THUNDER BAY, ON  -----  July 3, 2009  ----  Today marks the return of passenger service by water to the city of Thunder Bay. The passenger vessel Clelia II can easily be seen from Hillcrest Park at the city’s new marine passenger terminal. The Pool six pier, once home to one of the world’s largest grain terminals has been reborn as a first class passenger terminal. This is a work in progress, and when the landscaping and paving are complete it will become an integral part of the city’s Marina Park.  

KANSAS CITY, MO –  July 3, 2009   -----  The Thunder Bay Chill have continued their winning ways by beating the Kansas City Brass 3-0, and earning goal keeper Steven Paterson his second shutout in a as many games. The Chill put on another dominating performance in the third game of their four game road trip, and have inched that much closer to securing a spot in the playoffs.

The Chill put the pressure on the Brass early, and was rewarded with an early lead. After winning a penalty shot, Christian Fernandes slotted home the ball, giving the Chill a 1-0 lead in the 12th minute. In the 21st minute, Fernandes continued his scoring ways for the Chill, scoring on a free kick from just outside the box.    

THUNDER BAY, ON   July 3, 2009  ----    Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay–Superior North, and Greg Rickford MP, for Kenora are pleased to announce today that the riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North will benefit from $4,057,554 in joint federal and provincial funding to improve community recreational infrastructure, announced today under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in Ontario (RInC Ontario) and Recreation Ontario (Ontario REC). Each level of government will be providing $2,028,777.

These projects will provide stimulus to the local economy through investments that will spur construction activity related to recreational infrastructure. Improving recreational facilities and services will also encourage higher levels of participation in physical activity and community building.   

THUNDER BAY, ON   July 3, 2009  ----    Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay–Superior North, and Greg Rickford MP, for Kenora are pleased to announce today that the riding of Thunder Bay-Superior North will benefit from $4,057,554 in joint federal and provincial funding to improve community recreational infrastructure, announced today under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program in Ontario (RInC Ontario) and Recreation Ontario (Ontario REC). Each level of government will be providing $2,028,777.

These projects will provide stimulus to the local economy through investments that will spur construction activity related to recreational infrastructure. Improving recreational facilities and services will also encourage higher levels of participation in physical activity and community building. 

MARATHON, ONTARIO, July 3, 2009 – This year, July 18th marks the 20th anniversary of Canada’s Parks Day, as well as the International Year of Astronomy. Pukaskwa National Park of Canada and the Friends of Pukaskwa will be offering a full day of activities to help visitors, bigand small, appreciate and learn about the wonders of the night sky. Pukaskwa National Park  is on highway 17 between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste Marie.  

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. read more...>

SPRINGFIELD, MO – July 1, 2009   ---The Thunder Bay Chill has turned things around on the road with a 3-0 win on Tuesday night over the Springfield Demize. The Chill has now evened their win-loss record on their current four game road trip to one win and one loss.  

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 30, 2009 - On Monday, June 29, an unidentified Native Canadian man in his mid 30's to 40's, took and e-bike for a test drive in the parking lot behind Victoriaville Centre and fled with the bike. 

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 30, 2009 - Two northwestern Ontario anglers must pay $1,200 each for possessing an over limit of walleyes.  Robert Mitchell, of Longlac, and Donald Burgess, of Thunder Bay, were charged under Ontario fishing regulations.

A Red Lake area man has been fined $1,750 for angling in a fish sanctuary and lying to a Ministry of Natural Resources conservation officer.  David Betker, of Cochenour, was charged under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and fined $1,250 for angling during closed time in the Chukuni River Fish Sanctuary, in the Hoyles Bay area of Red Lake.  Betker was also fined $500 for providing a false statement to a conservation officer regarding fish he caught and kept.

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 30, 2009 - The deadline for hunters to apply for the antlerless deer validation tag draw has been extended to Monday, July 6, from Tuesday, June 30, due to high demand.   

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 29, 2009 - (St. Louis, MO) – The Thunder Bay Chill suffered a 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Lion Sunday night, in what is the first game of their season long four game road trip. Tonight’s result was not the start to the road trip The Chill were looking to make, as this week is critical for the teams push towards the playoffs. 

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 29, 2009 - 15 year old Alexa KUCHIAK has been located safe and sound. The teen made phone contact with her mother at approximately 4:30 p.m. yesterday.  The teen was located later that evening with the assistance of the O.P.P. at a friend’s rural residence in the area of Highway 588. 

DULUTH, MN - June 29, 2009 - Fireworks and patriotic music aren’t the only attractions that will bring tourists to the Duluth waterfront on July 4. Having the luxury expedition vessel Clelia II (pronounced Clĕl • ee• ah) pass beneath the Aerial Lift Bridge and dock behind the DECC will usher in a glamorous new era of international cruise service for Duluth and the Great Lakes.  

