Monday, April 14, 2014

DSSAB Offers Home Loan

The Social Services Board is offering low to moderate income homeowners cash to help them renovate. The DSSAB received 1.5 million dollars for the program that will help people repair their windows, doors, heating systems, chimneys, foundations, roofs, floors and ceilings among other things. Each homeowner who is eligible could get up to 25-thousand dollars in a forgivable loan.


Illness Outbreak At Lakehead Manor

The Health Unit is declaring a facility wide respiratory illness outbreak at Lakehead Manor. All admissions, transfers, discharges and social activities have been cancelled until further notice. Visitors are restricted to family members and caregivers only.

Film Project Now On DVD

Purchase the DVD teaser boxThe city's Walk A Mile film project is into the DVD stage now. The locally produced five part documentary series is now available online or at City Hall according to City Clerk John Hannam for 20 dollars. The films are intended to start a conversation about the relationship between Thunder Bay's Aboriginal peoples and the community. You can purchase the DVD set by following this LINK

Group Wants Better Wages

Poverty Free Thunder Bay continues their crusade to help protect low income workers.  They held an event Monday that called on MPPs to pass new bills to protect vulnerable workers before an election is called. They feel several bills if passed will give all Ontario workers decent work so they can have quality lives.

F.N's Reaffirm Position


Marten Falls and Aroland First Nations are committing to the North-South Alliance. It's a deal that calls for road access to the Ring of Fire from the North to the South.  The two communities feel that the road makes the most sense and will pass through their territories.

Man Dies After Collision


A 51 year old man is dead after he was involved in last week's collision on the Harbour Expressway near the intersection of Golf Links Road. Police say Gary Soderholm suffered a medical crisis that caused him to lose control of his car. He veered into oncoming traffic and struck three vehicles.  The other two people involved in the crash are in good health and suffered minor injuries.

Courthouse Move Complete

It's a new era for the legal community in the city.  Employees from the Ontario Court of Justice on Arthur Street moved into the new consolidated courthouse on Brodie Street over the weekend, joining their colleagues from the Superior Court who moved in last week.    It means that all court business in the city can now take place in one location.  

Foulds Goes To Bat For CBC

The city will consider a motion from Councillor Andrew Foulds this evening that would see Thunder Bay endorse more Federal funding for public broadcasting. It comes following significant job cuts announced by the CBC last week.   The cuts will mean the loss of two jobs at the local station after the afternoon program Voyage North is replaced by programming from Sudbury.

Rydholm Wants FCM Position

City Councillor Linda Rydholm is asking for her fellow members support. She plans to apply again to be a board member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Council will hear her request tonight.

Fox Museum Not Likely

It doesn't look like Terry Fox's family wants to loan some artifacts to the City for a museum exhibit. The City spoke to Terry's Brother Darrell who says Thunder Bay, St. John's and Ottawa would be logical locations for a museum but notes they favour a museum and research centre in the Vancouver area.

Event Centre Parking May Be Nixed

Parking at the proposed event centre remains to be a hot topic for city councillors.  Councillor Andrew Foulds says potentially removing the parkade,  at the proposed event centre, as recommended by administration, would help the city financially and help to leverage funding from other levels of government.   Foulds adds that keeping the project under 100-million dollars is the goal to making sure  provincial and federal funding is available.

Shipping Season Delayed

Normally by now the shipping season is underway, however due to a colder than normal winter, it will not begin until possibly later this week.   That would make it the latest start to the season on record.  The ice on Lake Superior has  made it difficult for ships to get through causing the delay