Event
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 11, 2009 - There will be an Arbor Day tree planting event held at the north east end of Boulevard Lake Park on May 24 from 1-4pm. Everyone is invited to join in and help green Thunder Bay one tree at a time. read more...>
THUNDER BAY, ON ----- May 10, 2009 ------- Experimental test results to be 
released Monday, in the new book "Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects our Health" show dramatic and immediate increases in blood and urine levels of harmful toxins in response to everyday activities and common consumer products.
Tests conducted focused on common chemicals that are associated with a variety of health effects, including cancer, reproductive and developmental harm and learning disabilities. read more.....>
Gunflint Trail presents $896 “carbon off-set” check to Gunflint Green Up chairman for next year's tree planting
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 7, 2009 - Gunflint Trail, MN- While Nordic Skiing is normally 
considered an eco-friendly sport, northeast Minnesota’s Gunflint Nordic ski trail managers have taken this one step further. The Central and Upper Gunflint Ski Areas connected by the Banadad Ski Trail known collectively as the 210 Kilometer Gunflint Nordic Ski System this year went carbon neutral. read more...>
The Tipping Point
WAWA, ON ---- May 5, 2009 ---- The decision of the Ontario Municipal Board on whether 
or not to license a pit/quarry on Michipicoten Bay might well be one of its most important decisions ever. Its decision is pivotal – perhaps the tipping point – for the future of Lake Superior. What will its future be? Industrialization? Or the preservation and protection of its uniqueness in the world, its economy invigorated by showcasing this uniqueness to the rest of the world via education and tourism? The OMB decision could be precedent-setting for the licensing of the 15 other trap rock sites on the north shore of Lake Superior. This one-of-a-kind lake in the world could well become a supply store for the rest of the continent.Is it good planning to allow the incomparable coast of the jewel of the “freshwater sea” that is Lake Superior to be irreparably marred by selling it (perhaps our soul) for gravel? read more.....>
Don’t Flush Them
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 17, 2009 - Eco-Superior’s Lucie Lavoie is shown here with some 
prescription collection bags that you can obtain from your dispensing pharmacist. Her talk given at the 55 plus centre in Thunder Bay was about the pharmaceuticals we consume and how they are ending up in our water supply. read more...>
Our Urban Forest’s Solution: The Tree Stewardship Program
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 17, 2009 - The city of Thunder Bay needs more trees! Our urban 
forest is under threat due to dying mature trees and inadequate tree replacement. The Municipality does its best to maintain Thunder Bay’s urban forest by assessing, pruning, removing and planting trees. However, more trees are being removed than are being planted. For this reason the Tree Stewardship Program was created. read more...>
WATERSHED CONDITIONS BULLETIN
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 17, 2009 - Recent snowmelt has resulted in a significant rise in some area watercourses. Snow surveys conducted on April 15th, 2009 indicate that there is higher than normal snow pack for this time of year. The majority of snow in the urban areas has melted; however, there is still significant snow in the rural upper watersheds. read more...>
Fort William Historical Park Celebrates Earth Day
THUNDER BAY, ON - April 15, 2009 - To help celebrate this nation-wide initiative, Fort William Historical Park is offering a free tree seedling to the each of the first 100 visitors who 
will be enjoying special Earth Day themed tours throughout the day on Wednesday, April 22nd.
In further acknowledgement of this occasion, the Fort is also observing power reductions during the day as an observance in reducing energy consumption. read more...>
THUNDER BAY EXPRESSWAY TO BE IMPROVED
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 26, 2009 - Traffic flow and safety on the Thunder Bay Expressway will be significantly improved because of a major reconstruction project being tendered by the province.
The project, which is part of the Northern Highways Program, will include: read more...>
Winter Storm Creates Hazardous Conditions on Forest Roads
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 26, 2009 - Freezing rain and continued cold temperatures are 
creating hazardous conditions on forest roads in the eastern portion of the Superior National Forest. Ice-laden trees leaning over roads and in many cases blocking roads or reducing traffic down to one lane have created driving hazards. Although most of the main roads are open and in fair condition, many side roads remained impassable as of Wednesday morning. Power outages have occurred in parts of Cook and Lake Counties. read more...>
Forest Service Seeks Members for Superior National Forest Resource Advisory Committee
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 23, 2009 - The Superior National Forest is seeking nominees for a Resource Advisory Committee (RAC), as authorized under Title II of the Secure Rural Schools Act and Community Self-Determination Act of 2008, (Public Law 110-343). The purpose of the Resource Advisory Committee is to enhance community collaboration with federal land managers in the process of proposing, reviewing, and recommending projects that will benefit resources on national Forest System lands in Lake, Cook, and St. Louis Counties, Minnesota. read more...>
Lakehead Region Conservation Authority Watches Spring Melt
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 19,2009 - The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority (LRCA) is monitoring conditions for the potential of spring flooding.