THUNDER BAY, ON ------- June 29, 2009 -------  A Thunder Bay man was arrested on Friday June 26 as a result of an investigation by the Thunder Bay Police Service, The Province of Ontario Corporate Security Branch and O.P.P.’s Project P. It is alleged that the man was accessing child pornography on a work computer at a government office in Thunder Bay.  

THUNDER BAY, ON  ------ June 27, 2009  ---   On July 1, 2009, paddlers in a 24-foot voyageur canoe will begin the first leg of an 18-day canoe voyage that will cross the international border, following a water route that is centuries old, and cover more than 350 miles by the end of the journey.

The Canoe the Heart Expedition will commemorate the centennial of Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada and the centennial of the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, USA.  It also exemplifies and highlights the ongoing collaboration promoted by the Heart of the Continent Partnership that is part of the heritage of the “Border Lakes Region”.  read more.....>

THUNDER BAY, ON ----   June 26, 2009 - The Health Unit is confirming two new cases of Swine Flu  (H1N1 flu)  from the District of Thunder Bay. One of the cases resides in the City while the other lives in an outlying community. One of the cases is a child under the age of 1 year.  These two cases bring the total to three.

To date, there are a total of 3154 confirmed cases of H1N1 in the province of Ontario. Almost all of the cases reported to date have been mild. The majority of these cases have recovered.   

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 26, 2009 - TORONTO – At a special Friday morning meeting called exclusively to consider the $1.2 billion Toronto Transit Commission streetcar contract, Toronto City Council decided to step in and fund the federal share of the contract in addition to its own one-third share. The move effectively saves the largest transit contract in Canadian history, on the last business day before it expires on Saturday, June 27. 

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 26th, 2009 - Prime Minister Harper quipped last Fall that falling stock markets provided a good buying opportunity. Right now the opposite is true for Canadian nuclear. Now is the time for the government to sell, sell, sell; which is exactly what the government plans to do. The federal government plans to restructure and sell off parts of the federal Crown Corporation, Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL).

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 26, 2009  - TORONTO – The City of Toronto should not be forced to put off much-needed capital spending on its transit system to come up with enough money to make up for the Harper Conservative government abandoning  its responsibilities, Ontario Liberal MPs said today.

THUNDER BAY,  ON   ----   June 26, 2009  ----  The concept of the Thunder Bay Oil Sands Consortium was born in 2006 after a presentation to local businessmen by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association. The idea of forming a local consortium to compete for business in western Canada’s oil patch was too good to resist. Local politicians used the tools at their disposal to make the consortium happen, the city through Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission, the province through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund worked to create an effective new group to support growth in Thunder Bay.  

THUNDER BAY, ON  -----  June 26,  2009  ----   Three new fires were reported in the West Fire Region by the evening of June 26, one each in the Nipigon, Thunder Bay and Red Lake districts.  Thunder Bay Fire Number 25 is 0.1 hectares in size and is located approximately 50 kilometres east of Upsala near Orbit Lake   

THUNDER BAY, ON  –  June 26, 2009  ----  The Thunder Bay Chill embarks on their longest road trip of the season this weekend, as they head to St. Louis to take on the Lions. The first of four away games in six days for The Chill will take place on Sunday, June 28th, at 6:00 p.m. (EDT) at the Tony Glavin Soccer Complex, in St. Louis, MO.

In what will be the teams first of three meetings this season, The Chill will look to steal the win at home against The Lions, but also look to start off their road trip on the right foot.  Head Coach Tony Colistro knows the upcoming matches are crucial to The Chill's post season aspirations. "There are currently four good teams that can make the playoffs, unfortunately there are only three spots," Colistro said.   

THUNDER BAY, ON  -------  June 26, 2009   ------  Today is just another day in the life of Gareth Evans. When he is not working, his passion is the homegrown music of the Northwest by local singer-songwriters. In Thunder Bay he has been a tireless promoter of local musicians, sometimes through the radio show he hosts at Lakehead University, or through the various music events he helps to sponsor and promote in Thunder Bay.

This week there is a special show at the Apollo in memory of local singer songwriter David Hauk. Special guest for this performance will be Sean Ashby.  When it comes to helping musicians get exposure and develop a successful career, Gareth has done a lot of listening and put some serious thought into his methods.  read more.......>

THUNDER BAY, ON- June 25, 2008  ---  They usually grant mortgages to assist Thunder Bay families when buying houses, but this time around, the RBC Royal Bank is making a huge investment to help one local family build a home. RBC Royal Bank made a direct deposit of $20,000 to Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay today during a presentation ceremony with RBC Olympian, Jill Officer. The donation will support the construction of the nineteenth Habitat for Humanity Thunder Bay home in the city  

THUNDER BAY ON  ----   June 25, 2009 – Citizens are encouraged to answer the call for their views as the City of Thunder Bay’s 2009 Citizen Survey gets underway today. The random telephone survey will seek views on a wide range of services and issues.

