Below is a collection of some of the most clicked-on stories on KenoraOnline and DrydenNow in the month of April 2022.
Physician shortage closes Red Lake’s emergency room
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The Red Lake Margaret Cochenour Hospital announced that their emergency department closed one weekend due to a shortage in local physicians able to work in the department. Read more.
Ontario reaches $10-a-day child care deal with Ottawa
Ontario reached a $13.2 billion agreement with the federal government that will lower fees for families and deliver an average of $10 a day child care by September 2025.
As a first step, all Ontario families with children five years old and younger in participating licensed child care centres will see their fees reduced, up to 25 per cent, to a minimum of $12 per day, retroactive to April 1, 2022. Read more.
Twinning work begins near Shoal Lake #39
Work started to finally twin Highway 17 between Kenora and the Ontario/Manitoba border.
“We weren’t kidding,” said Rickford, referencing the construction finally beginning in spring. Rickford and Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, made the official announcement that work would begin in November 2021. Read more
Additional affordable housing coming to Kenora
Kenora soon enough will be home to additional affordable housing units following a $3,780,000 investment from the province to the Kenora District Services Board (KDSB).
The 20 self-contained bachelor units will be located at 10, 12, and 14 Matheson Street South and have a targeted completion date of around March 2023. Residents will be close to the downtown core of Kenora, public transportation, schools, amenities, grocery stores, pharmacies, and employment opportunities. Read more
Kenora's housing prices continue to rise
Though it seemed like the COVID-19 pandemic may have been slowing down, the housing market in Kenora and the surrounding area continued to speed up as prices continue to increase.
The Canadian Real Estate Association said in a report showed that the average price in Ontario was a record-high $1,086,493, an increase of 25.8 per cent from February of 2021. Read more
Reynard excited for redevelopment of former mill site
The City of Kenora says they’re excited to learn more about the future of 114 acres of lakefront property on Lakeview Drive, the soon-to-be-vacant Kenora Forest Products mill site, once it’s redeveloped.
Mayor Reynard joined members of GreenFirst Forest Products and Kenora-Rainy River MPP and Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, Greg Rickford, on April 22 at the Discovery Centre, as the Minister announced a $17.2 million conditional loan to relocate and restart the mill under GreenFirst Forest Products. Read more