"Warmer weather in recent days means the spring melt is well underway," says Chairman Bill Bmiley. "Snow surveys indicate higher than average snow depth and water content for this time of year which means there is the potential for flooding if there is a quick melt or heavy rainfall before the ground thaws." read more...>
Lake Superior Coastline Quarry Goes to the OMB
THUNDER BAY, 0N ----- March 5, 2009 --- The longest section of wilderness coastline on 
any of the Great Lakes is being threatened by the proposed development of a rock quarry right on the coast. Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake in the world, has a 300 km section of coastline with a National Park, 3 Provincial Parks and 2 Conservation Reserves. Right in the middle, near Wawa, a Michigan-based highway construction company wants to operate a quarry within 60 m of the coast, with the product shipped across the Great Lakes for highway construction in the U.S. read more.....>
What Exactly is an Energy Audit or Assessment?
THUNDER BAY, ON - February 25, 2009 - (Toronto) - Buying a home is, for many, the largest 
investment that they will make in their lifetime. Yet, unlike buying a car (mpg ratings) or buying an appliance (Energystar ratings), there is really nothing which would indicate to the homebuyer how efficient their new home and investment will be. The new provisions in the Ontario Green Energy Act aim to change all that and provide full disclosure. The energy ratings, generated through an energy assessment will empower homebuyers, help homeowners save money on energy, improve the environment and create new Green Energy jobs. read more...>
Farmers for Economic Opportunity Applaud Green Energy Act
THUNDER BAY, ON - Feb. 25, 2009 - (Simcoe), The group, Farmers for Economic 
Opportunity welcomes the Green Energy Act introduced in the Ontario Legislature. The government is commended for recognizing that for renewable energy to succeed, the power grid needs to be "a two way street". read more...>
CRS Electronics achieves record performance for LED MR16 replacement lamps
THUNDER BAY, ON - February 17, 2009 - (Welland) CRS Electronics, a world leader in 
Light Emitting Diode (LED) MR16 halogen replacement lamps, has achieved another significant breakthrough in performance. The company has received confirmation from LTL Testing Laboratory Inc., a US Department of Energy CALiPER qualified facility, that their newest model LED MR16 product achieved a temperature stabilized light output of 325 lumens at a color temperature of 2850K. The light also has a center beam candlepower of 1800, a color rendering index (CRI) of 88, and an efficiency of 53 lumens per watt - more than 4 times the efficiency of many halogen MR16 lamps. read more...>
MEAGAN MCGRATH PREPARES FOR AN EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH POLE
SUDBURY, ON - FEBRUARY 16, 2009 - In April 2009 Meagan, will be heading to the Arctic, 
for a short, two-and-a-half week expedition. The purpose of this Polar Adventure, scheduled for April 9-27, 2009, is to prepare Meagan for what is undoubtedly her biggest adventure to date; an adventure that will span 60 solitary days. read more...>
Superior National Forest Celebrating Centennial Year
THUNDER BAY, ON - February 9, 2009 - The Superior National Forest is 100 years old this year. The Superior boasts a unique and rich legacy that has been largely influenced by its boreal forest ecosystem and glacially-carved landscape with myriad inter-connected waterways.
President Theodore Roosevelt signed a proclamation designating 644,114 acres within the original boundaries of the Forest on February 13, 1909. The first Forest office was a rental space located over Fenske’s Store in Ely with a total of nine employees. read more...>
Penetanguishene a Canadian leader in adopting energy efficient technology
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 13, 2009 - (Penetanguishene, Ontario) The Mayor and 
Councillors of Penetanguishene (Pen-e-tang-WISH-ene, located NW of Barrie on the shore of Georgian Bay) were presented with a Certificate of Recognition by Ontario's Chief Energy Conservation Officer, Peter Love, at the first Council meeting of 2009. read more...>
Ontario Pesticide Ban Makes Good Economic Sense
THUNDER BAY, ON -- December 19, 2008 -- The Ontario Government’s new lawn pesticide ban – which should come into effect in early 2009 – will do much to protect human and environmental health. But it’s also becoming clear the legislation will be a boon to our economy -- boosting business and creating green jobs. read more.... >
Come out for the 109th Christmas Bird Count
THUNDER BAY, ON, --- December 10, 2008 -- Between December 14 and January 5, 
2009, thousands of expert and amateur birders will participate in the 109th annual Christmas Bird Count, a well-established tradition for naturalists across the continent. read more......>
International Polar Year & Climate Change Symposium
THUNDER BAY, ON - December 8, 2008 - The polar north, Canada's last frontier, is 
experiencing an unprecedented transformation. The polar sea is thawing, opening up the Arctic Ocean to ice-free conditions for longer and longer periods. read more...>
Bring Your Own Bag
THUNDER BAY, ON -- January 29, 2009 --- At a media conference today, Quality Market launched 
a unique new program to benefit three local charities while sustaining the environment.
The BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) program will translate to an enhanced community for the people of Northwestern Ontario and a greener earth for everyone, says David Stezenko of Quality Market. “We want to help make our community an even better place to live and work. The BYOB program achieves this in several ways while allowing our costumers to determine the areas they wish to assist,” he explains read more...
Tree Seedlings Urgently Need New Homes
THUNDER BAY, ON - January 28, 2009 - Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources puts out call 
to action to Ontario residents - hosting free tree planting workshop to help reach provincial goals Southern Ontario - The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Trees Ontario, along with the Ontario Forestry Association (OFA) and its local planting agency partners will host a series of free workshops this February and March for local area landowners focused on the government's 50 Million Tree Program and the Managed Forest Tax Incentive Program (MFTIP). By planting more trees, Ontarians will be helping to reduce the effects of climate change while contributing to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources' goal of planting 50 million trees across southern Ontario by 2020. read more...>
New plant, SCADA system mean better remote control for Canadian water treatment plant
THUNDER BAY, ON - February 10, 2009 - The City of Thunder Bay is a growing community on the 
shores of Lake Superior in Ontario, Canada. Ranked as one of the top 10 cities for business in Canada, population is likely to continue to increase from the 120,000 citizens who live there today. To provide safe drinking water as well as protect the environment, Thunder Bay set a goal to implement lake-to-lake water management—taking water from Lake Superior through the treatment process to the distribution system, and then back through the pollution control plant before returning it to the environment. In less than a decade, Thunder Bay has succeeded. read more...>
IGNACE IMPROVING DRINKING WATER QUALITY
THUNDER BAY, ON - February 20, 2009 - Some 665 households in the Township of Ignace will soon have safe and reliable drinking water, ending a boil water advisory that has been in effect since July 2007.
Ontario is helping the township upgrade its water treatment system. The work should be completed by the end of March. The new system will supply residents with water from Lake Kekwanzik rather than from wells. This major infrastructure project will enable the town to comply with the provincial Drinking Water Systems Regulation. read more...>
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds Superior National Forest Trail Maintenance
THUNDER BAY, ON - March 13, 2009 - Through the recently-passed ‘‘American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,’’ $557,000 of funding will be used to improve conditions on the Superior National Forest’s extensive trail system, including hiking, portage, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, ATV, and interpretive trails. Work will be performed through a partnership with Minnesota Conservations Corps (MCC). read more...>
Consumers and businesses have a new option to recycle unwanted computers, TVs and other equipment
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 1, 2009 – Ontario Electronic Stewardship (OES) has launched an 
ambitious program that over the next five years will divert an additional 160,000 tonnes of waste electronics such as computers and televisions away from landfills and into reuse and recycling solutions. read more...>
ONTARIO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STAFF HONOURED
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 8, 2009 - Two employees of the provincial government’s Ontario Geological Survey (OGS) have received awards recognizing their dedicated service.
Peter Moses, OGS First Nations Minerals Information Officer, based in Thunder Bay, has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Northwestern Ontario Prospectors Association. The award is in appreciation for his tireless work with Aboriginal people, including delivering community-based prospector courses, information and education sessions, as well as for his previous career as a prospector. read more...>
Use Caution On Crown Land Roads In The Northwest
THUNDER BAY, ON - May 19, 2008 - The Ministry of Natural Resources cautions travellers of the danger of potential washouts and flooded sections on Crown land roads in northwestern Ontario.
Spring run-off from melting snow and significant rain may cause wash-outs on off-highway roads and result in road closures. Barricades and signs will mark closures and known hazards on Crown land roads. Roads with soft sections and erosion may remain open to traffic and may be marked for use with caution. read more...>