“For those residents who are contacted, we want to thank them for answering the call for their views on City services and their priorities for spending,” Mayor Lynn Peterson said.

Every second year, the City conducts the Citizen Survey to gather input on municipal services and a variety of issues   read more.....>

THUNDER BAY,  ON, ----   June 25, 2009  -----  The Thunder Bay Police Service is asking for the public's assistance in locating a missing female I5 year old Alexa Kuchiak, who was last seen on 19 June 2009 boarding the Mainline Bus in Westfort

Alexa Kuchiak is approximately 5'9 tall and I451bs. She has Brown hair that is cut very short on the sides and back, the front of her hair is longer with pink highlights. She was last seen wearing white "tighty" jeans, a black lank top, white hoodie sweater and tan or beige sandles.   read more.....>

THUNDER BAY, ON - June 25, 2009 - Let me take a round-about, concept based journey to the real point of this week’s column.  First, I’d like to share the inside track of how my Tuesday File themes emerge.  If you’re interested in how innovative thinking happens - especially for leaders - then this background portion may be extremely useful for you.

THUNDER BAY, ON,  ---  June 25, 2009  --- I could be just as “Invite them and they will come”. A high level Chinese trade delegation spent much of the past two days visiting Thunder Bay. Lead by Vice Consul General Lei Zhigang of the People's Republic of China, Nick Zeng, China Mining Association. The Chinese delegation came at the invitation of the Hon. Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development, Mines and Forests. His office worked together with Richard Pohler of Thunder Bay’s Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) members of city council and the business community.   read more......>

THUNDER BAY, ON   -----   June 23, 2009 11:20 p.m.  Please be advised that the LBED (Ontario Public Service Employees Union) bargaining team and the employer have agreed to extend the strike/lockout deadline. The deadline is extended until either a deal is reached or one or both parties walk away from the table. There is no fixed time for the extension. The parties have agreed that the collective agreement will remain in place as long as the deadline is extended. Members should report to work until notified otherwise,  

THUNDER BAY, ON  -----  June 24, 2009  ---- The draft from Queens Park has brought with it some musings about pension reform in Ontario. Years ago many companies tried to reduce costs by offering employees defined contribution pension plans. My personal opinion is such plans should be discouraged at all levels simply because many of them leave pensioners broke.

Part of the reason for this is there is no tax incentive for businesses to do otherwise. That should change. Instead Ontario’s minister of finance Hon. Dwight Duncan is likely to shuffle so things around that may help some situations for defined benefit plans. Having said that there are some prices we may have to be prepared to accept.  

THUNDER BAY,  ON  - June 24, 2009  -  Wednesday morning the Hon. Michael Gravelle became leader of the new Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry. The move introduced by Premier Dalton McGuinty is part of a move to sharpen the province’s competitiveness.
Speaking with Minister Gravelle today he says he is “very excited with the new ministry and it makes sense to combine forestry and mining in terms of northern economic development”. He also expressed his “appreciation that Dalton McGuinty has the confidence in him to lead this new ministry and that he has chosen a person from Northern Ontario for the job”. At present a parliamentary assistant for the minister has not been determined. Donna Cansfield will continue as Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources.  

THUNDER BAY, ON ---  June 24, 2009  -----  Thunder Bay On, June 23, 2009- A group of singer/songwriters will step up to the mic in Thunder Bay this week, all looking to pay tribute to a former local artist. The “Live Music is Healing” project is hosting a tribute to David Hauck, a local musician who left behind hundreds of songs, along with a story of a struggling musician trying to get the recognition he deserved.

Following the tribute, award winning singer songwriter and internationally acclaimed guitarist, Sean Ashby will take the stage. Ashby is most credited for his work with Canadian artist Sarah McLachlan, being her guitarist since 1996.  Ashby will perform material from his debut album, “Brass and Gold.”   

THUNDER BAY, ON ---  June  24,  2009  ----  Four new fires were confirmed in the Ontario  West Fire Region by the evening of June 24. There are now 30 active fires in the region in the districts of Nipigon, Red Lake, Sioux Lookout, and Thunder Bay.

Fires of note include Red Lake District Fire Number 7, multiple lightning-caused fires in the northern areas of Sioux Lookout and Nipigon Districts, and Thunder Bay Fire Number 24.