Dryden

For the second time this week, the price of gasoline in Kenora has seen a drastic spike.

On Sunday (May 8, 2022), the price of gas rose 6 cents per litre from 189.9 to 195.9 at three service stations in Kenora. On Tuesday (May 2, 2022), residents saw the price jump from 182.9 to 189.9. Fuel prices had sat at 182.9 for the previous two weeks. Prices are expected to even out across the community in the coming days.

Road access into Red Lake will remain cut off until at least Monday afternoon, according to the Municipality of Red Lake.

"Crews are working on repairing the washout. Water levels remain high. It is anticipated that the earliest the road may be opened is tomorrow (Monday) afternoon," said the municipality in a social media post Sunday morning.

A washout approximately 15 kilometres south of Red Lake, at Caribou Falls, has cut the community of roughly 4,000 people off from the rest of the region.

Between 15 and 25 mm of rain is expected to fall in the Dryden area tomorrow. (Sunday, May 8).

Environment Canada has issued a rainfall warning for Dryden, Vermilion Bay, Ignace, English River and the surrounding communities.

A low pressure system over the Prairies will bring rain to portions of northwestern Ontario on Sunday. The frozen and saturated ground has a reduced ability to absorb this rainfall.

Another round rain is expected midday Monday into Monday evening, with an additional 20 to 30 mm of rainfall possible.

Highway 105 will remain closed for at least another 24 hours, said Red Lake Mayor Fred Mota.

"The difficulty the MTO are sharing is the high water flow traveling under the bridge. They're anticipating the water levels will drop, but they are calling for rain later this evening, which could add additional problems for the water flow."

"Once they get the water to a certain level, they'll be able to go in and begin construction to repair the bridge, and at this time they're stating 24 hours minimum the road will be closed," stated Mayor Mota.

Highway 105 has been washed out approximately 15 kilometres south of Red Lake, at Caribou Falls. 

The road surface completely washed out at approximately noon today and it is understood that a logging road, which could serve as an alternate route has also washed away. 
 

The Highway 105 reopening day/time is unknown. 

The All Nations Health Partners are encouraging residents to be kind, patient and understanding. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardships and difficulties for everyone, but especially for healthcare workers. The pandemic has caused burnout and compassion fatigue for medical staff and has exacerbated the already short-staffed healthcare system.  

Newly appointed Lac Seul Chief of Police, Bruno Rossi was sworn in to his new role this week by the Police Service's Board in Lac Seul.

Before making the move to northwestern Ontario, Rossi was the Inspector of Support Services for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service (MFNPS) in Portage La Prairie, MB. Between June 2020 and November 2021, Rossi was the Acting Chief of Police for the MNFPS.

The first weekend of May is going to start how the last weekend of April ended, as Environment Canada is forecasting more rain to hit northwestern Ontario starting Saturday night (May 7, 2022).

Environment Canada is tracking what they believe is not one, but two Colorado Lows to sweep through the region bringing with it anywhere from 25-50 mm of rain combined between the two systems.

Ontario burned through and exceeded its 2021 Emergency Fire Funds by $139 million in last year’s forest fire season.

“In the 2021 fire season the province of Ontario spent $239 million in Emergency Fire Funds to help manage the escalated wildland fire situation in the Northwest Region,” says MNRF Fire Information Officer, Chris Marchand.

Marchand notes this is the interim cost, and the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources, and Forestry will release the final cost in September.

Statistics Canada says the jobless rate fell in April to another record low as employment was little changed for the month with a gain of 1,000 jobs.

The unemployment rate came in at 5.2 per cent for April compared with the previous record low of 5.3 per cent set in March.

The drop in the rate came as the number of jobs in professional, scientific and technical services rose by 15,000 in April and the public administration category gained 17,000.