Dryden

The Northwestern Health Unit says northwestern Ontario is officially in the 6th wave of COVID-19, and staff are seeing increases in local COVID-19 case counts.

-- UPDATE --

Highway 17 and 11 have reopened.

-- Original Story --

Highway 17 between the Manitoba border and Shabaqua Corners has been closed.

Highway 502 and Highway 11, from Fort Frances to Shabaqua Corners, have also been closed.

Ontario Provincial Police closed the highways due to weather conditions.

There is no word on when the highways will reopen.

Environment Canada says between 10 and 20 cm of snow is expected to fall in the region overnight as a Colorado Low moves through the region.

Students in Kenora, Sioux Narrows, Red Lake and Ear Falls are set for an extra-long Easter long week as the Keewatin-Patricia District School Board (KPDSB), the Kenora Catholic District School Boards (KCDSB) and CSDC des Aurora Boreales have cancelled classes tomorrow (Thursday, April 14).

The cancellation comes as a Colorado Low descends on the region and is expected to leave up to 45 cm of snow in the Kenora and Dryden areas, and as much as 60 cm of snow in the Sioux Lookout area.

The heavily anticipated spring storm system has touched down in Northwestern Ontario, bringing with it heavy snowfall over the next couple of days.

Environment Canada says from what they can see the bulk of the snow will hit the region throughout the day on Wednesday (April 13, 2022).

“In Kenora in particular it’s looking like 20-35 cm as a two-day total. Most of that is going to be starting later today from the evening into the overnight. Today looks more like 5-10 cm,” said Steven Flisfeder, Environment Canada Meteorologist.

Synergy North is preparing for the possibility of numerous power outages, as the result of a massive spring storm expecting to sweep across Northwestern Ontario starting on Wednesday (April 12, 2022).

An estimated 30-50 cm of snow is expected to fall over the course of two days, 70km/h wind gusts, mixed with sub-zero temperatures could see many customers lose power.

The Bank of Canada raised its key interest rate by the highest amount in more than 20 years and warned more rate hikes are coming as it increased its outlook for inflation.

The central bank hiked its policy interest rate by half a percentage point to one per cent on Wednesday.

Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said inflation is too high and is expected to stay elevated for longer than the bank previously thought.

“The invasion of Ukraine has driven up the prices of energy and other commodities, and the war is further disrupting global supply chains,” he said.

RCMP Mounties are searching for a man charged with arson and three counts of 2nd Degree Murder following a weekend house fire in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Police say the suspect was last seen in Winnipeg, and believe he is still in the area.

During the early hours of Sunday, April 10, officers responded to a report of a house fire on 7th Street SE in Portage la Prairie.

When officers arrived, the Portage la Prairie Fire Department was already on the scene and had entered the home to ensure the safety of all residents. 

It’s near whiteout conditions on Northwestern Ontario highways, and heading west into Manitoba as the spring storm of the decade bringing lots of snow in a short period of time has officially begun.

The snow began to fall in the region early Wednesday morning (April 13, 2022) beginning to cover highways. The region is expected to get between 20-45 cm of snow from Wednesday through until Friday. 

The Dryden GM Ice Dogs will need to get back on their feet following a loss to the Red Lake Miners. In game three of the SIJHL semi-finals, Dryden struggled to get the puck past Red Lakes Kiev Kineshanko more than once. They fell 4-1. The series is scheduled to resume tonight. 

Kenora's brother/sister swimming duo Émilia and Gabe Mastromatteo recently took part in the Swimming Canada Bell Trials in Victoria. It was a week filled with success and challenges for both athletes.

The Kenora and Lake of the Woods Regional Community Foundation is gearing up for its 3rd Annual Charity Golf Tournament.